The Physician took a small cup from his purse, dropped in the powder,
and Habrunt assisted directly by taking over from the boy and pouring
in the clear, fragrant fruit of the vine. Si'Wren watched as the powder
was commingled to the stained brim with the crystal clear liquid, for
the boy had brought white wine.
Then, in front of the trembling boy, the Physician solemnly uttered a
few gravely-spoken nonsense syllables, and passed his free hand before
him as he gazed deep into his one good eye, and put the cup into his
grasp.
"Drink!" he smiled encouragingly, crinkling his eyes again in the most
engaging and kindly manner, although it screwed up his whole face into
a mass of hairy wrinkles. "Drink every drop, and praise the gods. It is
all you have to do."
The boy took it, held it up, and then began to drink. It was -in
Si'Wren's knowledgeable estimation- possessed of an almost intolerably
bitter taste, but the fine white wine would no doubt commute the
bitterness with it's rare ethers. The boy gasped for air, and declared
bluntly, "It burns in my stomach!"
"Finish it," Habrunt urged firmly.
"Hut!" said the Physician, stopping the boy before he could obey.
The Physician took the cup from the boy, swirled it's contents expertly
to stir up the remaining powder from the bottom, and reached it up to
the child's lips as he soothingly breathed the words, "Drink quickly
now!"
The boy gulped down the rest.
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