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Post by karenee on Aug 23, 2006 16:06:29 GMT -5
Kaie grimaced and looked at the riverside, trying to identify where they had come out that morning. Would Cyfnach make it? She looked at his pale face and sighed. He was doing the tough warrior act again. She'd become familiar with it watching Rhakar. They made good friends. She wished she could ask whether Cyfnach intended to forgive Rhakar, but felt he wasn't yet ready to speak on the matter. On the banks, a rugged outcropping of logs piled against a jagged cliff caught her eye. "We're nearly there! Hang on!" Kicking hard, she steered the log around the bend, trying to stay close to the edge.
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Post by Dred on Aug 23, 2006 17:41:38 GMT -5
Cyfnach did everything in his power to simply hang onto the log as his body became more dead weight than anything else. He tried to keep his appearance the same as he would normally act but that itself required more energy than he was wont to give.
*****
Rhakar coughed several times to clear his lungs of the water as he nodded his head. If you're both ready, we can make our way up the side of the stream. Let's go slow and cautious though. It looks somewhat slick from the rains of several days ago and I don't have the strength to swim again.
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Post by karenee on Aug 24, 2006 12:41:44 GMT -5
When Kaie saw the raft drawn up on the bank, she knew they'd found the right place. "Cyfnach?" He was almost unconscious. She pulled the log into the shallows and tossed some broken brush over the raft so it would be less visible. Deep footprints led up the bank, some of them small enough to belong to Rita. She tugged Cyfnach onto the bank and released the log into the current. How was she going to get him to safety? "Wait here. I'm going for help."
She crawled up the bank, feeling her exhaustion with every move. Above, the branches rustled and she looked up. "Rhakar?"
______
With one look at Kaie's pale face Beagan knew she'd reached the end of her strength. Below, a man lay limp on the bank, his feet still in the water. "Just wait there," he said. "I'll bring him up and put him beside Rhakar."
She dropped into a hollow and rested her head against the side. "Thank you."
With a bit of help, the man managed to gain his feet. Could it really be Cyfnach of the night before? How had he survived? Beagan half walked, half hauled him up the bank and into the sheltered clearing Rhakar had found. Rita looked up from her position beside Rhakar and said something in her strangely flat language. Rhakar opened his eyes and turned his head. "Cyfnach."
Beagan turned to Cyfnach. "Here is a place beside Rhakar. I will find Kaie and remove our tracks."
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Post by Dred on Aug 24, 2006 14:32:18 GMT -5
Rhakar rested as best he could and stared at Cyfnach as Beagan left to cover the tracks they had left. Kaie. I'm glad you've made it. I noticed some lights on the far side of the river after we made it here.
Cyfnach collapsed and immediately went to sleep. Rhakar looked up at Rita and then back to kaie. Well ladies, we've got some work ahead of us if we're to make it back to the others. I trust they are headed to the secret hollow.
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Post by karenee on Aug 24, 2006 14:59:27 GMT -5
Kaie yawned. "I think we'll be staying here until you and Cyfnach gain strength," she mumbled, then curled up on the bare ground where she'd collapsed and fell asleep.
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Post by Dred on Aug 24, 2006 21:46:29 GMT -5
It didn't take long for Rhakar to feel his head slumping forward. He waited until he saw Beagan return and noticed that Rita appeared to be sleeping but he couldn't tell for certain as her back was to him.
Knowing that it wouldn't be wise for them all to sleep at the same time he tried to form the thoughts needed to ask Beagan to watch but he felt himself drifting off as his eyes closed.
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Post by karenee on Aug 28, 2006 9:30:57 GMT -5
Beagan settled in to watch over his unlikely companions and tried to understand how his life had changed so completely. Had he decided while he watched Rhakar get his beating? When his father had vanished into the slave pit? He turned to look at Kaie sleeping in what appeared to him to be a very uncomfortable position. She had given herself in service of her friends. How could he admire her so, and that after what he had nearly done?
Shaking his head against the sudden fear of discovery, he looked at Rhakar. Dried blood still caked his face. There were several gaping cuts on his temples and cheekbones; he would have to get cleaned up tomorrow before the wounds festered. Would Rhakar survive? Glaring out over the water, Beagan suddenly wished he had followed his mentor long ago.
Kaie moaned and shivered in her sleep. She had to be uncomfortable. Perhaps he should move her so her limbs wouldn't be painful in the morning. He leaned over, then wondered what would happen if she woke to find him there. Grimacing, he reminded himself she was exhausted enough to actually sleep like that and he was doing her a favor. Strands of her hair tangled in his fingers as he lifted her shoulders to help her out of the strangely doubled-over heap she had managed to make of herself. He arranged her on her side as he remembered his mother sleeping and returned to keep watch and battle the guilt that now threatened to overwhelm him.
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Post by Dred on Aug 28, 2006 10:00:08 GMT -5
He stirred at the night sounds and sat up to find the night still dark but the creatures continued to move about at hunt. The wolves were some distance away in the forest but they could be easily heard even from here. Their voices carried clearly along the water to reach them.
He glanced around at his companions and noticed Beagan sitting quiet and watchful. Rhakar nodded his head and smiled weakly at the young man. There was much yet to discuss and he could tell by the strain on his face that Beagan had more to tell but he wouldn't press the young man. Life had been very difficult and he didn't want to push away the help they would need.
Rolling over, he drifted back to sleep, knowing they still had several hours before dawn.
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Post by karenee on Aug 28, 2006 11:32:24 GMT -5
Kaie drank from the tiny spring on the edge of the clearing, grateful for the dense brush hiding them from possible discovery. Only moments after she had wakened, Beagan had collected his sword and pushed through the brush saying he'd return before night. She could only hope he wasn't intending to betray them all. Ripping a section from her tunic, she washed it as thoroughly as she could and returned to wipe away the dirt and mud from Rhakar and Cyfnach's wounds. She knelt beside Rhakar and sighed. He seemed feverish.
___
Beagan thought over his plan once again. As he approached the village, he straightened his shoulders and tried to appear confident.
"Halt!" Good, Calbhach was guarding the gate. He had always been more tolerant of Beagan than the others.
"It is I, Beagan."
Calbhach stared down at him for a moment. "Where have you been? Kaefeir was asking about you. He has not yet heard your report on the task he set you. Get inside, but do not bother him before he breaks fast."
Glad to get off so easily, Beagan hurried through the gate and found his quarters much as he had left them, though someone had evidently rummaged through his few belongings---in search of what, he couldn't imagine. Gathering everything together, he set them neatly aside, trying to make it look as though he were merely arranging the items instead of preparing to remove them again.
He would have to face Kaefeir or it could very well be himself under pursuit along with the others. Reviewing his story again, he gathered a couple other items from among his father's belongings in hope of returning them to him soon and looked around. How simple it was to leave so much behind, and how little really seemed to matter in this house that no longer felt like home. He tucked a bit of embroidery his mother had hung on the wall into his pack and went out to see if Kaefeir was prepared to admit him yet.
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Post by Dred on Aug 28, 2006 15:54:37 GMT -5
Rhakar stirred uneasily as his eyes fluttered open. Everything around him was blurry and although he blinked and rubbed his eyes, nothing became clearer. He felt hot and cold all at once and knew something to be wrong inside him. Can anyone here me?
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Post by Child of Immanuel on Aug 29, 2006 7:18:41 GMT -5
Rita turned over to look at him. She had obviously been lying awake for a while. She said nothing.
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Post by karenee on Aug 29, 2006 9:08:42 GMT -5
Kaie hurried back from the spring with the dripping cloth in her hand. "Oh, good, you're awake." She thought for a moment. "Uh, Rita, could you curl one of those leaves and bring Rhakar a drink? I really wish I had a bowl, it would make this so much easier."
As Rhakar tried to sit up she turned to glare at him. "Don't you dare move! You're a mess, and who knows what is broken inside. I'm no doctor, but I know enough to make sure you don't move. Now, I've finished your face as best I can without thread. It's clean, at least. Let me look at that shoulder."
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Post by Dred on Aug 30, 2006 13:40:15 GMT -5
He stayed where he was and tried not to move but he felt himself struggling inside against whatever was eating away at him. I can't see very well at all. I must have a sickness or some poison working through me. All I can see now is vague shapes and impressions. I can hear you but I can't really see you.
Cyfnach stirred and sat up very slowly. Where are we? The last thing I remember was struggling around in the water.
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Post by karenee on Aug 30, 2006 20:20:51 GMT -5
Removing the pad she had hastily bound to Rhakar's shoulder the day before, she gasped. The wound was an ugly yellow-green and smelled bad. "Rita! See how much water you can bring. I'll need a lot!"
Shuddering a little, Kaie tried to press away the foul liquid built up around the site. "Cyfnach, do you know anything about healing?" She hesitated, realising she was still speaking in English and repeated herself so he would understand. "I don't know if I can do this."
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Post by Dred on Aug 31, 2006 21:36:52 GMT -5
Cyfnach slowly made his way over to where Kaie knelt tending Rhakar's wounds and noticed the bad wound. This isn't good at all. This has been festering. It makes me think of the poisons used to torture those they wanted to keep in pain for a long time. It works through the body and slowly removes all your senses.
He leaned close to Rhakar and whispered into his ear. Forgive me...brother. I knew not that you were truly a changed man. This wound is very, very bad. We might need to take your arm.
Rhakar nodded his head in understanding and spoke in hushed tones through a slugish mouth. Do what must be done Cyfnach. Whatever happens, you have my trust.
He reached out his good arm to try to find that of Kaie. Forcing a small smile he imagined where she sat. It will be ok. Trust Cyfnach now. He'll know what to do however this goes.
Cyfnach gently pushed Rhakar back onto his back and immediately began pressing on the wound to work the puss and poison out. The foul odor coming from the wound made the bile rise in the mouths of any who breathed deeply. Rhakar gritted his teeth to prevent crying out at the pain knowing that this was necessary.
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