The Lost Princess - Chapter 28

They reached a run down building not far from the pub and she stared at the peeling paint on the wood chipped exterior. The windows were cracked and needed dusting. The wooden frames were rotting and there was a distinct smell of what she hoped wasn’t urine.

She looked up at Sav who walked beside her. He was far from what she was used to as a soldier, he was unkept and his beard was far too long for her liking. She looked back at the young man named Jensek behind her. It felt like he was staring a hole into the back of her head.

“How long have these men been staying at this place? Are any of the others wounded?” She asked.

“The men that follow Vestin are a strong bunch. A few have a scratch here and there, but only one received major injuries.” Sav replied with a shrug.

She looked over at Sav as he scratched his ȧss and exhaled a little before looking away.

“What exactly happened?” She said as she tried to forget what she saw.

“At the order of their captain, Vestin, they were fleeting an attack while he stayed behind and helped one of his men who had been cornered. When they separated from their captain they said this young lad jumped in front of a Hitcher and took a hit for one of the men lagging behind.” Jensek replied.

Sav looked back at him and shook his and sighed, “How many times I gotta tell ya it’s not your fault he ended up like this. If ya keep beating yourself up over every little scratch a comrade get you’ll end up with a server case of the Mopes.”

Loraz kept quiet for a moment then whispered to herself, “So his injuries are due to his nobleness as well as his foolishness.”

Sav jumped to pull Jensek off of her then stopped in his tracks.

Loraz stood straight her eyes locked onto him her hand held a blade already pointed at his throat and another pointed at his torso.

Jensek removed his hand from off her shoulder then stepped back a few steps. He watched her hands each knife appeared out of nowhere.

“Only a brave fool would jump in front of a Hitcher. I understand the poor creatures suffer from an illness that drives them insane, but they are still a dangerous bunch even when they are sane. Rushing into action on an unclear mind and no plan of action leads to limitations on life or even worse lose of life. I understand that he is your friend, your brother in arms, and almost like blood, but beating yourself up for what has already passed will do you no good. Don’t give up on him just yet he still breaths.” She said slowly lowering one of her blades.

Sav stepped between them and looked at Jensek then at Loraz.

“From my understanding, they wish to die so they seek out others to grant them a warrior’s death. Although many died in there search for self relief.” Jensek replied.

“Too true.” Loraz nodded.

“You’re not like most royals,” Jensek said while he extended his hand.

Loraz chuckled a bit and put her knives down. She took both in one hand then with her free hand took hold of Jensek’s.

“I will take that as a compliment. I grew up among my people. In a small village right outside my father’s kingdom. It all seems like a fairy tale actually. I use to wonder if I had stayed in my village what path would I had gone down…”

“We are who we are, not by choice but by the Ancestors doing. They knew the path you are destined to walk and so they send you towards it.” Sav smiled.

“There are times I wonder if this path was actually meant for me.” Loraz sighed.

They began walking down the hall again and climbed two flights of stairs. Stopping in front of a faded red door with the numbers two-zero-six painted across it.

“We’re here, “Jensek mumbled.

Loraz took a deep breath and looked up at Sav who opened the door.

They walked into the room and she saw it held only one rundown makeshift bed, a small stool by a broken window, and the only source of light was a melted candle on the floor by the bed. The walls were slowly rotting in some parts and it looked like mold was growing in the ceiling.

Her heart sank into her stomach as she looked over the patched up figure laying on the bed bȧrėly able to breathe. Flinging off her cape and throwing it to Sav she immediately rushed over to his side to ȧssess his injuries.

Kneeling down beside him she went to reach for his arm then paused. She saw his ċhėst rising up and down in a quick pattern.

Picking up the candle beside her she lifted it to brighten up his face.

“Discoloration around the eyes and his jaw seems to be swollen. There is a possibility of infection.”

She gently lifted open an eyelid and saw his pupils were a bit dull.

Sitting up straight she looked over the clothes that dressed his wounds. He had some around his ċhėst and torso, a few on his left hand, and his left leg.

The young man opened his eyes slowly and looked up at her as she scanned over his body. She sat back and smiled warily.

“Hello sir, I am here to help. I will ask you a few questions. Do not try to speak, to answer just blink. Once for yes, twice for no, and thrice for unsure. Do you understand?”

The young man blinked his eyes once.

“Good. Now, are you having trouble breathing?”

He blinked his eyes once.

He blinked his eyes twice.

“Is it there when you exhale?”

He blinked his eyes once.

She shook her head and looked at Sav and Jensek “Possible there may be some internal injury to the lungs…” She turned back to the injured young man “Can you eat?”

His eyes stared for a bit then he blinked twice.

“How about drinking? Can you swallow?”

Jensek stepped forward and answered for him, “We give him water a little at a time. He seems to be okay with that much.”

“Good, then he’ll be able to drink the tonic. I may have to make them all liquids for the treatment to work.” Loraz said.

She looked back at the young man and whispered “Okay…I’m going to have to undo these wrappings. Will that be ok with you?”

He blinked once.

“Okay, I’m going to need both of you to help me lift him. We have to clean the injuries and find out which ones are infected. Let’s hope Robert finds all of the things I need.”

Jensek looked at her and then at him.

“Can you really save him?” He said.

Loraz looked up at him. She knew a great deal about medicine due to her years spent in Massca, but because she didn’t have the proper tools with her and clean working space at her disposal she was sketchy on the outcome. Telling this to Jensek was of course out of the question and so with a fire burning in her eyes she replied, “If his blood is spilled my blood will spill, those were your words, correct?”

Jensek looked back over at his comrade and scoffed, “Stop bringing up the past and focus on what’s in front of you.”

Loraz nodded a smirk on her lips. She could tell he held a deep respect for her and was just refusing to show it.

They all went to work helping Loraz clean up his wounds.