day 13 24079

Setf refilled her glass before answering. “I am doing all right. But I hope. What we saw when scouting was bad. What was in the was beyond bad.”

Kell reached out and put her hand on his. “We knew there was evil in the world but when you come face to face with it. It is hard. Take it to Her. Visit the paths and put out a warning. There is help for the land coming, but the people will need it to. Your path is better than mine for that. It will help you some to.”

Seft nodded. “I have, and so has Cord, his path is that of the fighter. So all are warned and the hunt is being spread. I think it safe to say we will have help when we need it. Your monk is getting the word out to the Bentains as well.”

Kell smiled. “He is not my monk, for the tenth time. Heck you were there with us. So Master Jan was still there?”

Seft nodded. “He will be leaving soon, but they are set up a way so he can keep them in the loop. I take it that both rays are diving into their locked rooms looking for anything that might help.”

“Will you please pass on that She said the tracks we are on will bare fruit if we stay with them. She will guide, but we must keep looking.” She looked down then said. “She also said We will be there in time. I am not sure, but it doesn’t sound good to me. However the conformation was a help.”

He nodded “I received a similar message, as did Cord. But I will pass yours along as well. I need to let them know you are up and around.”

Kell smiled. “Well almost, I don’t think I have ever moved so slow. But you are right at lest I am moving. You said something, back when I first work up, about not expecting the fire. I thought fire was a natural reaction to the mage strike? The other one we took out went up in flames. Oh and just how did you manage that?”

Setf said. “ With you I would expected because you are strongest in fire. But remember I test the highest in water. It was one of the reasons they were surprised that we worked so well together.”

“Right but. Oh any strikes you send would be mostly water magic, and water doesn’t burn. Thank you Anth that looks delicious.”  She took a bite.

Stef blinked as a plate was sat in front of him as well. “Thank you I was going to.”

Athions smiled. “You were going to sit here talking and forget to eat. It was just as easy to get three as it was two.”

Kell pointed at the chair next to her, Athions filled her glass than sat down.  Kell took the hint and got a drink, then said. “So have you asked?”

Stef nodded. “I passed it on and they are looking into it. There were others involved. But they just broke the shields. I sent the strikes in on my own.  Even with out the shield it took five strikes to take them out. One should have done it. I believe that the War hand is exploring that. If I hadn’t of passed the stone test I don’t think I could have done it.”

Kell frowned. “That is not good, you shouldn’t have that much trouble, even belong to the Healing hand.” She smiled then said. “It is a religion thing. The Goddess’ chosen each have a hand that they belong to. Path would like be a better term as there are three, but hand is traditional. Each hand has its ups and downs. Those called to the healing are better at dealing with people, war with tools and battle scars. The last and lest traveled is wisdom, it deals with knowledge and earth. There are twin paths in the Bentain religion, their lord and ours are often shown as a pair.”

Athions shook his head. “And you thought my peoples believes were complicated.”

Rick said. “Well I find you both a bit touched. You are looking better this time. And must be felling better if you made it out here.”

Stef laughed. “Just goes to show it takes all kinds. What you are raised to know has a role in shaping what you think is right.”

Rick nodded. “But you can learn new truths if you are open.  I have found that there is more to life then I was raised to think. My family would be shocked if they knew all the details of my life. It is bad enough that I took up the sword and not the plow.”

Stef said. “I thought you accent was plains. So how dose a farm boy from the mists of a land that hasn’t known war in years come to the sword? Oh I know you have a large army, and that is why you haven’t had a war. But I understood that it was all heredity, that is farmers did not lean to fight and fights don’t learn to farm.”

Rick nodded. “We are taught that God, and yes there is only one, has set your place in life buy the parents you are born to. There is no changing. If your father is a farmer you are a farmer and so it is for every profession. The only difference is the Priests. They come from every walk of life, taken from homes in there teens they are told to but aside the things of their youth and serve God. So my be a fighter is a bit of a slap in the face for my parents, but they will still talk to me. As long as I am not warring any weapons they can see. Only because I never was baptized as an adult.” He got a drink. “As to how I learned, well. Mostly by watching and playing, until I got caught. Lucky it was by one of the students and instead of turning me in he started teaching me. That gave me a good bases and then the rangers taught me the rest, then sent me to Bree as they felt I would do better with her.”  Kell tried and failed to hide a yawn. “Getting tired?”

Kell nodded reluctantly. “I hate to say it, but I think I had best go back to bed, or I might not make it there.”

Rick went to help her up. Athions said. “Not so fast. His next question will be about our relationship and I am not going to answer that one.”

Kell laughed. “Why don’t you all walk me back? Once I am in bed I will help answer that is until I fall asleep. Then you two are on your own.”

Setf said. “You used to give the best answers when you were asleep, so who knows you just might. But I can wait for my answers untell you are a wake.”

Kell smiled. “Well I might, but I can not say they will do you any good. You know waiting until tomorrow might be best if you want me involved.”

Setf laughed. “Then I will see you all here for breakfast, who knows I might get Cord to come as well. I promises I will let Athions and Rick ask their questions as well. Only fair. I am just a bit enhanced by the plains.”

Kell said. “can we make it lunch instead. I am going to see if Mel will let me get a bath in the morning, and as slow as I am it will likely be lunch before I get dressed.”

“Lunch it is then. How about the table by the lake? There will be more shade, and it is closer to the showers.”

Kell looked at the others they nodded. Athions said. “That should be fine.”

Setf said. “See you there. I will take care of the food.”

He turned to go and the others headed in. Kell had to rest on the way in and make a side trip. Once she was back in bed she took some of the pain med and then knew nothing tell morning.

When she woke nether Athions or Rick was there. She managed to sit up on her own, but called an orderly over to help her to the bathroom and back. Mel was waiting one her when she reached the bed. “I still feel to shakey to try walking with out anyone there.”

Mel nodded. “You should. I am surprised you are moving as well as you are. How is the pain?”

Kell eased her sell down on a chair before answering. “Nothing right now. I did take some of the medicine you left before I went to sleep. My shoulder was hurting. I might have used it to much. But it feels all right now. I was lifting my own water glass, just half full. But perhaps it was bit much, or a to many times. As it didn’t hurt at first.”

Mel reached over and felt her shoulder. “It fells all right. Show me how high you can raise it before it hurts.”

She had it out leave before she had to stop. “I think I could go a bit higher but it is starting to hurt a bit.”

Mel nodded. “It looks all right. Keep using it as you have been but remember to stop and rest when it starts hurting, and don’t force it. How about the buns?”

Kell said. “Nothing from them but a little itching. Not bad but I think I will see about getting some lotion when he hit a town that can spare it. I was hoping I could get a shower and get out of here?”

Mel said. “We will do it this way. If you can make it to the bath house with out being carried you don’t have to come back here.”

“Dose resting along the way and leaning a bit on whoever is walking with me count as being carried?

“As long as it is no more leaning than you were with the orderly, then no. And it is you know when to rest that I am checking. I need to know you have the since to rest as I know they would let you bully them into anything.”

“All right then you have a deal.”

Rick came in just then. “What sort of deal? Sorry I wasn’t here had a meeting this morning and the mages are finishing up some work they are doing for the locals.”

Mel said. “If she makes it the baths taking the needed rests along the way so you don’t end up carrying her she doesn’t have to come back here. But you will still be in a wagon when we pull out.”

Kell nodded. “Anything I need to watch about clothing? Can I put on pants is what I really want to know.”

Mel said. “ Nothing scratchy or tight. Tempting to say no to pants just to find out if you own a skirt, but as long as they are loose it will be fine.”

“I have one, I repeat one, skirt in the bottom of my trunk. But I think I could get into Issy’s if I had to. Soft and loose?” She thought for a bit. “Ah about half way down in my trunk, you know the stuff that never gets unpacked?” Rick nodded. “Well in that you will find a few pants set that will slip right out of you hands if you are not careful. One of them should fit the bill. And yes they are from my past, but they will still fit me.”

Mel said. “Eat first then you can try. You will be better of with a bath as you will not want to stand to long.”

Kell nodded. Rick said. “In that case I will be right back with breakfast, and yes I have ate mine.” With that left, and was soon back with a tray and setting it in front of her. “Now don’t try lifting that coffee. It is heavier then the glass, they had no light cups. I honestly did try and find one.”

Kell nodded and said. “I think I can stand having you hold it for me. I am glad to see something other than water.” As soon as the meal was finished and the tray taken back, they started on the trip to the baths. It took her about ten minuets, but she made it.

Rick got the water going then helped her with her clothes. “The water is just warm, so it should be all right. But try it and see.”

Kell put her left hand in the water. “That feels fine.”

“All right then lets get you in.” Once she was in the tub he said. “You just sit there and, I will go get those clothes and be back to help you wash. Yes I know you could mange but I want to.” She nodded and he left, taking his time to find the clothes and return. As he expected she was asleep when he got back. He watched for a bit then gently touched her shoulder.

“Sorry, the bath was more relax than I thought, and the walk a bit taxing.”

“Sorry to wake you but it is going to take a bit of time to get your hair clean so I thought I should get started.” With out waiting for an answer and not letting her help much he saw to it she was clean and her hair washed out. He then helped her out and dried off, then into the clothes. “I like theses. Why haven’t you worn them?”

Kell looked down and half wished for a mirror. “There hasn’t been much need of them. They are court ware back home. Though more often worn by males, but I was not the only female to wear such. Now then are we ready to find the table?”

Rick kissed her. “Now we are.” With that they headed out.

Athions was at the table when they go there. He gave her a long look and then we to her and kissed her then helped her to a chair. “Just where did that outfit come from?”

Rick answered. “She has been hiding it in her trunk. There are more like it.”

Kell blushed. “I take it that you like it?”

Athions nodded. “It reminds of home.”

Kell raised an eyebrow. “Now that is interesting. You see this is court garb back home, more for the men.”

“That is odd. Wonder how that happened.”

Kell looked up. “I did not realize just how long I was in that tub. Setf should be here soon.”

Just as she finished speaking Setf and Cord came up. “Sorry we are late.” He looked over and stopped talking.

Kell said. “I just got here myself, and you had best stop stare like that or your friend there might get the wrong idea. Mel said I needed loses soft clothes and this was all I could think of that would fit the bill.”

Setf nodded and got the food he was carrying sat on the table next to Cord’s tray. “It was just a shock. I forgot how well you looked in the formals off.” He took a chair next to Cord.

Kell smiled at Cord. “Hi there. I am sorry we haven’t had much time to talk.”

Cord shrugged. “You have been busy and there wasn’t a lot to say.”

Kell said. “I think we were in the middle of something when I wore out. But do you mind clear up just what you two are?”

Setf shrugged and looked at Cord. Cord blushed. “Well um”

Athions said. “One room or two? That is enough answer for now. Anything more can wait, if it needs be said at all.”

Cord was beet red, but said. “One.” Setf looked like he wanted to give him a kiss, but just sat a hand on his leg.

Kell nodded. “That was what I thought, but wasn’t sure and you looked a bit odd when I joked about you getting the wrong idea. Sorry to put you on the spot. Now where were we?”

Rick said. “I think I was getting to us.” Athions nodded. “Well when I joined those two were all ready linked. I never gave it any thought, who would? Never crossed my mind that things could lead where they did. It was unheard of. Heck at that time I was still get used to the idea that love could happen between two people of the same gender. Such was unheard of back home. If it did happen it was only behind closed doors and never talked of. But things kept pushing the three of us together. And in time one thing lead to anther. I never regretted it, though it was a but shocking for me. There are times I still find myself amazed by the feelings I have. How much I care.”

Setf said. “From what I know of the plains I bet it was a shock. We do have a few people there, but it was not a place I went.”