Many Words in the Infirmary

It is mid-afternoon within what is humourously described as the Gondorian Fortifications of Osgiliath. The cool, winter air chills the souls who venture outdoors to the bone seeping through flesh and muscle. A breeze blows continually through the ruins, with occasional gusts unsettling dust and debris. Yet the men of Gondor do not balk at the balmy weather. In fact, they embrace the rare spot of sunlight, seeping through the darkened clouds.

It is from this scene that a man clad in the greens and browns of Ithilien emerges through a door flung open to allow entry to a particularly cold gust of winter air. The man walks with a visible limp, favouring his left leg as he moves--for indeed there is a stain of crimson upon his left leg, narry above the knee. Green gauntlets cradle this man\'s hands, marking him as a Ranger of the Garden, and protector of Gondor on the front line.

\"Healer!\" he roars, his tone one of exasperation and annoyance. \"Heal.... where are those damned women when they\'re /actually/ needed?\" he growls to a wounded soldier off to his right. Continuing forward into the Infirmary, the man\'s limp continues as he calls yet again for attention.

[Midhwen(#29054)] There is no great hurry to rush to the injured soldier, in fact the apprentices working under the supervision of two healers at the medicine table seem content to just stare at the ill-mannered Ranger, an almost identical expression of shock on each face.

Soon enough, one of the healers selects an apprentice and the two women make their way over to the fuming man. Midhwen hangs back as the older woman approaches Laeghen.

\"Keep your peace Ranger, there are others besides yourself in this room, some heavily injured.\"

Again the door now opens to emit a blast of wintery air, and a Scout of Ithilien enters, face hidden for the moment by the two large boxes he carries. \"I know of a place already in fact. I have picked one out,\" the Scout says, apparently finishing a conversation he had been having outside, and now assuming that the person he was conversing with follows him.

\"Ma\'am...where should I put these? Supplies again, though I have been gone for several days. So, my apologies.\" Ceredir now grins, speaking to the healer, whom he has spotted first, not yet having seen the Ranger, due to the boxes he carries.

[Thaladel(#7905)] Behind Ceredir comes a man garbed in the colors of the new Seven Stones Company. The Telpekhor lad, Thaladel, is helping the scout to carry in the many boxes of supplies he\'s brought. \"Then I trust it will be a good one,\" Thal says to Ceredir, seeming relieved by that information. As he waits to be told where to put the boxes, he looks around for the sound of the very annoyed male voice calling for a healer and spots Laeghen. The soldier frowns why will no one help the man?

[Laeghen(#10683)]

It seems the Ranger will have none of it, for Laeghen does not waste any time on apology or polite conversation. Instead, his words spill forth as overbearing and ill-mannered both. \"It has begun /bleeding/ again!\" roars the man, his left hand jutting downward to point at the crimson stained pantleg. \"I thought the last of you bumbling fools /fixed/ it!\"

A growl of frustration is had, and when Laeghen moves to demonstrate the stability of the wound, he finds his balance precarious at best. Stumbling a pair of steps backwards, the Ranger is unaware of the box-holding figure behind him. His focus is solely upon the Apprentice Healer Midhwen.

[Midhwen(#29054)] \"Set them over there, Scout, with the rest of the supplies.\" The senior healer points Ceredir towards a pile of boxes being unpacked and catalogued by other, before turning her attention back to the Ranger. \"If you would take a seat, the apprentice will check why your wound bleeds again.\"

Too late, the two healers spot the inevitable collision.

\"Don\'t-!\"

\"Take care-!\"

\"What?\" Ceredir is focused on Midhwen, and too late does he spot the oncoming danger of Laeghen. The Scout swerves out of the way, one hand clamped on top of the boxes that he holds, but the Ranger jostles him hard and there is the sound of shattering glass in the boxes.

\"Sir...\" Ceredir sighs. \"You are injured. Perhaps you should sit.\"

Carefully, Ceredir sets the boxes down.

[Thaladel(#7905)] Thaladel, realizing what is about to happen when he hears the healers calling, moves several paces back to avoid a collision with either the injured man or Ceredir. His boxes are safe, but he winces at the sound of shattering glass nearby. Once Ceredir has set his boxes down, the man-at-arms follows suit. Then he glances back at the ranger who caused the collision in the first place, still wondering when a healer will assist him.

[Laeghen(#10683)]

Swivelling about on his uninjured leg, Laeghen scowls at the boxes, the sound of broken glass eminating from them. \"Fool!\" he snaps at the Scout, his eyes falling upon the form, and his gaze narrows as...

\"You!\" comes the word. It would appear the Ranger has recognized Ceredir, despite the mask which adorns his features. \"Why is it, whenever some disaster occurs, you\'re in the thick of it?\" Cutting off any retort with a swift slice of his hand, Laeghen once again addresses the healers specifically the healer who addressed him, giving her a withering stare.

\"I am a Ranger of Ithilien. I am one of the men charged with the first line of defense against the Enemy. Men rely on my stealth and skill something that saves their very /lives/!\" His words grow in volume as he speaks, his features growing more dour with each passing word. \"I. Will. Not. Be. Kept. Waiting.\"

Then, as though an afterthought, he spins about, his right hand outhrust, pointing directly at Ceredir. \"If you EVER salute a superior out in Osgiliath again... By Eru, I\'ll kill you myself.\"

[Lirael(#24368)]

\"Laeghen Carmayar.\" The voice is frigid and comes from the door on a draft of cold air from outside. \"If I -ever- hear you speak to one of my healers this way again, you will have to beg us on bended knee for so much as a strip of linen for a hangnail. Do you understand me?\" Lady Mormegil is come, wrapped in a heavy green cloak that looks to be an old Ranger\'s garment, no longer fit for duty.

[Midhwen(#29054)] \"Lady Mormegil.\" The healer who has had the dubious pleasure of dealing with Laeghen so far appears barely in control of her own temper. \"Would you please supervise Midhwen, while I see which bottles have been broken?\"

Midhwen stands close by, quiet apart from the shouted warning a few moments ago.

The Scout\'s face now takes on a glazed, emotionless expression of one well used to such treatment, his voice absolutely flat. \"Yes. Sir. My apologies, sir and..\" Ceredir glances to Lirael and then to Midhwen, his voice normal just for that moment, \"my apologies to the healers for my clumsiness.\"

Back again to a flat expression, the Scout continues to Laeghen. \"Sir. I have a message I am charged to deliver to you. From Sir Bor.\" Is that a gleam in Ceredir\'s eyes, just briefly.

[Gurtir(#30678)]

Yet another man enters the infirmary a Hostman, with a long back cloak on his shoulders and gloves likewise black, four cables on his tabard-- a Captain.

Gurtir.

Yet whatever purpose led him there is now kept aside at the loud words he hears and the tense atmosphere. The only thing one could be sure is that he frowns.

[Thaladel(#7905)] After Thaladel has set down his own pile of boxes next to Ceredir\'s, he quietly lingers there to wait for the scout, staying out of the way of the healers and the incensed ranger. The man-at-arms is surprised to see his Captain enter the infirmary, and automatically he gives Gurtir a salute.

[Laeghen(#10683)]

Eyes snapping upon the form of the Lady Mormegil, Laeghen\'s features turn--for perhaps the first time--soft. \"My sincere condolences, Lady.\" states the man, though one cannot tell his true feelings on the matter through his words, for his visage has turned neutral. \"I had merely wished to expediate my return to the Garden to better serve Gondor, and her peoples.\"

Bowing to the lady, he looks sidelong upon Ceredir, his brow furrowing once again. \"Sir Bor..? Am I to know this oaf who calls himself Knight?\" Then, espying a chair, he limps his way towards it, ere dropping into it, his sword brushed aside by his gauntleted hand. Waving Midhwen over, the Ranger tugs at his leggings, ere he reveals the wound which has reopened.

Laeghen has not yet taken note of the Captain Gurtir.

[Lirael(#24368)]

\"Of course,\" Lirael says smoothly, bending her head. \"Do sit, cousin, and let the girl tend you. And Sir Bor is actually Lord Bragollach, so you might think just a bit before calling him an oaf. Boor, now...\" She shrugs and waves Midhwen over, taking a chair herself while her daughter places a basket of bandages in her lap, all of which need winding.

\"Sir Bor,\" Ceredir says in that same flat tone, eyes looking right past Laeghen, \"spoke in front of the High Warden of the White Tower and the Captain of the Seven Stones Tower.\" The Scout has not noticed the entrance of said Captain, so focused is he on his message..or perhaps on containing rage burning behind his eyes.

\"And he bid me pass this on to my Captains, Sir. That the Order of Imrahil shall speak no further insult to those of the Company or the Hosts. And that any that do so will be personally dealt with by the Knight Captain. And Captain Gurtir promised likewise.\"

[Gurtir(#30678)]

\"Man-at-Arms.\", says Gurtir, his fist briefly touching his chest in reply to the soldier\'s salute. \"Have you any reports for me?\", he asks, eyes scanning the scene around in silence, no greetings spared to those who have not yet acknowledge him.

[Laeghen(#10683)]

\"Good for him.\" states Laeghen cooly, examining the Scout. \"What has this to do with me?\" Eyes of stone grey turn upon the Lady Mormegil, and a considering gaze is given the woman. For some time, he remains silent--undoubtedly a thankful occurance by those within these walls--ere he speaks anew.

\"I do not suppose this oaf,\" he pauses a moment, allowing the Lady to know his true feelings on the matter, and how little he cares for the politics of House Bragollach. \"would be Knight to the stripling Arathen, would he? No, that would be too amusing.\"

[Midhwen(#29054)] Crouching down to examine the wound for a minute or so, Midhwen stands and goes to fetch some supplies before returning.

\"The cut is shallow, so it does not require stitches.\" Her face stays expressionless, but there is an unmistakable touch of ice in her tone. \"I can see no trace of infection, all that it requires is re-bandaging.\"

[Gurtir(#30678)]

\"It has to do with you, Laeghen\", now it is Gurtir who speaks, turning to the thick of the gathering and enforcing his presence upon the Ranger without even as much as nod of greeting, \"That the Captain-General has big plans, in which strife has no place therefore those with too swift a tongue are to curb it. And Hir Bor led the way.\"

He offers a formal bow of his head should any of the healers regard him, even as he waits for Thaladel\'s reply.

[Lirael(#24368)]

\"I do not trouble myself to know the squires of knights,\" Lirael says absently, beginning to roll the linen bandages. \"You would have to ask him.\" She glances over at her other Carmayar kinsman, and smiles. \"How is your head, Gurtir? Did the sleep make it any better?\"

But she keeps an eye too on Midhwen. \"Apply the honey salve to ward off infection,\" she says in a low voice. \"It has many good things in it, and will reduce his pain as well as speed healing. Then you may bandage it.\"

Behind Lirael, Morwenn watches Midhwen with keen eyes, watches and learns.

[<#7905>] Thaladel walks over to stand close to his Captain. \"... ... ... ..., ..., ...- ... ... ... ... that ... ... ... which ... .... ... ... ... ... ..., in ..., saying ... about ... Order ... ... ... no ... insult ... ... Company or the ....\" The Telpekhor shrugs, leaving the information for Gurtir to do whatever he will with it.

[Bor(#30834)]

The door to the infirmary bursts forth, signaling the entry of the Knight-Captain Bor. He bears sweat and blood stained bandages wrapped about one of his shoulders and another strip around his back. He settles onto a cot, wincing.

\"It was not given to me to interpret the meaning of the message. Sir.\" Ceredir\'s eyes are icy now, even if his tone is completely correct. \"I only know the message I was given to deliver, sir, and that is all.\"

\"Yet...\" The Scout seems to let his breath out a little as Gurtir speaks. \"The Captain correctly notes the setting of the discussion. Lord Boromir was speculating that perhaps that dissension among the officers is a device of the enemy. But of that I cannot say.\"

Curiousity causes Ceredir to turn to see who has now entered the infirmary--and curiousity and alarm combined hold his gaze on Bor as he watches the Knight-Captain struggle into the infirmary.

[Gurtir(#30678)]

Gurtir nods at Thaladel, \"It means that no man of the Hosts, specially not one of my Company, is to deliver any sort of insult upon a man of another branch of our military. The reason being the plans made by Lord Boromir, on which account I would have you register what men we have to be soon fit again for duty and those we cannot count on.\"

At Lirael\'s question, the Carmayar Captain nods cordially. \"It made, my Lady. Some proper rest was probably all that I required you need not eat your veil.\" His lips twist into something of a grin.

The noise of bursting doors attracts Gurtir\'s attention and his eyes meet Bor, a deep frown creasing his brow. He strides with alacrity towards the Knight-Captain. \"Are we under attack?\"

[Midhwen(#29054)] \"There was a new batch made recently, so it is fresh.\" Midhwen nods, going to fetch the salve. Along the way, she passes by the scout and the two men of the Hosts, greeting those she knows. \"Captain. Ceredir. How is your hand healing?\"

Returning with the salve, she begins to clean the cut, adding aloe to the water.

[Bor(#30834)]

\"Your castaways have struck anew,\" says Bor, rising pale eyes to Gurtir.

\"The Black Company.\"

Each word is a struggle, and he pauses.

[Lirael(#24368)]

The healers are too well trained to react to word of attack, but Lirael is clearly listening closely, even as she smiles at Gurtir\'s gibe. \"Morwenn,\" she says while she observes Midhwen, \"go and bring Sir Bor to this cot here. You may tend him while I am watching here, and Midhwen will help you.\"

Morwenn does as she is bid, bending to offer Bor her support. \"Will you come, my lord? I will tend you, and I promise I will warn you before giving you anything nasty.\" She smiles a little as she waits.

[Laeghen(#10683)]

\"Yes! How is your head?\" Laeghen asks to Gurtir\'s back. Shaking his head. \"I care not what this Bor fellow has to say. He\'s about as knowledgeable as an egg is unbreakable.\" Looking once more to his leg, he speaks to the Apprentice Healer. \"Do make haste.\" It would appear the Ranger wishes to say more, but thinks better of it and swiftly closes his mouth in the presence of the Lady Mormegil.

[Bor(#30834)]

Bor nods to Morwenn, rising to follow her.

\"Come, Gurtir. Let us talk.\"

\"The Black Company?\" Ceredir repeats, looking from Bor to Gurtir. \"A type of orc?\"

The Scout seems alarmed at Midhwen\'s innocent question, if his sudden change of expression is any guide. \"Well, thank you, thank you,\" he answers her quickly. \"Bandages are dirty again, but it is healing.\"

[Thaladel(#7905)] \"Very well, Captain I\'ll see to it immediately,\" Thaladel promises. Registering every man who will be fit and unfit for duty will take up a considerable amount of the soldier\'s time, but he has finished sword practice for the day, and isn\'t being much use standing here beside Ceredir\'s boxes of supplies. \"I\'ll ensure I have a proper account for you as soon as possible,\" Thal tells his Captain. Then, as he makes his way out of the infirmary, he pauses long enough to say to Ceredir, \"I\'ll see you again soon.\" Thaladel hurries on his way.

[Midhwen(#29054)] Turning to look at Morwenn, Midhwen smiles at the younger woman. \"I will be with you in a moment cousin, this will not take long.\" She finishes cleaning the cut and is about to apply the salve when Laeghen speaks again.

\"Perhaps this is why the cut started bleeding again, if you hurried the last healer to attend you in such a manner.\" Spreading the slightly sticky salve liberally, she begins to wind a bandage around the Ranger\'s knee. \"A hastily dressed could also mortify, thereby requiring another visit to the infirmary.\"

[Lirael(#24368)]

Morwenn leads Bor to a cot where both Midhwen and her mother Lirael can watch her. But it is Lirael who reacts. \"The Black Company?\" she asks, a note of alarm on her tongue. \"Finlachel and his men?\"

She turns her head to Bor, to the bloodstains he sports. \"The Black Company has done this?\"

[Gurtir(#30678)]

Laeghen\'s wit goes unheard by Gurtir.

The Captain\'s eyes are on the Knight-Captain, though he has relaxed visibly, \"I take there is no emergency at hand still, by your calmness?\". Bowing his head briefly at Morwenn, he falls in pace with Bor.

\"Not orcs, Ceredir... rogues.\"

[Bor(#30834)]

\"My wounds were hastily wrapped in Minas Tirith,\" notes Bor, seating himself on the cot as directed by Morwenn. \"I am fine for now.\"

His eyes then turn to Lirael searchingly. He considers her before speaking.

\"A wagon meant for the Chapterhouse restoration was waylaid...\" he begins, stopping there. \"But they knew my name. I believe my death was their objective too.\"

[<#10683>]

\"... ... ... ....\" mutters Laeghen as he looks upon the Knight once more, shaking his head.

\"Rogues...I see, Sir,\" Ceredir frowns to Gurtir. \"I had not heard of such.\" The Scout clears his throat nervously, continuing. \"If you will excuse me, I have to finish unloading the supply wagon.\" With that--not waiting, even, for Midhwen to answer about his injured hand--the Scout tries to head out the door unnoticed.

[Gurtir(#30678)]

\"Why would it be?\"

Gurtir stares at Bor, though his eyes drift to Lirael.

A nod releases the Scout, at least from the part of the Captain.

[Midhwen(#29054)] Before she can answer the scout and offer to deal with his injury after aiding Morwenn, he has left and Midhwen concentrates on bandaging the Ranger\'s knee, being careful not to leave it too tight or too loose.

\"There, hopefully this will last you longer.\" She moves aside, to allow the lady Mormegil a chance to examine her handiwork.

[Lirael(#24368)]

\"Rogues indeed,\" mutters Lirael darkly. Morwenn meanwhile raises a brow. \"I am sure they were, but I must remove your shirt nonetheless,\" she says, reaching to do so without waiting for permission. \"I\'ll not let them fester because you must speak to the other men.\"

Lirael watches her daughter with quiet approval, then looks to Midhwen\'s work. \"Excellent work, cousin. You will be working without supervision in no time if you continue. Laeghen, you are in very good hands.\"

[Laeghen(#10683)]

\"I will keep that in mind.\" murmers the Ranger ere he replaces his leggings. A scowl is sent towards the Knight Bor, before he snorts, and rises from his place. Leaning in, Laeghen speaks to the Lady Mormegil quietly, whispering in her ear, ere nodding deeply to the woman, and turning to depart.

[<#10683>] Laeghen +whispers to Lirael, \"... injury ... ... ... was ... ... your ... ... .... ... that in mind ... you sing ... ... for ... ... between ... ....\"

[Bor(#30834)]

Even as he positions his arms to allow Morwenn to free him of his shirt, Bor narrows his eyes upon Lirael. Something imperceptible lurks therein.

\"I am not here to impede your efforts, little one. Go ahead.\"

Gurtir does not repeat his question about why Bor might be the target of the Black Company. The Captain merely folds his arms accross his chest, silently waiting for the healings to be done with, gaze wandering on the different faces there gathered.

[Lirael(#24368)]

Morwenn smiles a little, even as Lirael listens to Laeghen, then looks sharply up to catch Bor\'s gaze. \"I see,\" is all she says to the Ranger, bending her head. \"I will certainly do so, thank you.\"

She is quiet a moment, then sighs. \"Sir Bor, Gurtir, Finlachel of the Black Company is... not the sort of man who is easily defined. He is a kinsmen of ours--well, of mine. Of the Rhunedlen. He thinks his claim to our lands in Lebennin is greater than mine, and has actively worked against us in every way possible. He is most certainly a rogue, though what his purpose is now I cannot begin to fathom.\"

Morwenn, meanwhile, sucks in her breath as she peels off the shirt. \"Midhwen...\" she says in quiet appeal, looking at her cousin and colleague. \"It looks as if he yanked an arrow out of his shoulder I am not sure how best to clean it without doing worse damage.\" While she speaks, her slender fingers come to rest on his uninjured shoulder, cold and pale as she waits answer.

[Midhwen(#29054)] Midhwen goes over to her cousin\'s side, not wanting to examine the wound before disinfecting her hands. \"I watched Zaira clean a similar wound recently, although she had removed the arrow herself...\"

She turns to Lirael, considering her answer. \"One solution is to cleanse the wound with hot water, laced with aloe and other healing extracts. By pouring the water into the wound, it allows the impurities and dirty to float up and be expelled.\"

[Bor(#30834)]

\"The carriage\'s contents were of considerable value,\" supplies Bor to Lirael in particular. He shivers at Morwenn\'s touch, darting a gaze aside.

But what emotion lies in that gaze swifly dissapates and he continues:

\"Imrahil presses their presence in Belfalas, that I know but never before have I knowledge of them making an attempt on a member of his court. It is strange.\"

Silently, Gurtir nods at Lirael\'s explanation.

\"I had already heard some about them...\", he turns at Bor in silence, frowning at what he listens to as the Knight-Captain is done, though, he speaks his mind, \"Do they seek to wage their... war on two fronts? Or to toy with politics?\"

The Captain\'s eyes turn to Laeghen, narrowing \"This conversation bears no interest to you? An attempt from Gondorians against a Gondorian life?\"

[Lirael(#24368)]

\"Lie down please, sir,\" Morwenn says to Bor, pressing him gently down onto his back. \"This shoudler wound is worse, and I can tend the back better if this is cleaned and bandaged. You will be more comfortable,\" she adds. Then she goes about preparing what she will need for cleansing and bandaging, at Midhwen\'s direction.

Lirael shakes her head while she smiles approval at Midhwen. \"Will you direct her in doing so?\" she asks before addressing the men again. \"Who can say?\" she asks, spreading her hands. \"They have harried Belfalans before, that I know, but never to the loss of life. This smacks of desperation. So we must determine what is making them desperate to know their motives.\"

[Laeghen(#10683)]

His part done in this place, Laeghen abruptly strides--limping the entire while upon his left leg--towards the door, waving a hand towards the Captain and his words. \"Those responsible will be caught, and dealt with appropriately.\" Pausing, he glances over his shoulder towards Gurtir. \"That is the department of the Hosts. I trust there are still /some/ competent men within it\'s ranks.\"

Without another word--and indeed with doubt saturating his last words about the competency of the men of the White City--Laeghen continues towards the exit. Arriving, the Ranger presses open the doors, allowing another burst of winter air to penetrate, ere disappearing through the threshold, off to guard the Gardens once more.

Though an eyebrow rises and a fist clenches, Gurtir shrugs at Laeghen\'s words, turning to focus instead upon Lirael and Bor.

\"At which place did this attack occur? And did you happen to count how many there were?\"

[Midhwen(#29054)] \"Of course cousin.\" Nodding towards Lirael, Midhwen puts the time Morwenn needs to gather supplies to good use, washing her hands in a mixture of water and redwort. Walking past the novice, she stops her to gesture towards the cauldrons. \"Bring water that has been boiling till now, it must be high in temperature to fulfil its purpose, but not hold enough to scald the skin.\"

Standing by the Knight-Captain\'s cot, she takes the time to address him while her cousin is busy preparing. \"This will be painful Sir, but it is the best course of action. Would you prefer to take a draught against the pain now or after the procedure?\"

[Bor(#30834)]

Bor is forced by circumstance to tear his eyes away from Lirael as he lies down upon the cot. Pain shoots through his back as the surface encounters the wound. He grits his teeth. \"Just do it,\" he spits at the attending pair.

\"Lossarnach,\" he offers to Gurtir in the same tone. \"My men numbered thirteen and they, many many more. It was too confusing to take complete account.\"

\"I shall take measures concerning this.\", says Gurtir to Bor, his gaze turning to Lirael, \"Have you any more information that can be of help?\"

[Lirael(#24368)]

\"It was so long ago...\" Lirael says regretfully. \"I will think on it, Gurtir, I promise that. And I shall try to get word to Phallanath as well he knows more.\"

Morwenn is focused on her task as she plunges her hands into the basin of redwort. There is a brimming cup of hot water to this she adds drops of redwort and another herb tincture for cleansing, then looks up at Midhwen. \"Will you hold the towel while I pour?\" she asks. She waits a moment for compliance, then looks down at Bor. \"Here it comes, sir,\" she says, then pours.

[Midhwen(#29054)] Positioning the towel so that it will absorb the majority of the water, Midhwen nods to Morwenn to begin. Quickly, the water floods the wound, various small particles rising to the surface.

\"See how it all flows free? Also, it avoids aggravating the wound by probing it to remove these.\"

[Bor(#30834)]

Bor does not scream in fact, he says nothing at all. He merely stares ahead at the girl who pours the liquid into his wound and blinks away the pain.

[Lirael(#24368)]

When the water has all flowed into the towel and no more particles have risen, Morwenn puts the cup down. \"Now I must dry it,\" she says, as much to Bor as to herself and to her teacher. She carefully pats the wound with clean linen, and when it is dry, looks up at her mother. \"Lady Mormegil,\" she says in a formal voice, \"would this be a good trial of your pepper extract? It needs stitching, and he is in great pain.\" This last she adds while looking down into the Knight\'s eyes.

\"Please do, my Lady.\", Gurtir tells Lirael with a bow, before turning at Bor, \"Heal well.\". Then nods at the healers mark his departure, executed by swift strides.

[Bor(#30834)]

\"Pepper extract?\" grunts Bor.

\"Mercy, woman.\"

[Midhwen(#29054)] \"A pepper extract?\" Midhwen looks at the older healer, intrigued. \"Would that not cause more pain, not less?\"

[Bor(#30834)]

And to Gurtir, the Knight Captain says, \"I will seek you when I am well.\"

[Lirael(#24368)]

\"No, Morwenn, not this time,\" Lirael says with a shake of her head. She nods then at Midhwen. \"At first, it burns like fire. But the numbness that comes after can last three days or more. But we do not use it widely yet.\"

Looking down at Bor, Morwenn smiles. \"You get the usual salve, sir, do not fear,\" she says, patting his good shoulder. She forges ahead then, salving the wound and plucking a needle from its bath in redwort, thread and all. \"May I stitch it?\" she asks Midhwen, pausing.

[Bor(#30834)]

The pain subsiding a bit, Bor looks to the ceiling.

\"How long will I be confined?\" he asks of the trio.

[Midhwen(#29054)] \"Ah, that does make sense. It is your own invention then?\"

\"I believe you told me recently that you learned how to sew skin before you learned how to sew patches.\" Midhwen moves, so that she does not block any light, to ensure Morwenn has the best conditions for this next task. \"Go ahead.\"

[Lirael(#24368)]

\"A day or so,\" Lirael says, looking back to her task of rolling bandages and yawning behind her hand.

Morwenn\'s stitches are neat and quick, and soon she is wrapping the shoulder with linen. \"Alright, Sir Bor, you may turn on your belly. I will help you, so you do not jar the shoulder.\" And she moves to do so, her hands stronger than they seem on back and chest to help him.

\"Yes,\" Lirael replies absently. \"We have been experimenting with it on my feet, to give me rest from pain.\"

[Bor(#30834)]

The Knight-Captain wedges his good shoulder into the cot, using it as a leverage point to turn his body over. He winces, yet the young healer\'s hands help him push through the pain to flip onto his stomach.

\"A knife, this one,\" he informs the two who attend to his wounds.

[Midhwen(#29054)] Looking over at the medicine table, Midhwen sees that the work she and others were engaged in when Laeghen first entered is still ongoing.

\"Lady Mormegil, I feel as if my presence would be put to better use at the medicine tables, than here.\" She turns to Morwenn with a smile. \"Your daughter is more than capable of continuing this treatment herself.\"

[Lirael(#24368)]

\"It is very clean,\" Morwenn observes of the back wound, while Lirael waves Midhwen on. \"I will watch her,\" she assures the apprentice.

Morwenn cleans the gash. \"You are lucky it did not go in instead of across,\" she says to Bor. \"You might have died of it. But this will heal quickly, and needs only a few stitches.\"

[Bor(#30834)]

\"It is not yet my time, little one,\" says Bor to Morwenn, his eyes staring out blankly ahead. \"There are still battles to be fought. I am needed.\"

[Lirael(#24368)]

\"No, it is not yet your time,\" Morwenn agrees, salving the gash and then plying her needle again. When the wound is neatly stitched, she clears her things away. \"You will need clean linens on the cot, and a clean shirt. Do you need help to rise?\"

[Lirael(#24368)]

\"You are welcome,\" replies the maiden, bending her head. \"By the time you have the shirt on, your tea will be ready. A bit nastier than last time, I think, because you are hurting more.\" As she speaks, she whisks the soiled linens off the cot, then carries them off.

[Bor(#30834)]

Bor stands silently watching the girl\'s retreat before he turns to Lirael.

\"Please find out what you can from your husband. I would speak to him...\"

\"But you and I both know how that would go.\"

[Lirael(#24368)]

Lirael looks up from her winding, blinking owlishly. \"I will, Ser Bor,\" she says with a nod. \"In return, I hope you will keep your steel out of my lord\'s men.\"

She looks as if she would say more, but Morwenn returns then with clean linens, which she spreads over the cot, and a clean shirt, roomy for bandages, which she offers to Bor. \"I brought the softest I could find,\" she says quietly.

[Bor(#30834)]

\"We should speak of that later,\" says Bor with a respectful nod to Lirael.

Then his eyes turn back to Morwenn and so, too, his speech. \"I am not used to such kindness, lady healer. Forgive my lack of proper sentiment.\"

He pick up the shirt and slips it over his body.

[Lirael(#24368)]

\"I am the daughter of Lord Mormegil,\" Morwenn says with a note of pride to her voice. \"You need not apologize for expressing no sentiment. I would not know what to do with it.\"

Behind the man, Lirael laughs to herself. \"Well said, child,\" she murmurs to herself, shaking her head.

[Bor(#30834)]

\"Then we have that much in common, if nothing else.\"

Bor lays down upon the cot and closes his eyes to sleep.