From alt.pub.dragons-inn Mon Mar 20 09:08:24 1995 Xref: netcom.com alt.pub.dragons-inn:8204 Path: netcom.com!ix.netcom.com!howland.reston.ans.net!gatech!news-feed-1.peachnet.edu!insosf1.infonet.net!solaris.cc.vt.edu!news.alpha.net!mvb.saic.com!netnews.wku.edu!wkuvx2.wku.edu!hilanse Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn Subject: [Cernborn] After Breakfast Message-ID: <1995Mar16.121736.1@wkuvx2.wku.edu> From: hilanse@wkuvx1.wku.edu (Wonko The Sane) Date: 16 Mar 95 12:17:36 CDT Organization: Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY Nntp-Posting-Host: wkuvx2 Nntp-Posting-User: hilanse Lines: 150 ------------------------- Post #8: After Breakfast ------------------------- Cernborn finished his meal, frowning slightly, wondering if the Elven maid had decided against joining him in his task of locating Marque. He silently hoped that she had for her sake; she did not seem to understand what Marque was capable of doing. He turned to Gyles and Mi'cha and said, "I do not believe that the lady Athorbalo wants to join us in our quest after all." As Cernborn finished his statement, the door to the Inn swung open, rain splattering on the figure that had entered. The figure limped in, staggering as if under a heavy burden. Cernborn watched the figure for a moment, then his eyes widened in shock: it was Athorbalo. She looked up and smiled grimly at Cernborn as she collapsed. He got up quickly and motioned to Gyles to follow. He noted the two wounds on her leg and several new gashes on her face. "Gyles, please pick her up!" He stated very businesslike and grabbed his cloak. "Master Littlefair! May we use one of the private dining areas to tend to her? And dost thou have any warm blankets?" Gyles picked her up, and Bob led them into the closest room while yelling at someone in the kitchen to bring clean blankets. Mi'cha followed. Once inside, Cernborn had Gyles carefully lay Athorbalo on the table. He rolled up part of his cloak, using it as a pillow for her head and the rest of it as a blanket. He visually inspected her wounds and noted that the blood was not clotting properly. Checking out her face and hands, he saw that her lips were tinged bluish as were the fingernails. A scullery maid with an armful of blankets timidly poked her head into the room. "Thou! Come here quickly," Cernborn commanded the maid. As she approached, Cernborn muttered something that no one understood while moving his hand in a strange upward gesture. Suddenly, Athorbalo was completely dry. "Get her clothes off. Take care not to leave any cloth in the wounds, then wrap her well in the blankets," he told the maid. Mi'cha moved up to help while Gyles moved away from the table. Cernborn then started to pray. When he finished, he touched Athorbalo lightly on the cheek. The bluish tinge left her lips and nails and her breathing became deeper. The blood also stopped flowing so easily as if it were finally able to clot. He started another prayer; this time holding her hand while he prayed. As he prayed, her wounds started to close. They appeared to be completely healed when he finally ceased his chant. Athorbalo opened her eyes and smiled at Cernborn, "Thanks..." "Shhh...do not try to talk. Thou wilt still be weak for a time. We can hear thy tale later." Cernborn turned to Mi'cha and the maid. "If you would, take her to her room and get her bathed and in bed. Bring her, and make her eat, some light broth and plenty of fruit juice. And then see to it that she sleeps. She has lost a lot of blood which I cannot replenish." Mi'cha nodded and took charge of the maid. Gyles stepped in and insisted on carrying her up to her room despite Athorbalo's protestations that since she had made it this far, she could make it to her room on her own. Mi'cha and Gyles took Athorbalo up to her room while the maid ran to get the broth and juice. As they left, Cernborn collapsed on a chair, obviously drained from his magical expenditures. He sat for a time with his face in his hands. This Marque had harmed too many people. It was past time to stop him. One way or another, Cernborn vowed, this would end here, in Generica. After 20 minutes, Cernborn wearily rose to his feet. Ducking as he headed out the door, he made his way to Athorbalo's room to check in on his patient. He knocked on the door before he went in. His knocking received no response, and then he heard Athorbalo yell hoarsely, "Take that stuff away!", followed by a crash and a splatter. Cernborn stepped inside to see what was taking place. Athorbalo looked up at Cernborn, then to the maid who had been trying to get her to drink the broth that was now on the floor. "Would you please explain to her that I do not eat of any animal?" The maid looked to Cernborn, "My Lord, you did tell me to make sure that she had plenty of broth and fruit juice." "Yes, thou didst well," he replied. "Give her the juice and have the kitchen make up some vegetable broth." She left hastily and Cerborn walked to Athorbalo's bedside. "Art thou feeling better, my Lady?" Athorbalo leaned farther into the pillows, after exerting herself over the food she had become even more exhausted. She smiled weakly, "Yes, I am, and I still must thank you for all that you did." "'Twas the least I could do." Cernborn shook his head, "It was my fault for not warning thee more about Marque, 'twas he that did this to thee, yes?" Athorbalo nodded, "I was captured after I left the Inn last evening, shot with a paralysis dart or something." She paused and looked to the door, where Gyles and Mi'cha stood. "I see that we have new companions." She smiled and began to tell the story of her capture and escape. She finished the tale just as the maid returned with the new broth. "Drink what thou canst of this," Cernborn gently ordered, bringing the bowl up to her lips and helping her drink. She only took a couple sips before she sank back into the pillows, and then fell asleep, exhausted. "Please," Cernborn told the maid, "stay with her whilst she sleeps. When she wakes, again have her drink what she can of the broth and juice. If aught happens, come get one of the three of us immediately. I will clear it with Master Littlefair that thee might stay here in place of thy regular duties." The maid nodded. "I shall be down in a minute, my lady Mi'cha, Sir Gyles. I wish to remain with Athorbalo just a few minutes longer to ensure that I did not miss anything." Gyles and Mi'cha nodded and quietly left, returning to the commons area to discuss what had happened. Cernborn sat down on the edge of the bed and studied Athorbalo's face; one could tell it was an attractive face, in spite of the terrible scarring. He deliberated a moment, indecision telegraphed in all his motions. Finally, his face set, he started up a new chant. As he chanted, his fingers traced over the old scars on Athorbalo's face. The maid watched in amazement as the scars disappeared from under his fingers. The chanting ceased. "Lass," Cernborn said quietly. "Didst thou notice any other markings on her when she bathed?" "No...err...yes," the maid stammered. "Her hands and arms. But they're not like the ones on the face." Cernborn carefully inspected her hands and arms. Myriad fine lines decorated the knuckles. Similar lines appeared infrequently up the arms. These were obviously the penalty of learning how to handle a blade. He left them alone. "Do not tell her what thou hast just witnessed," Cernborn ordered. "Come get me the moment she wakes." The maid nodded and curtsied slightly as Cernborn left the room. ---------------- Lord Captain Cernborn tolsen@leland.stanford.edu Athorbalo hilanse@wkuvx1.wku.edu Mi'cha Ning'ra jmc@ataxia.confusion.net Gyles Dormani virtuesr@gps1.laafb.af.mil