You Do Get Into Scraps

Writers: Estelle, Miriah, Suzee
Date Posted: 8th September 2020

Characters: Bryvin, Varlin, Lusilk, Lorican, Dunrik, Garion
Description: Lusilk is brought to the infirmary, and the healer remembers treating her once before...
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 5, day 2 of Turn 10
Notes: Follows BLW: The Final Act, with flashback to five Turns ago

Bryvin

Lusilk

Garion

The healer came running out of his office when he heard the raised
voices and shouting coming toward the clinic. It wasn't uncommon for
injuries to occur amongst the workmen still finishing the Weyrhold's
newer buildings or excavating the... what he saw in Dunrik's arms
wiped all other thoughts out of his head. "Over there," he said
pointing to a bed. Then he grabbed a tray of clean tools and set
them down on a table, slathered his hands and began to work. "Out,
out," he shooed the hovering men.

Working quickly Garion cleaned the wound and staunched the slowed
bleeding. He found the cracked rib and treated it gently as he worked.
He turned her with the help of his assistants then he paused after a
good look at her back and leaned over to get a look at her face. "My
my, you do get into scrapes," he breathed.

"Sir?" the journeyman asked.

"Nothing," Garion, half smiled and finished stitching up her wound and
applying numbweed.

~~~flashback begins~~~

Bryvin rode through the dense forests off the beaten path for more
than an hour leading the pack runner and the beast carrying the
blindfolded healer. Captain ranged before and behind and would give
cry if there were anyone following.

Garion wasn't fond of runner riding and his long legs dangled on
either side of the beast as he held onto the saddle. "How much
father," he called.

"Hush," Bryvin told him. "We're almost there." They'd already had
their own conversation about the situation and need for secrecy. He'd
only told the man there was someone who'd been beaten and required
care. He'd assured the steward he would not speak to the people other
than to ask questions about health. No names and he would not
recognize them if he ever saw them again. Once Bryvin was satisfied
he'd given the man a heavy purse and some even heavier threats. But
it was the best he could do on such short notice.

He stopped short of the camp and repeated the avian calls he'd used
previously before resuming the trek with the beasts in tow.

As they approached the cothold, a man stepped silently from the shadowed
side of the building. Varlin had hardly slept these last few days,
barely moving from his post keeping watch over their hiding place, but
the sounds of the approaching runners had put him instantly on the
alert. He was relieved to see their former visitor, and the healer's
knots on the man with him.

"She's in there." He pointed to the door as Bryvin removed the healer's
blindfold.

Bryvin gave a sharp jerk of his head toward the door and the healer
pulled his bag off the runner and ducked inside without a word. Bryvin
then grabbed both runners and hitched them to a stout limb but with
enough slack for them to graze on the sparse grass. He turned to
Varlin, "I brought some clothing and supplies."

"Thanks." Varlin came over to help unload the runner's packs. "It's good
to have the food. She needs to build up her strength." He glanced over
his shoulder towards the cot. He didn't know much about childbirth, but
what little he did made him fear for Lusilk. She was still so weak. "I'd
hunt, but I don't like to go too far from the cot, not yet."

Lusilk had been sleeping and the sudden entrance of a stranger rousing
her abruptly from her sleep brought a violent reaction from the woman.
She rolled from the bed to her knees with a grunt, pulled her dagger
from the pillow, and without thought threw it towards what she, in her
half-asleep perspective, saw as the immediate danger. Lusilk being off
balance from the pregnancy was the only thing that saved the healer;
the knife spun barely a breath from his neck and landed with an audible
thunk in the door frame. Lusilk crawled backwards into a corner, a
snarl on her face.

Garion gave a meep of startlement and fear bolting back out the door
"s-she tried to kill me."

Having been holdless for a time Bryvin understood. "There's snares in
that bag." he pointed. Then whipped around to look at the healer. He
shook his head at Varlin. "Maybe you can tell her the man is here to
help?"

Varlin cursed under his breath, dropped the pack and hurried over. "Lu -
it's all right. He's a healer. He's here to help you." Shards, if she'd
not missed...and he'd nearly given up her name. He'd have had to kill
the other man, too. Wary of more knives, he peered around the door.
"It's all right. You're safe."

The adrenaline was enough to wake her completely, but it took a moment
before her breathing evened and she recognized her surroundings after
taking a moment to look around. The snarl slowly dropped and she moved
slowly out of the corner and back towards the bed. Her limbs trembled
as she rose from her crouch. " I didn't know." She sat slowly, rubbing
her eyes.

"It doesn't matter. My fault. I should have warned you." Varlin stepped
inside, approached cautiously and crouched beside the bed. "The healer
will help you. Derilt's friend brought him here blindfolded. He can't
betray us. Can I ask him to come in?"

Even though Varlin was one of the few people she'd ever trusted, Lusilk
still shrank away from him as he neared. She was still too raw from the
sudden burst of energy. Arms clasped tightly around her chest, she
gave a brisk nod. "Yes. You can finish the business outside if you
need to. " **Don't leave me alone with a stranger, please. He might
hurt me. I can't trust anyone. Don't be foolish. You're a burden. Just
get this over with.** "I'm fine now."

He hesitated a moment, lifted a hand as if to touch her shoulder, then
held back. "All right." It made sense, he thought, that she'd want this
private. "I'll be right outside. You can call, if you need me." He rose
and walked over to the door, pulled the knife from the frame. "You can
come in now. She knows you're here to help her."

Garion cleared his throat gently as he approached the door with his
bag. His eyes were wide as he took in her appearance. "I'm sorry I
startled you ma'am." he said gently. In his best healer trained manner
he moved slowly and non threateningly through the door. All the
while, inside him anger welled for whatever monsters had abused this
woman so terribly. Though from the tone of the overheard
conversation, he knew it wasn't _this_ man. "May I examine your
hurts?"

Lusilk stayed on the bed, her eyes following Varlin as he left. Her
expression was blank as her gaze shifted to the healer. She studied
him only for a moment before slowly nodding. She didn't relax, but
kept her arms tight around her chest as the Healer approached. "I'
fine now. Sorry."

He nodded his acceptance of her apology and smiled. "See this," he
asked as he stroked his shoulder knots. "They mean that I have
promised to do no harm. So while I can see you need some good food and
lots of it, why don't you tell me where you hurt."

Her reply was weary. "I know what the knots mean." She sighed and
slowly turned, pulling up the back of her top to display her back and
upper hips. They were covered with old bruises and scars. "Everywhere.
I hurt everywhere. And I'm so hungry, but can't keep food down very
much."

Garion ground his teeth together at the sight of her injuries thinking
that if he were to have the perpetrator in his hands at some point, he
might just forget what he'd promised when he'd earned his knots. But
instead he said in a comforting voice, "Then let's try a bit of broth
at first and see how that sets." He handed her a flash with a reed
straw. He'd kept it warm by packing it in coals inside a leather
pouch. Then after washing his hands in redwort he began the task of
cleaning her wounds and slathering generous amounts of numbweed in the
obvious places.

Bryvin pulled out some prepared food from one of his packs and handed
them to the man as they stacked the other supplies in a convenient
spot. "Do you think this is enough for a week or so?"

"Yes, if I can trap something in the snares then we'll eat well
enough." It was much more than he was used to have, as a holdless man,
but Lusilk needed the extra food. He eyed the man warily. "Have you
decided how I can... repay you?"

"I may have a request from time to time," Bryvin said with a
significant look. He knew a competent man when he saw one. "But that
can wait. For now, nothing is required."

The moment he put his hands on her back, Lusilk tensed, going stiff.
Even after taking the flask and sipping it slowly and carefully she
didn't relax. The broth warmed her belly, soothing the ache of
hunger. It was bland but good, she decided. "Thank you." Despite
the sting of the red wort and then the blissful numbing of numbweed,
she didn't stop watching him over her shoulder, eyes wearily sharp as
though expecting worse once the numbing was finished. She'd been
half-heartedly treated before, then had been subjected to further
pain; the only difference now was that she wasn't chained.

She drained the broth and found that though there was a faint hint on
nausea, she didn't feel the urge to vomit. She waited for another
moment as it eased. "Is there more?"

"Of course," he smiled. "Though this one won't be as warm. If there's
a fire we can heat it."

~~End Flashback~~

Lorican hesitated, reluctant to leave Lusilk's side despite the healer's
orders and the pain from his wounded shoulder. A journeyman came over
and tried to lead him away. "Will she be all right?"

Dunrik gently took Lorican's arm. "Lad, you're hurt. Let the Healer do
his work and get yourself patched up. Silgan will need you awake and
ready when he comes around. The poor thing will be confused. "
Dunrik's voice was gentle, but insistent. "Come on. They'll do right
by her."

Last updated on the October 13th 2020

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

You Do Get Into Scraps