You Say Stubborn, I Say Thorough

Lúta nodded at the boys question. "Yes, just last night. I plan to visit her again tonight with this tincture." She was half tempted to invite the boy to go with her. It was bad enough Resin had to be trapped in that horrid, claustrophobic dungeon but to not be able to see her family? True, it was as Resin wished it, but Lúta was a stubborn if foolish woman and she had half a mind to worm her way into that cell and smack the older woman upside the head. Resin may have felt ashamed for what happened, but as far as Lúta had seen it hadn't made her family and friends love her any less. Maybe she could speak to Ulric about an alternative. She made no secret of her dislike of the dungeon situation and in her scouting she had spied a small island just off the western coast of the castle. Maybe with some adjustments they could make it a suitable home. Isolated but more hospitable. Perhaps she was projecting. She was born in a land of vast plains and open skies. She couldn't imagine dying in a stone tomb in the ground when she could pass on an island with the sun and wind.

Lúta watched Artorias silently as he continued to speak, feeling her heart sink further as he explained that he was trying to find a cure for her illness. Surely someone had already informed him of what a long shot it was going to be. At most they could buy a little time. Though, in some ways she did feel what he was feeling. It was too hard to give up just yet, not when there were still a few things to try no matter how unlikely they would be. How much hope was too much hope? She'd climbed such paths before only to plummet into darkness when it failed. She hated to take a child with her.

Lúta took a deep breath and sighed heavily. "I'm doing everything I can, but honestly, Artorias, I doubt she'll get better. The most we can do at this point is try to slow this disease down. Give your family more time. That said I'm not ready to give up just yet. There are a few more treatments I'd like to try, but please understand, its a hell of a long shot and would not undo any damage that's already be done."

She'd spoken with an elderly medicine man that had moved down from the north and of course asked about Resin's symptoms. She'd learned a few pieces of interesting information. Extract of calabar bean in conjunction with tumeric had been moderately effective in slowing the disease down. The problem was that calabar beans were extremely poisonous. Getting a dosage right without killing Resin outright would be tricky. Extract of snowdrop was said to help with cognitive function and easing memory loss. The healer had praised Gingko Biolba as the miracle plant of his people and encouraged her to try it. She was hopefully, but also fearful. If it failed… she would officially be out of options. At least she could look into treating the symptoms as best she was able. The medicine man had suggested cannabis for neurological issues related to aggression. If she could just find a way to get Resin out of that accursed cage so she could be with her family while she still remembered them most of the time.