Magda heals

Another tidbit that should be posted.  I think this is becoming Magda's story.

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Alina and Magda neared the cottage/cave where the family of the wool dealer lived.  It was one of his twins who was ill--pretty young girls of 3 or 4 years.  Though it was not certain that she was the daughter of the family.  She cast a skeptical eye on the shepherd and his wife, each of whom looked above 50 at the youngest.  The oldest daughter sat in a corner, rocking back and forth as she [did something with wool].  She looked anxiously at the twin from time to time.  Her lips were pressed together tightly, and overall she looked pale and sick.  She was twenty, or close.  Still, she might have been worried for her sister.


Alina looked out and saw the black smoke growing ever thicker.  It was two days' journey back to the village--no doubt it would be too late by the time she got there, if indeed there was anything amiss, or anything at all that she could do to help.  She looked to Magda, bending anxiously over the twin as she had been doing for over 12 hours now.  Magda shrugged and shook her head sadly.  That was that, then.  Magda cound not leave.  She lifted a bowl of meadowsweet willow tea to the girl's mouth.  Though some ran down the side of her chin, Alina saw her swallow, painfully.