He walked over to Elena and pointed at the medicinal paste in her stone bowl, speaking gently.
"Are those agave rhizomes and buckthorn leaves?"
A flicker of surprise crossed Elena's clouded eyes, and she nodded.
"With rock lichen from the Alps added to stop the bleeding."
"The approach is sound." Douglas nodded. "Agave sap has a heat-clearing effect and can just about counter the heat toxicity of Holy Light burns. The polysaccharides in rock lichen can also promote some basic healing."
His assessment was precise and professional, nothing like that of an outsider.
"But it can't deal with the high-frequency energy vibrations left by Holy Word Binding, nor can it neutralize the dark magic of the Stagnation and Decay Curse."
Douglas looked at Marco and changed tack.
"With this many people, potions are too inefficient, and the supplies I brought aren't enough for your entire tribe to use recklessly."
He took a small notebook and a quill from his robes, as though the decisive negotiator from moments before and the meticulous scholar before them now were two different people.
His quill scratched swiftly across the parchment, writing out a list.
"I need you to gather these things."
He handed the sheet over.
Marco and Elena leaned in together and read the words by the firelight.
They could still understand the first few lines.
Wild pheasant or venison.
Wild porcini mushrooms.
Cherry tomatoes.
Rosemary sprigs.
Oregano leaves.
Young dandelion leaves.
Sage.
These were all common products of the Apennine Mountains. Some did indeed possess faint magical properties and were ingredients used in traditional Sicilian witchcraft and Herbology.
But what followed made their expressions freeze.
Olive oil.
Red onions.
Garlic.
Grated Parmesan cheese.
Crusty bread.
Silence filled the cave.
Every conscious werewolf stared at the list in disbelief.
Marco's lips moved, but