Delivering Relief

Writers: Chelle, Miriah
Date Posted: 6th September 2012

Characters: Karhal, Chupsin
Description: Karhal watches Chupsin work
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 10, day 1 of Turn 6

Karhal

This wasn't the type of case the healer preferred. Still, there he was,
following along behind Karhal waiting to find out what he was going to see.
These things happened from
time to time and it was his responsibility to clean up after the fact most
times. It was a courtesy the
Hold provided.

Karhal hadn't even spoken to the man except for his curt "Follow me," that
he had given. None too fond of Healers for the time being, especially one
who tended to grate on his nerves as a rule, he had little to say to
Chupsin. Instead he lead the man to the room and the small family that had
requested him.

Within lay an elderly woman surrounded by her family, but obviously in pain
and obviously dying. Karhal turned to Chupsin, his eyes cool. "They want to
know if you can help her." Though he said little, he was carefully weighing
the man and his reactions.

"Can I ask what has happened to her before now?" He wondered if she had been
in pain long or if things had just come on recently. Moving through the
small crowd to get near her, he opened his bag and began to take her vital
signs as he waited for her relatives to start speaking.

A younger woman cleared her throat and spoke softly, grief lacing her words.
"She's just been ill. She didn't want the Healers and wouldn't let us go
fetch you or anyone." There was a sniffle. "She's been having pain in her
stomach and chest. She knew she was dying, but now..she won't even wake up
and we know she's hurting. We just..." The young woman looked at Karhal,
wringing her hands.

Karhal's words were clipped, his face expressionless. "They want you to
ease her passing."

Chupsin wasn't going to kill the woman, though he could. He could ease her
suffering, though. After a quick check and what they said, it was likely
that one of her internal organs was diseased and might burst soon. There was
nothing he could do for it. With a frown, he reached into his bag. "Get me
some wine."

The younger woman looked to Karhal and he gestured with his head towards
the cabinets in the room. With a grieved look on her face, she came back
with a skin full of red wine and handed it to the Chupsin. Karhal stood
stiffly and observing every motion Chupsin made, spoke softly. "Your plans,
Healer?"

His first instinct was to ignore the man. Who the shells was he to interrupt
what Chupsin was doing? And anyway, it was healer business-not guard
business and Chupsin also hated explaining himself. He was doing what
the folk wanted him to do anyway. "To treat the patient," he replied
easily as he took the wine. He poured some of it into a cup then emptied
a small sachet into that. Stirring until most of the contents dissolved, he
deemed it satisfactory. "If she can still swallow, we'll need to get her to
drink this. If not, I can give it through a needlethorn." He was going to
need assistance since he couldn't lift her into position on his own and
Faranth help him if he choked her.

Karhal's voice was just as easy and calm. "I figured that, but also figured
you would know more than general concepts and would be able to explain
to these good people here. She is their family."

The young woman spoke up. "We can't even get her to drink water." She
glanced at the medicine and back at Karhal. "What's going to happen?"

Seeing her look at the guard again instead of himself-when he was the one
doing the work here-Chupsin's lips got a bit thinner. "You're right. She is
going to die soon. Her organs are basically shutting down one-by-one. This
is a very painful process to live through. So I'm going to send some of this
infusion through her veins and it'll keep her blissfully unaware and out of
pain
until she passes. I'm going to say she'll probably sleep for awhile but I
don't expect
her to make it through the morning."

Tears leaked down the young girl's face, but she nodded in acceptance.
"Alright. Thank you. Thank you very much. We don't want her dying in pain."
She turned to Karhal and gave a watery smile. "Thank you for bringing him,
Karhal."

Karhal inclined his head. "You're welcome. Let me know if there's anything
else you need." He turned back to Chupsin. "What else will they need to do?"

Most Pernese had their own rituals to bury the dead. Holders usually wrapped
them in shrouds and then put them in caves for the most part, though
occasionally a family might choose a patch of soil to put them in which
could be used
later for a fertile field if they wished it. "When the time comes, I just
need to know
when so I can record it in the Death Records and the family will be able to
bury
her with the rest as they wish."

He had readied the needlethorn and was now puncturing the skin and entering
the vein. The solution began to enter her body. There wasn't a visible
reaction but the healer
noted the pulse slowing. The muscles eventually were less tense.

As the woman began to relax, the family shifted, apparently intent on
standing watch over the sickly woman. The young woman who had done
all of the speaking, moved to grip Chupsin's hand. "Thank you. Thank you
for allowing her to die with a little peace. It means so much to us. "
She turned to Karhal. "Will you stay with us?"

Karhal shook his head. "I'm sorry, but no. "

She nodded. "I understand. She would too."

Karhal simply nodded and turned to Chupsin. "I'll escort you back,
unless you need to stay."

"No, there's no need. I have others to see to anyhow." When he was done,
he packed up his things and threw his bag over his shoulder. He didn't need
to say you're welcome since he was simply doing his duty. "Next time, please
come see me before something gets very bad. Perhaps I could do more."
Turning, he exited the small hold, ready to get back to Alivya.

Karhal spoke softly just for Chupsin's ears. "They were following her
wishes. There is no need to make them feel more guilt than they already do."

"When there may be lives at stake in the future, there is," he said
seriously as they walked outside and back towards the Hold. "And when people
think they should make a decision instead of a trained healer making it-it
undermines
what my craft has worked for."

The man seriously lacked empathy, Karhal thought silently. He made no
further comments, instead giving a slight nod and turning on his heel. He
made a
mental note to avoid seeing the Healer if he was in need. He may be skilled,
but knew little of how people really felt.

Last updated on the September 24th 2012

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Delivering Relief