Only a Flesh Wound (Fiora, Verena)

[Kryos Coal]

Only a Flesh Wound
14th of Fall, 513 AV
Takes place late afternoon following the events in An Enterprising Excursion

He hadn't fallen asleep during their ride, something the Isur was quite amazed at even as he realized his fingers had gone to sleep clutching Fiora's waist to keep from tumbling off of her mount. He had always liked to think he was strong. Stronger than most slaves, with thicker skin, and that had made up for some otherwise lack of mind and body in the face of his betters.

But this woman, Fiora, she was injured as well, and he never noticed her falter, or slip, or...well...maybe she had once, maybe twice, but Coal sure hadn't noticed, hadn't noticed much.

But he did notice when the tromping of the horse's hooves sounded from dull thuds on the dusty earth of the Kagrin Road to clattering on stones and gravel, and his dark eyes slid around slowly to notice the endless rolling fields and swamps had disappeared to be replaced by much more trim, lush foliage, and building were beginning to appear around them.

Coal wasn't a city person. Not only because his duties in the fields rarely ever gave him the chance to so much as glimpse Kenash, but there was something that struck him as wrong when he saw so many people: not working. Sure many of them were going about their jobs, but many were not, and this lack of productivity, coupled with the din and the crowded quality of the streets...it was making the Isur's head spin to even think of it, so much so that he barely noticed the looks shot their way as the two disheveled beings covered in grime and soaked from their trip into the fresh swamp water of Kenash.

But a slave always notices when he has gained the attention of his betters, and it was in no way the good kind. His position on the horse making him higher then the average person walking with their bags down the lines of storefronts didn't put Coal at ease either, so instead of facing the looks he decided instead to bury his face between Fiora's shoulder blades, a jostling bump knocking his leg and shooting a whole new level of pain through the wound.

This doctor better be close.

[Fiora Radacke]

Fiora The rest of the ride to Kenash did not take as long as Fiora had feared. Every time the Isur slave behind her stopped humming or loosened his grip around her waist, she would ask him a question or poke his hand to make sure he was not losing consciousness. To Coal's credit, he remained awake, if semi-coherent, for the whole bell it took to make it to the city. Fiora tried to smile at the people who gave them odd looks as they passed by, but she was in too much of a hurry to care what they were thinking. Despite the heat, she shuddered every now and then with cold from the wet clothes that clung to her. The pain in her knee was tolerable now, at least. If she turned it inward by accident, she had to grit her teeth against the searing sensation that vibrated throughout her leg, but if she kept it still, it was only a dull ache. She must have twisted it when landing in the swamp. Some obnoxious stranger let out a low whistle at them and if Fiora wasn't so concerned about the slave, she would have forced her horse at the man and run him off the road. Instead, she pressed on past shops on the West Bank. Feeling the pressure of Coal's head pushing into her back, Fiora steered their mount through the streets of Kenash, past the Traveler's Complex, over a couple bridges, and onto Dry Island. The poor horse was exhausted by the time Fiora slowed it down before an L-shaped stone building with many large windows. The Mortal Solace, owned by one of Inari's aunts, looked inviting and when her horse came to a stop, the Benshira felt Coal begin to let go of her while moving to one side. She grabbed at his hand, afraid that he would injure himself more trying to get down. "Help!" she called. "Please help!"

[Verena Lorak]

Hands folded in front of her chest, Verena watched quietly as her youngest employee, Bella, dealt with a small boy of eleven who had broken his arm. Most of the healing process had been sped up - thanks to her gnosis, but still, he might need a sling for the some time to prevent any rough movements to his arm. The boy kept squirming the whole time, protesting and crying out occasionally, wearing thin the young doctor's patience. She had gladly left the rest of the treatment to one of her assistants.

Verena was more than tempted to snap at the Lynint brat if Hallan had not stepped in and kept her calm with what little magic he possessed. The Lorak had never been good with children of any sort. Both seem to share a mutual dislike at each other. To her, children are loud and disturbing and she was not eager to deal with them. She could not help remembering how her mother kept dogging her to have a child her own. The thought was almost horrifying. Really, Verena could not be more dismayed if she was to take care a young kid by herself. Still, Yvenna had shamelessly kept bringing up the topic of grandchildren whenever Cassius was around - who, conveniently, seemed as reluctant in discussing the topic as she was.

She felt a soft touch on her arm, stirring her attention back to the moment at hand. Hallan nodded toward the direction of Taloe, who was talking to the boy's mother. They seemed to disagree about something. "She seemed like she didn't agree with our policy for free treatments for slaves and the charge for the families."

The young woman simply shrugged, barely even turning her head, focusing back on the patient. People always disagree with her on the topic - not that she ever regarded their opinions. If she did charge the slaves, how can they pay it? They have nothing and she could not just let them die simply because they do not have the gold.

"Can I go now? Why is this taking so long?" the light-haired boy cried out for the hundredth time. He glanced at his mother who did not seem to care to do anything about her fretting son. "I don't like it here."

"You will soon, just stay still, alright?" Bella said patiently, tightening the sling around the boy's shoulder.

The boy suddenly jerked up straighter, looking past the the windows that graced the walls. Something had clearly caught his interest. "Who's that?"

Seconds later, everyone could here the cries of a woman, asking for help. Verena whirled, looking over Hallan's shoulders and wondering what was happening. Outside was two figures awkwardly sitting atop of a horse. One of them began sagging sideways, like he was being pulled down somehow. That is nothing good.

More work for her.

"Hallan," Verena called as she ran outside, noticing just how dire the situation was. Her shoes slapped against the wooden floors as she rushed out the building. These few days had been an endless train of injuries. With the increasing frequency of attacks from the Rujaro, more and more people were flooding her clinic. Behind her, the Benshiran slave followed closely.

The glass doors were thrown open as the two exited and Verena quickly assessed whatever was happening. Her eyes churned with djed and she shifted her focus to the strangers.

The two riders were clearly exhausted - she did not need her Auristics to tell her that. But she could tell pain from either, though she was not sure which was hurting more. It was enough to made her aware that both were injured. Even before she told him to, Hallan rushed to help the barely conscious man off the horse. The man was clearly bigger than the Benshira, but he seemed dangerously close to collapsing into the arms of the slighter man. They teetered into the building ahead of the women.

Verena would help the Dynasty woman down if the assistance was needed, surging forward to the tired horse. Instinctively, she patted the horse's mane, recalling that the gesture had calmed Cassius's Strider. It would complicate things if the four-legged creature decided to freak out. She guided the soaked lady into the warmth of her clinic. It must be freezing, riding in such a state.

Once they were inside, Verena could not help back her question any longer. The woman was obviously a Dynasty, but she couldn't tell which. "What happened to you?"

[Kryos Coal]

The world was a blur, and suddenly the ground was coming up to reach him. Coal felt his body slipping, a momentary sensation of weightlessness as part of his mind took in the fact he was tumbling down off of the horse, and surely would come to more harm, yet miraculously, someone's arms kept him from planting his face in gravel and stone.

He struggled to move himself upright, but his injured leg sent a shiver of pain throughout his body and instead he succeeded in crumpling closer to the earth. He could feel the arms around him struggling with his sizable weight, and Coal started to stand again, this time with the bearing of a being who knew the man beside him would not be able to support his weight alone. His eyes swam from the sudden change in equilibrium...twice, and his head throbbed. The warm truckle of blood could be felt upon his inner leg, and he tried his best to hurry towards the door the Benshira was leading him to.

Dark eyes searched fervently for Fiora. She had been his anchor, the object keeping him awake and...relatively alert upon their journey, but now he had lost her. A strange mixture of fear and concern grabbed his consciousness as he searched, but he found a woman aiding her. The doctor, maybe?

When she asked what had happened, the slave choked out a word.

"Crocodile." The sound ended with coughing and the man to his side hurried him into the building, Coal covering his mouth with a shining arm.

[Fiora Radacke]

Fiora There was a flurry of activity as people came rushing out of the clinic and Fiora's body went limp with relief as a man helped Coal off of the back of the horse. The Isur slave looked around frantically as Fiora herself swung her leg around and stepped to the ground gingerly. A small explosion of pain radiated from her knee, but it soon lessened as she tested her weight on it, gripping the wrist of the woman who had come out to aid her. "Please, help him!" she said, gesturing with her free hand toward the slave that was hobbling into the building. "He's hurt much worse. I am worried." Fiora limped forward after the pair of men, while the woman stayed at her side. Hoping that Coal was in good hands, she turned to look at who must only be Inari's aunt, Verena. Fiora's friend had described her many times, and the Benshira was sure that the brunette was indeed the famous doctor in the family. "Yes," she answered, "it was a crocodile...or alligator, or what have you. Coal was accompanying me into the city with my wares..." her voice trailed off as she pictured her poor donkey and cart laden with rugs and tapestries still out in the middle of the wilderness. Who knows what had befallen them at this point. "I feel awful that this happened to him, it wasn't even his job...but he saved my life." Once through the glass doors, Fiora stopped in her tracks and took in the large room with warm lighting and comfortable leather sofas. There was a long desk to one side. The young man that had half carried Coal inside set him down on one of the couches and the slave's head lolled on its shoulders. Fiora wrung her hands and stepped over to the Isur, wanting nothing more than to throw her arms around him and squeeze him tightly in gratitude for what he had done. But it would not do for a Dynasty to act in such a manner toward a slave, at least not in front of others. "He has lost a lot of blood," Fiora informed everyone in the room, including a small boy that stared at both of the mud-stained individuals with wide eyes, as well as woman that fretted over him. "I tried to stop it, but--" she pointed helplessly at her red soaked scarf that was still knotted over the wound in Coal's thigh. "He needs his leg cleaned and he has other scratches...You must hurry to stitch him up! I can pay whatever is needed. I'm Fiora Radacke." She always expected the stiffening of backs whenever she announced the family that she was involuntarily a part of, but when the woman by the boy actually shrieked and shrank away from her, Fiora felt like bursting into tears. It had been such a long morning and her nerves were shot. Plus, she was aching from the ride and from the wet clothes, and her anxiety over Coal. Blinking rapidly, she watched as her hands started to shake slightly. "It will be fine, Coal," she said, uncertain whether or not he could hear her. "Please," she implored Verena Lorak again, "just help him."

[Verena Lorak]

When Hallan settled the slave against one of the couches, Verena pressed her lips together. That would mean that he had deemed that it would not be good for the man to be dragged any further. Seeing the scene, Taloe, the Konti, thankfully rushed to the Healing Room without a word, probably gathering all the tools and supplies the doctor might need. Hallan helpfully set the fire in the fireplace, for the sake of the two soaked patient.

The woman seemed quite shocked and Verena could not blame her - if what they said was true, they had just been attacked by an crocodile. But the doctor really do wish that she would just quiet down. She could see for herself that the man had sustained something more fatal and crowding him would not help at all.

"He needs his leg cleaned and he has other scratches...You must hurry to stitch him up! I can pay whatever is needed. I'm Fiora Radacke."

Verena's eyes narrowed at the name, only for a split of second. She knew all about the Radacke, just like she did most of the Dynasties. Her few travels into their plantation had showed her a bit of the nature of the family. Bruises and injuries were sustained by every single slave. Like each had been personally tortured. It was disturbing, and she never liked the violent bunch much. Yet, even Verena could see that the woman was scared for the slave. Most peculiar, that. There were a handful who might decide to simply leave the man behind and rush to their own safety.

Though the doctor did not respond to the woman, she knelt in front of the slave and scrutinized him. He was definitely on the verge of slipping away and it was preferable that did not happen. Her mind cataloged the injuries, noting which to treat with what. Tulja Poultice, Sundrya Water, Krolar poultice, booze or wine, honey, the thyme extract she had made.

The slave's legs were decorated by various cuts and slashes. Some were shallow and would heal without any help, but there was one particular gash that disturbed her. Deep and red open. The bleeding must have slowed from the first moment the wound was inflicted, but still it was not good. Considering all the mud allover him, Verena feared that some unknown infection might have set in. As she pressured the wound, the half-Vantha called on the powers of the goddess of healing. The gnosis mark resting on the base of her throat warmed - as it always did when she connected to Rak'keli. Underneath her hand, Verena could feel the infection receding, evaporating. But the danger did not stop there. The wound needed to be closed, but she could not just 'stitch him up' as the Radacke woman said. Treatments for after stitching were never simple. It needed extra care lest the wound might ended up getting worse.

Taloe returned to the room and hastily set them up on the low table nearby and rushed to tip a cup of wine into the slave's mouth, to dampen the pain. Verena did not dare to give him anything stronger - it might kill him.

Lips pressed tightly together, Verena turned to the woman, her eyes almost impassive. "I need to seal his wound. He's losing blood and fast. I can suture it close, but it will be risky, he might get infection." She was not yet skilled enough to make the perfect sutures to keep the infections at bay. It might be possible if the slave was too stay in the clinic - so she could keep a close eye if anything went wrong - for the next week or so, but somehow she doubted the Radackes would let it. "Or I can simply . . . burn the gash." Now, she looked straight at the wave, willing him to look her in the eye. "It's your choice, slave. Not your master's. The burn will . . . hurt. But it would heal faster." It was true. Cauterizing the wound immediately sealed off the whole wound. While taking of a suture wound might complicate things, especially for a slave.

She hoped he decide fast, as he was losing too much blood.

[Kryos Coal]

The world was strangely blurry around the edges he realized. Perhaps it had been that way for some time, and only now it was becoming apparent. There was a dull throbbing pain emanating from his legs. It hurt, but Coal was used to pain, from physical exertion, wounds, it didn't matter much to him. This listlessness,however, was very new, and the Isur didn't like it one bit. His head pounded anytime he moved it too fast, and everyone was speaking...yet he couldn't hear what they were saying unless he focused all of his will upon the words.

He watched the slave who had helped him in start the fire, cherry embers lighting into a bouquet of orange and yellow twirling flames before his eyes. He heard Fiora making noises, he could recognize her voice, but then suddenly a different woman was up and close to him, peering at his leg, touching him with her hand.

The isur was not sure what she did to him, it felt...soothing, though it took away none of his pain. It was like a strange errant warmth , searching had crawled through his wounds and retreated when it had found whatever it had desired.

After that she asked him a question. Coal stared at the woman dumbly for a moment, cycling back through his mind to translate through the noises she had made.

Stay in the hospital.

Burn the wound.

My choice.

That was twice in one day, these people were giving him choices, making him do things above his station, behaving completely unlike how they should to a slave. It baffled Coal's mind, but he knew just as well as Verena that there wasn't the time to argue, and he simply didn't have the mental faculties for it at this point. Though there his eyes were bleary, unfocused, Verena would see the Isur's muscle tighten, and his body lean forward, his lips parting to utter the single syllable in a pained whisper.

"Burn."

[Fiora Radacke]

Fiora Pacing back and forth with a limp in her step, Fiora fretted as Inari's aunt checked Coal's leg and explained the situation. She did not respond when Verena spoke to her, nor did she utter a sound when the doctor gave Coal his ultimatum. Of course it was his choice, it was his leg. Though she knew that if Bice were here, he would be loud and pigheaded and not let the slave speak for himself. She was not surprised that Coal picked to have his wound burnt closed. He was strong, and brave, but oh did it make her feel worse than she already did. He would now have to suffer more pain all because of her. Peering into his face, Fiora searched for any amount of fear, but she could find none behind the features twisted in agony. Evidently the wine had not yet kicked in and she just wished that something could be done to stop the pain. The Benshira stepped away from the couch and took some deep breaths to try and calm herself down. "Okay," she said, not really to anybody, but just to break the silence. "Okay." Not knowing what she could do to help, if anything, she stood awkwardly and rubbed the back of her head with her fingertips. A large lump had formed immediately after her skull had slammed into the rock, and it was tender, but otherwise alright. If she could only get out of the mud-stained clothes and wash up, she'd be fine.

[Verena Lorak]

OOCHey guys, I'm terribly sorry that I have disappeared on you. Life had been getting ahead of me and everything was just crazy for a while. Really, really sorry for disappearing

Verena nodded at the slave's answer. It was a smarter choice for a slace, she supposed. From what she knew of the Radackes, she doubted his master would give him the chance to heal even after such an injury. "Very well." Turning to Taloe, she ordered, "Switch place me, hold the wound closed." Being a Konti, Taloe had the same gift as Verena did and it should help speed up the healing process as she worked. The doctor stepped back as her assistant took her place, holding the wound together.

At least, the slave was wounded on the leg, which means there was no organ damage. Sealing off the wound and maybe a couple of hours with Rak'keli's healing should make sure the slave will be as good as before.

Hallan, thankfully, had been ahead of her. He was already heating the steel cauter. The slave might need to be cauterized in two places, Verena calculated as she looked back and forth between the wound and the cauter. The gash was long and somewhat deep, It certainly wouldn't be pleasant. All the while, Verena pondered at the treatment, barely noticing her surrounding.

The masseuse had to tap her on her shoulder to get her attention. He handed her the wooden grip to her and she gazed on the red hot steel. At the other side of the room, Bella approached the Dynasty woman, telling her that she might not want to see this. Verena did not pay enough attention to see if the Radacke had decided to leave or not. Her vision had tunneled at the task in hand and she had in no interest in distraction.

Her Konti slave had helpfully ripped away the sad remnants of what used to be the slave's pants and cleaned up the area surrounding the wounds. She kept a solid grip on both the man's legs, in case he fought back when the pain sets in. Hallan did the same and constricted the man's arms. If the slave accidentally hit the doctor, well, the result of the cauterization wouldn't be pretty.

With a deep breath, Verena pressed the burning steel against the man's wound.

[Stefan]

XP Award!

Name: Verena Lorak
XP Award:

• +3 Observation
• +1 Running
• +1 Auristics
• +1 Animal Husbandry
• +1 Interrogation
• +2 Medicine

Lore:

• Slaves: Can't pay tratment
• Treating a crocodile attack
• Kenash Dynasty: The Radacke
• Alcohol as an anaesthetic
• Medicine: You can't simply "stitch him up"
• Medicine: Cauterizing
• Medicine: Suturing

Notes: Quite a good read. If Kryos and Fiora ever come back, send me a PM to give them their XP. Also, if you have any question, please don't hestiate to send me a PM.