94 Chapter 94 Baby Rescue (1/2)

Slaves were starting to trickle in, some in groups and some single. Joseph sent them on to village site 4. He was trying to keep the various groups away from the king's men, who were stationed in site 1. A town that had belonged to his father arrived, with a ma.s.sive amount of building supplies. They went without stopping. He gave orders, as they pa.s.sed through, to use their supplies to start putting up buildings. The sewers were ready for a small village, but Joseph was certain they should be able to survive the winter just fine.

The slaves came from a town that had made wood and iron products and they traveled with the most infants. It was going to be incredibly noisy in that town.

After lunch, Stephan stopped by with Becky and a wet nurse with a baby.

”Master Joseph, this baby isn't doing well, and we're not sure why,” reported Stephan, looking confused.

The wet nurse was obviously nervous as Joseph had them lay the baby on his desk.

”I have nine years of experience raising babes for the master. I don't know why this one is doing so poorly,” she fretted, as if she would be blamed if it didn't survive.

”We've tried to heal it, but it had no effect,” added Stephan, and Becky nodded in concern.

Joseph could see that the babies breathing was labored, and his face was flushed. As he looked at it, he could tell there was just the faintest hint of an aura around it. There was an unusual birthmark that couldn't be seen clearly because of the splotchy skin. This child had tremendous potential in a magical bloodline, but his mana was all messed up.

”Who were his parents?” asked Joseph, touching the baby gently on the head.

”We don't know,” murmured the wet nurse.

”He's not human, at least not full human. There's not elven either, but I'm not sure…” he closed his eyes as he allowed his mana to touch the child's mana, tasting it but not harming it.

”Stella,” he said, turning towards her.

”Yes, Master Joseph?” she asked, perking up.

”Would you mind helping me with your…cousin?”

”WHAT?”

”He's going to die if I can't get his mana circuit right. But I'm not familiar with a circuit like his. I think yours is probably the closest to his of anyone here. Do you mind if I study yours for a moment?”

”What do you need to do?” Her hands fluttered at her sides like nervous birds.

”I have to put my magic in you and watch as it flows around to learn how you circulate your mana.”

”Sounds…disturbing.” Her face was scrunched and her voice low. She was obviously not happy.

”Well, I've done it to Stephan and Derek and they didn't have side effects.”

”Sounds disturbing.” Her voice dropped even lower.

”Well, if I don't learn your mana circuit, he may die while I try to correct it.”

She sighed and closed her eyes.