benedict had put this frightened and utterly malleable woman into mekare 's arms , the whole while whispering softly to mekare that she should drink , that she needed the strength , that they had a journey to take , and he 'd sat there patiently waiting till the silent monster had slowly wakened to the smell of the blood , slowly lifted her left hand as though it were an unbearable weight and laid it on the breast of the prone victim .