|
Post by Elton Tulare-Durante (D) on Mar 9, 2006 21:09:06 GMT -5
"What? Do you want my sympathy? You won't get it." I wanted to turn my face away, but the pain wasn't worth it. I sighed, and just as quickly hissed as tiny earthquake spasms broke out across my back and made the room dim.
|
|
|
Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Mar 9, 2006 21:16:51 GMT -5
"Actually, all of the sympathy should be yours, but I won't argue with you. By the way, this will hurt." I picked up the pitcher of water from his nightstand and slowly poured it over his back; the bits of leather and skin would need to be bled from the wounds and the water would help wash them away. Picking up a towel I began to barely dab at the wounds, makign sure not to get any threads in the lashes.
|
|
|
Post by Elton Tulare-Durante (D) on Mar 9, 2006 21:28:38 GMT -5
I swore viciously. And he said he didn't want revenge? I wanted to kill him, Camael save him, I wanted to. The water was cold, trickled down my sides and onto the mattress. I'd have to change the sheets before I passed out. I felt him dabbing at the wounds.
"Press a bit harder, soak up the blood, and the oh so liberal amount of water. Don't touch the clots. They look bad, but leave them be." I grit my teeth. I was in Hell.
"Why are you even here? And don't give me that drivel about an 'understanding'. What do you want." I was repeating myself, I knew, but I wasn't in the mood for games, or his company.
|
|
|
Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Mar 9, 2006 21:33:26 GMT -5
I did as he instructed, trying my best to do what seemed to be common sense, but I had no inclination toward Balm's side of things. "Believe me or not, I'm not here to get back at you. Honestly, I find what that woman did almost deplorable, though I'm not sure why. Besides, we do need to come to an understanding; if things go perfectly my contract still binds me here until she travels to Winterfell. Plus, since she owns my contract, she can lengthen it at any time. And I don't need enemies, I just want to go on my way."
|
|
|
Post by Elton Tulare-Durante (D) on Mar 9, 2006 21:42:11 GMT -5
I snorted, disbelieving.
"Find a clean towel and blot the wounds dry. If you open the top drawer on the left, there's a pot of salve." I tried to relax a bit, think. The boy was entirely too smart, and cleverness was not something that came naturally to me. That was Jaid's skill.
"Do you mean that? You are just serving out your contract? Nothing more? I've heard talk, and she does not share confidences lightly, even with me." the hint of insecurity in my tone made me angry.
|
|
|
Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Mar 9, 2006 21:50:55 GMT -5
I looked back at him matter-of-factly as I went to the dresser and retrieved the items. "I have had to serve others since my birth; I have no intention of doing so any more or longer than necessary. I will do EXACTLY what my contract tells me I must, and on occasion more when I feel it will benefit me in the long run, but that is all."
I began to blot the woulds, watching the diluted blood being wicked into the fabric. "She and I seem to understand each other in some sense, though I would not sat we are close, or even sharing confidence. And to your hearing rumors, that is PRECISELY the idea, and I hope everyone else has heard them as well. I want people to be curious and underestimating of me."
I smoothed the salve over his skin smoothly but firmly. "I'm sorry, but if I tell you any more than that I could get lashed myself and I barely have enough skin to hold me together."
|
|
|
Post by Elton Tulare-Durante (D) on Mar 9, 2006 22:00:24 GMT -5
The salve did wonders, it did'nt;t eradicate the pain, merely made it tolerable. The salve was something all of the D'Neige soldiers carried, had healing herbs and an anesthetic in it. I let the medicinal smell float over me. My thoughts slowly started swimming.
"There was blood on her cheek. I thought you had hurt her. Instead you hurt yourself... She used to love me once, did you know that? Would have convinced her father to let us marry too. But then she died, and the Duchesse took her place. She whipped me because she is coming alive again." I fell silent, still dazed, jealous that he was the one to spark something inside her.
"Alive for you, and I hate both of you for it." I'd regret every word in the morning, but the pain loosened my tongue, robbed me of quiet.
|
|
|
Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Mar 9, 2006 22:05:51 GMT -5
I noticed him coming into the quiet, passive ecstacy of the relief from pain and sat still; who knew what I could learn. At his words I raised an eyebrow. "I do not think she came awake for me- that would be silly- but that I, for a moment, reminded her of someone else in another time. All I did was show her my marque. And yes, these marks on my hand came from my own hand; I do not do well at being at other's control."
|
|
|
Post by Elton Tulare-Durante (D) on Mar 9, 2006 22:13:42 GMT -5
A moment of clarity, like the peel of a bell echoed in my head. His marque, my scar.
Our first raid, she had fought savagely, joy flashing in every sword stroke. She'd felled an opponent, moved to the next. He wasn't dead, lurched up to aim a blow at her back. I'd shoved her aside, taken the blow while she stabbed him. I had almost died. We'd been apart for months, and when I was finally healed, I showed her the still red scar. She'd yelled at me, then kissed the disfigured flesh.
"She may not have come awake for you, but most certainly with you. What does she see in you? You're just a boy..."
|
|
|
Post by Jaiden Liatris-Durante (D) on Mar 9, 2006 22:18:49 GMT -5
I couldn't find the healer. I'd terrorized the butler and housekeeper. The servants made themselves scarce. LeClare didn't know where he was, and I couldn't ask Elton, who usually knew all these things, as he as in no state to tell me.
I refrained from slamming more doors. I already had an expensive glass pane to replace.
I bit back several choice curses. I'd just tend to him myself. I made my way through the villa to the barracks.
|
|
|
Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Mar 9, 2006 22:23:30 GMT -5
I shrugged, still confused, but maybe if I kept him talking I would learn of it, or at least make him less likely to take his anger out on me. "I am an adept who doesn't give in; who knows what any of my patrons saw in me? I didn't question their motives, I only did what I could to get them to give me as much money as possible. In this case, however, I did nothing but what she told me to, unable to resist or fight back." Fury at the memory sparked in my eyes and I lashed out, unthinking. "You must be the one who taught her so well."
|
|
|
Post by Elton Tulare-Durante (D) on Mar 9, 2006 22:30:56 GMT -5
I laughed, it hurt but it was just too much seeing the fury in his eyes. So he hadn't liked it?
"Practice makes perfect, is what she'd always tell me. She's a hot, lovely piece. Like a feline... today was the first time I've touched her in eighteen years."
|
|
|
Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Mar 9, 2006 22:35:32 GMT -5
Now he was acting like a gossipy adept; I rolled my eyes while I blinked quickly and then looked at him. "Then it's ironic that you were repayed for your first time in so many years with a lashing. Personally, I dislike others having complete control over me, no matter the outcome." Snidely I jibed, "Maybe someone who couldn't fight back is what she needed, so she could be an agressor. You should've let her take control when you had the chance."
|
|
|
Post by Elton Tulare-Durante (D) on Mar 9, 2006 22:44:50 GMT -5
"Maybe. Maybe not. I'm tired of all this. Tired of her, tired of you. I'll train you, do my duty to my Sovereign, nothing more." I closed my eyes. I just wanted to be alone right now, sleep a little before the fever set in.
"I know her, better than you ever will. Namaah may have cursed me to love her, but it's all I have."
|
|
|
Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Mar 9, 2006 22:49:16 GMT -5
"I expected nothing more, but I think you're a fool." Still, the words sounded shallow and hollow at the same time to my ears and I had a sudden image of a girl's face with haunted eyes. Fearing that I might actually say something I didn't want to reveal I bit my tongue.
I pourred a glass of water from the stuff still left in the pitcher and thrust it at him. "You've bled too much, you should drink."
|
|
|
Post by Jaiden Liatris-Durante (D) on Mar 9, 2006 22:56:39 GMT -5
I heard voices as I approached the door. Elton and...Aleron? I didn't go in, just listened.
"I know her, better than you ever will. Namaah may have cursed me to love her, but it's all I have."
"I expected nothing more, but I think you're a fool."
I'd heard enough. They'd been talking about me. I frowned, pushed open the door in time to hear Aleron's last remark.
"Yes, Elton, you should drink something. The healer cannot be found, so I came to tend you myself. Aleron, would you please find another pitcher of water for me." I didn't want to know why he was here, why Elton was speaking with him. I just wanted him gone, and them separate. A small part of me didn't want them in the same room, too confusing.
I pushed it aside, down deep, perched on the edge of Elton's bed and delicately probed his back.
|
|
|
Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Mar 9, 2006 23:00:07 GMT -5
I noted her confusion at the situation and almost smirked, then remembered the slap and keps my face carefully calm. Picking up the pitcher I nodded to Elton, then made my way out the door, tempted to pause and listen, though I doubted it would be much to hear. Instead I went to the well, drawing water and thinking on what I had learned.
|
|
|
Post by Elton Tulare-Durante (D) on Mar 9, 2006 23:05:49 GMT -5
"Jaid." I hadn't thought she would come. I stared at her. The woman I loved had just had me beaten, and yet I still loved her. I was angry, but she had come.
"Jaid, what is there between us anymore? Anything? or is it just duty and honor?"
|
|
|
Post by Jaiden Liatris-Durante (D) on Mar 9, 2006 23:16:43 GMT -5
The wounds were clean, deep, but not enough to need sutures. I went to the drawer I knew he always kept basic healing supplies. I found some clean pads and bandages. His back already shone with a layer of salve, but needed bandaging.
"Can you sit? I need to bandage these." I ignored his questions, I couldn't answer them right now. He struggled to rise, I put a strong arm beneath him to help.
Once he was upright, he lifted his arms over his head, grimacing and swaying a bit. Carefully I began bandaging him.
"There is always duty and honor, Captain." I tucked the loose end under the rest of the wrap, smoothing it down. I started the next set. Most of the lashed were high, crosshatching his shoulders, but would need several bandages.
"Anything else died a long time ago. You know why."
|
|
|
Post by Elton Tulare-Durante (D) on Mar 12, 2006 21:25:45 GMT -5
I sighed, the pain in my chest for just a moment eclipsing that of my back. Her hands moved across me gently. Killer's hands.
"I do know perfectly well, you've never let me forget. But that doesn't mean I understand." I caught one of her busy, killer's hands, studied it. The silvery traces of scars and nicks, the rough calluses. They were beautiful in my eyes. As was she, more animal grace and killer than woman, but still a thing of beauty.
"Your Grace, upon our return to Winterfell at the completion of this tour of duty, I am resigning my commission as your Captain of the Guard." I drew both of her hands away from me, eased myself back onto the hard bed. I closed my eyes, tired in every part of my being.
A man can only survive so many wounds before dying.
|
|
|
Post by Jaiden Liatris-Durante (D) on Mar 12, 2006 21:32:50 GMT -5
I stood, face expressionless as I stared down at his face, eyes closed. Purple shadows smudged the fragile skin around his eyes, pain etching lines on his face.
My hands burned were he had touched me.
"As you will, Captain. But be warned, your duty is not finished until we return, and I will not let you from my service till we are in Winterfell once more." I wanted to say more, but kept silent.
I left his rooms and saw Aleron in the hallway, returning with the full pitcher.
"Find the healer. And set a servant to assist the Captain should he need it." I said nothing more, just walked away. I knew Elton wouldn't use the assistance. Reports needed finishing and the sanctuary of work called to me.
|
|
|
Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Mar 12, 2006 21:37:12 GMT -5
I looked at Jaiden icily and nodded ackowledgement, entering the room behind her. I set the water at the edge of the bed and looked at Elton carefully; he seemed close to sleep if not already there, his back bandaged. The cup was still mostly full in his ever-relaxing hand, and starting to slip.
After taking the glass I set the edge against his lips. "I fully intend to keep you awake until you drink some of this," I said coolly.
|
|
|
Post by Elton Tulare-Durante (D) on Mar 12, 2006 21:46:07 GMT -5
I listened as her footsteps receded, paused, started again and faded. The boy returned, removed the glass from my hand and set it to my lips. I kept my eyes closed and drained the cup. Cold water slid down my throat, and I could feel the iciness of it seeping through my flesh.
"There, your will be done. And you'll have your accord. I'll train you, fairly, now leave." There was little emotion to my voice. I just wanted to sleep.
|
|
|
Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Mar 12, 2006 21:48:19 GMT -5
I nodded, setting the glass down and refilling it, then turning to leave. "I'll see the healer knocks before coming in," I said as I left to find the chirugeon.
|
|