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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Sept 12, 2007 13:18:47 GMT -5
I gimped into the clinic on the heel of my right foot and the whole of my left. I vaguely wondered if they would have to cut the boot off I knew I could feel blood and swell at the end where the nail of my little toe used to be. Dam buckskin! He just -had- to strike at me whilst I was tending his stall. I was almost fast enough but you could clearly see the outline of his steel shoe where it had impacted the top of my boot. And dam it hurt! I vaguely wondered why little things like this hurt so bad when compared to lesser things like say sword cuts.
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Post by Siegfried de Strasbourg(D) on Sept 12, 2007 14:32:24 GMT -5
From my office, I heard the tingle bell, and Joelle greeted the man. I sunk in more deeply in my notes. She had plenty of time to take his name, and to announce him, as usual.
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Sept 12, 2007 15:24:58 GMT -5
Why oh why must they ask questions whilst I am bleeding? I fixed the lady with my best glare “Gadleon Shahrizai and my horse struck at me and it feels like he took the end of my little toe off. I would rather someone help with the bleeding sooner than later.”
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Post by Siegfried de Strasbourg(D) on Sept 12, 2007 16:03:05 GMT -5
I heard the words from the patient, and rolled my eyes. That was why I wanted someone trained, I thought to myself. I opened the door, and told Joelle, without any formalities, "Don't waist time on the administration."
I looked at the Shahrizai - ah, another one, this one in a bad mood. I sighed. He was standing, he could walk. "This way, please."
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Sept 12, 2007 16:14:56 GMT -5
Oh joy a Skaldi last one of those I saw was trying to cleave my skull with a bloody big ax! I gritted my teeth though and gimped in the direction he indicated. And since I was doing my level best to stay on good terms with the fellow who was soon to be poking and prodding me I slipped to his milk tongue “Thank you Einherjar” it could not hurt to refer to him with his own religious reverence.
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Post by Siegfried de Strasbourg(D) on Sept 12, 2007 16:41:00 GMT -5
I looked at him with curious eyes. The words he said sounded familiar, but... I had no idea how to reply. Nodding quietly, I followed him into the examination room, and bid him sit on the examination bed. "I'll have to cut open your boot, My Lord Shahrizai," I said grimly. "Tell me what, and how, it happened, please."
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Sept 12, 2007 16:51:58 GMT -5
I laid down and held up the foot noting his own language seemed to baffle him so I reverted to mine “I figured you would have to cut it off and my horse struck at me. Feels like he got the very end of my little toe. Not sure if he smashed it all the way off or just took the nail.” Yes, it hurt but when something was being done I could handle pain.
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Post by Siegfried de Strasbourg(D) on Sept 12, 2007 17:18:22 GMT -5
"Well," I said, setting his foot on the stool, that it may be up, and no have more blood loss, no matter how small. "I'll have to see that."
I walked to the counter, and retrieved a basket with equipment, scissors for the boot, and stringent to disinfect the wound. I slipped off my jacket, and sat in front of him, starting to cut the boot. "My name is Siegfried," I said as I worked. "Siegfried de Strasbourg."
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Sept 12, 2007 18:13:45 GMT -5
I averted my gaze as he began opening my boot. I was not squeamish but still had no desire for an intimate look at the inter workings of my toes unless I had to take one by necessity. "Gadleon Shahrizai its nice to meet you Jarl Strasbourg" I did not know his real title if any but well it served to not insult one who was about to poke and prod you. Things like this is why I made sure to learn of the Skladi in the first place.
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Post by Siegfried de Strasbourg(D) on Sept 13, 2007 5:06:26 GMT -5
I chuckled, “Yes, I heard your introduction, M’Lord,” I said as the scissors at last gave way. I smiled amusedly, noting he wasn’t quite looking. I set the boot aside, looking at the wound, and proceeded to clean it as I spoke, taking great care not to move the articulation, should it be broken. “What did you call me, exactly?”
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Sept 13, 2007 5:14:00 GMT -5
It did not feel so bad now that the boot was off. I winced a bit and answered him looking up "A Jarl is a noble of unspecified holdings. They get their position much like our nobles through heredity. A Huskarl on the other hand is one who get authority from their lord. The deal is normally settled with an offering of mead and glory for loyal service."
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Post by Siegfried de Strasbourg(D) on Sept 13, 2007 8:51:42 GMT -5
“Ah.” I paused, thinking, “Then I guess I am. And how have you come to know these things?”
I asked without guile, merely curious, as I finished cleaning the wound. The nail was about to fall off, but it seemed to be somewhat pushed in. I sighed. “Your horse did you in alright, My Lord Shahrizai,” I said. “I must extract the nail, lest it fest and cause you more pain.” I’d said it evenly, not really bothered. Their line was a little on the mad side, and so I almost expected him to tell me to leave it there.
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Sept 13, 2007 9:02:05 GMT -5
“I served on the boarder and I learned my enemy well lest I see another sunrise” I replied evenly. I then looked down at my toe and frowned “Give me something to bite and something to squeeze” pain was an old friend and I knew how to tend it. Though having one’s nail removed with a pair of pliers was not the most pleasant of experiences.
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Post by Siegfried de Strasbourg(D) on Sept 13, 2007 13:44:37 GMT -5
"Of course," I replied quietly. "In fact, I will ask you to turn, and lie down, please." Letting him to do so, I placed his foot on the table, and moved back to the cabinet, where I took my instruments, delicate pincers, and a small cutter. It would be a delicate affair, one that would call for dexterity, but not one that would be long and painful. I handed him a biter, and gave him two balls, one for each hand. "It won't be very long," I said matter-of-factly.
His enemy was the Skaldi. It was not lost on me, but this was no such time to speak of it, though I would likely bring back the subject later.
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Sept 13, 2007 13:58:32 GMT -5
I did not say anything but simply turned. I took the bitter and placed it between my teeth and got a loose grip on both balls in either hand. Then closing my eyes I cleared my mind and tied desperately to relax knowing tension made pain worse. I waited till I felt the first signs before even bothering to tighten teeth or fingers.
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Post by Siegfried de Strasbourg(D) on Sept 13, 2007 14:54:20 GMT -5
"Let out a breath," I instructed. When he did, I cut the nail a little, and found the strand of flesh that kept it hanging was rather small. I waited for his tension to be down, and expertly, a deft cut and it was done, and some of the Menekhetan salve was applied. I started bandaging the wound silently, letting my patient resume his spirits.
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Sept 13, 2007 15:47:28 GMT -5
I let out my breath when instructed and truth be known the cleaning hurt worse than the cutting. Though I did not really tense on the bitter or the balls and soon set them aside as the Skladi started bandaging my toe. It did not exactly tickle but I had gotten worse while playing with my sisters. Now that brought a smile to my face and I reflected on home. “Seems like the toe felt worse at first than it really was at the end of things.”
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Post by Siegfried de Strasbourg(D) on Sept 13, 2007 16:10:29 GMT -5
"Always does," I replied with a small grin. "Has to do with the shock of the weight. I once had to deal with some whose to got completely smashed. Now... that was worth shedding a few tears."
I was done with the bandaging, and set about cleaning the instruments. Conversationally, I asked, "So, how did your ennemy do in the realm of tending toes?"
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Sept 13, 2007 18:43:55 GMT -5
I sat up and looked at my foot commenting on the first rather than the last initially. "Not always" I pointed to the scar on my face "Skladi battle ax nicked me. Was a small thing I did not even think about it as that night was full of many threats." At last I looked at him "It went septic. I was in an ugly fever for a week for a while it was touch and go."
I then gave a wry smile "And you do well with toes. I am careful to get every nick looked at promptly after that little incident." Then as an aside I added "From your speech pattern I would guess you have spent little if any time with your countrymen."
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Post by Siegfried de Strasbourg(D) on Sept 14, 2007 4:36:56 GMT -5
He had me confused a little. His enemy had tended to his wound? I gave him a curious look but mulled it over. “Thank you,” I replied. “I do hope to do my best – I live for my work, really. As for my past,” I paused, looking at him. “Likely, the fathers of your comrades found me. I was picked out of a pile of bodies by the Marshall of Camlach, and adopted by the Baronne de Strasbourg, who raised me as her own. I’ve little to no memories of my kin.”
I did remember Karlo, the bandit chief who had fostered me in my so very early years, had treated me as his pet first, then as his son. I had a vague understanding that he was not my father – but that was where it stopped. I’d made my peace with the mysteries of my past, really. I was D’Angeline, at heart.
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Sept 14, 2007 5:31:08 GMT -5
I studied my foot more and nodded my head "Makes sense really. The land of your people is harsh and unforgiving. That is probably why the people are so tough." I looked at him at last and added "Only fools look at them as unlearned barbarians though and I like to think I am no fool." I smiled a bit "My sincere thanks on the toe."
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Post by Siegfried de Strasbourg(D) on Sept 14, 2007 5:49:09 GMT -5
“I know how people look on the Skaldi,” I replied more sternly than I intended, my eyes on my work. “I am reminded almost daily – and to be honest, I’ve no real knowledge of those you call my people, or of their land. I was raised D’Angeline, and feels as such, really.”
I smiled a little more, and added, “It was men such as you, who took me to my adoptive mother. I cannot hold against you the errors of others.” I looked up, and found the Shahrizai was smiling – I grinned a little wider, for the sake of it.
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Sept 14, 2007 8:23:50 GMT -5
“I can tell you a bit about your roots sometime if you like.” I looked down and shrugged “For all that we D’Angelines are blessed by the gods we are also some arrogant prigs. At least with the Skladi it is somewhat warranted by history. Other races we look down our noses at never did anything to us at all.”
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Post by Siegfried de Strasbourg(D) on Sept 14, 2007 8:58:04 GMT -5
“I know it is,” I replied with a smile that was very polite. “But for one who was raised D’Angeline, it is rather annoying, to be judged on sole appearance. I have been told to go home, you know – and I’ve lived here a long time. Likely, should the war arise, I would take the side of my adopted Nation.”
It was strange – it seemed this man was offering me friendship – or at least, some kind of alliance. Yet, he hated the Skaldi, and had fought them. It warranted curiosity, at the very least. “Mayhap we could… over a drink? You happen to be my last patient of the day,” I noted practically.
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Sept 14, 2007 9:24:00 GMT -5
“I can relate to prejudice I am Shahrizai after all.” I looked down at my bandaged foot “And I would take you up on it, but I have been sitting her wondering what I am going to do for a boot.” I frowned a bit “Wonder if I can hop home on one foot? Or maybe quite literally hop to a drink”
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Post by Siegfried de Strasbourg(D) on Sept 14, 2007 9:59:08 GMT -5
I smiled, assessing his foot. “You’re very welcome to borrow one of mine, or to stay around, and send for boots at your home. I have an errand boy who could do this service for you.”
I was starting to find him rather personable – and not crazy – so he wasn’t the insane one their matriarch had consulted about – that was a relief.
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Sept 14, 2007 10:35:09 GMT -5
“Better send the lad as I think you are enough larger than me you could use me for a toothpick” it was true he was an imposing fellow to say the least. I on the other hand used lithe and quick as my stock and trade despite ample muscle mass on my body. “I do hope you do not mind waiting a bit for that drink?”
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Post by Siegfried de Strasbourg(D) on Sept 14, 2007 15:09:13 GMT -5
“I do not,” I replied. In fact, it would do me some good, to be out some. Besides, he was intruiguing, to say the least. “It will be just a moment,” I said. Without waiting, I went out and gave an order, and came back. “The boy will be here shortly,” I stated without much emotion. “Can you hop to the office, in the meantime, or shall I carry you there?” That latter part was said with a mischievous grin. I rather found the mental image amusing.
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Post by Gadleon Shahrizai on Sept 14, 2007 20:31:44 GMT -5
"I can hop thank you" I managed to get up on my one good foot and tried out the other. "In fact doubt there is much hoping needed aside from me being on one boot. This should heal up neatly with no real fuss."
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Post by Siegfried de Strasbourg(D) on Sept 15, 2007 11:06:01 GMT -5
"Oh, it will," I said with a smile. "And I would be grateful if you gave me news of the effects of the salve I used on your toe."
The boy came, and I directed him to the Shahrizai with a simple gesture and a reassuring smile.
"Name your errand, M'Lord," I stated matter-of-factly, noting the boy was shaking a little as he bowed to my patient.
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