Thyrri watched as Eve and Laurel left the room, the princess clearly wanting to help and support her friend, but their social status not allowing her to do so. Laurel still seemed a bit dizzy, but with some rest, she should be all right the next day. And the healer knew that Eve will make sure that Laurel gets enough rest. There was a strange dynamic to their relationship, as she had noticed before, something they both tried to hide, but must have been obvious to anyone who saw them.
Her lingering thoughts about the Earthican princess and her bodyguard were interrupted by a commotion in the main infirmary room. The defeated warriors were just returning from the arena, their loud voices breaking the peace and silence. Thyrri didn’t really pay much attention to what they were talking about, but she had overheard enough to know that some Earthican warrior had won the tournament.
The champion himself entered the infirmary a few moments later, after someone yelled for a healer. Thyrri ignored it, as she had her hands full, and the voice didn’t sound desperate or in great pain, just angry and impatient, something she was used to. Some men just thought the world revolves around them entirely. She smiled at the warrior when he apologized, slightly surprised that the annoying voice before came from Earthican king. The royalty should have better manners.
“Everything is fine,” she replied calmly, examining his wound.
“This is nothing serious, I will have one of my assistants clean it up and bandaged.” She summoned one of the girls and gave her instructions, turning to the other warriors who filled the room meanwhile.
There were undoubtedly some political schemes behind all this – she had noticed that there were no veterans amongst the Exodus and probably also Primfira contestants, while Earthica and Luthra seemed to have sent their best and brightest into the tournament. She had no time to wonder what the king and queen wanted to achieve by that, as she had her hands full treating the wounded warriors. Fortunately, most of their injuries were just minor, save from one or two broken bones.
She didn’t even notice that her Luthran patient left his bed and walked into the room, he seemed too weak and in pain to even get up by himself. But nevertheless, he was here now, yelling at some of the more impatient men.
"Let me help you," he said to her and before she could say anything, or even think about any response he started to examine patient’s wound, deciding it wasn’t worth treating and sending the man away, proceeding to wipe a cut on another warrior’s arm with a dirty piece of cloth. And what was even more shocking, his mouth didn’t stop moving for a second. Thyrri just stood there, not knowing whether to be angry or to burst in laughter. She was used to overly polite people around the royal family, and while she spent a lot of time amongst the ‘common’ people of her kingdom, most of the Freyjans were still pretty uptight and proud of their flawless manners. This man was probably the opposite of all that, babbling about being a famous sea captain and asking her one question after another before she even had time to respond.
She finally gathered herself a bit when he finished his ‘treatment’ and sent the Exodus warrior away, still bleeding from a long cut, with blood smudged all over his arm.
“No, wait,” she stopped his from leaving, directing him to sit on an empty desk.
“I’ll stitch it up for you, just give me a second.” She turned to Dalious, who was now sitting on a bed, casually sipping from a wine glass. Thyrri opened her mouth to say something to him, but only a long laugh came out as she realized the absurdity of this situation.
‘What a weird day it is today,’ she thought.
“I am very pleased to meet you, captain Durendail, my name is Thyrri,” she said to him when she finally stopped laughing. It was surprisingly refreshing to talk to a person like that.
“I appreciate your efforts, but please, do NOT help me anymore,” she told him calmly and turned to the wounded warrior, cleaning his injury and preparing needles and thread for stitches.
“As for the ‘dot’ as you call it is called bindi and long time ago, it used to have big religious significance,” Thyrri talked, as she made tight knots on the stitches.
“Nowadays it is just a tradition and a fashion accessory for some people. All right, you are all set,” she told the warrior, who was throwing evil looks in Dalious’ way.
”Ah, tradition!” Dalious said.
”So, it is like my tattoos, sort of. Not really.” He pulled down his collar to show one such design.
”That’s a shark, got it to remind me of the one I killed many years ago. They are rare these days.”The infirmary was now empty again and Thyrri lowered herself on another free bed, sitting there with her back leaning against the wall, grateful for some rest.
“So, what is one of the most famous sea captains of this era doing in an Exodus arena?” she asked him, ignoring his questions about how and why she became a healer, as it was none of his business. He was kind of cute, but she knew his type. These men would do anything to seduce a woman, hiding their true self behind a cover of flattery and boasting.
”I wish I knew, love,” he replied, sipping from his wine.
”Lost my ship. Exodus threw a party. One thing led to another, now I’m here. Stabbed and hungover, I’m having a lovely time.”He rechecked the bandage and then sat up against the wall from his bed as well.
”Thank you, by the way. You’re very good at what you do. I’m only good at killing. Which is why, after I down this wine, I’m going to go find that scum bloke who stabbed me and slit his throat! An eye for an eye, my way of life.” He took a few more sips, realizing he was saying more than he should.
”I mean, I jest of course! Ha! I’m going straight to bed, as you instructed. Maybe you could take me to that place you mentioned earlier? What was it again? I’ll follow your lead, Thyrri. A lovely name, by the way. Feels right on the tongue. Not, not you...I mean, never the mind.” He finished his drink.
Thyrri giggled. Maybe it was just her brain being exhausted, but she was actually starting to like this guy.
“Hmm, are you even a captain, if you don’t have any ship?” The talks of killing people made her feel uncomfortable. With other people she would believe they were just dark jokes, but this man was from Luthra and even though he tried to hide it, there was a cold steel look in his eyes when he said it. He meant every single word and the thought sent shivers down her spine. She wasn’t even surprised that someone stabbed him on purpose – the wound didn’t really look like an accident in the first place, and this man looked like he was good at making enemies, even if it were just by his dumb jokes and tendency to speak before he thinks.
”Of course I am! I’m just, in the ship market.” he quickly added in before she continued.
“I wanted to take you to my friend for the night, she is… well, she really likes men and she would love to provide you with accommodation for the night. But you will have to stop drinking, at least for tonight. There is currently not that much blood running through your veins and replacing it with alcohol is really a bad idea. Unless you want to wake up dead tomorrow morning, which would be a great waste of my skills and time,” she tried to sound serious but failed as a brief smile appeared on her lips. She moved closer to check his bandage, which looked good, there were no signs of blood. Still, she was surprised that he was able to sit and talk like this, let alone walk around. The people from Luthra seemed to have surprising amounts of strength hidden inside.
”She sounds lovely,” he said, now walking with her toward the destination.
”Ah, I wouldn’t worry too much about it, alcohol has little effect on my kind. However, I will obey your words. No alcohol tonight, deal!”As he followed her, he couldn’t help but to think of her friend.
”Is she a whore?” he spoke bluntly.
”I suppose I could use one right now. Is she expensive? I’m afraid my coin pouch is empty at the moment. I thought they would give me coin for participating in the tournament, cheap bastards! Most expensive kingdom in the world and they can’t even shed off a few meesley gold pieces!?” ”That Earthican princess seemed to really like you, and really despise me. Royalty’s sort of always been a pain in my ass. Though, I’m sure if she got to know me she would give in. What do you think of her and her bodyguard? Are they together? Seemed pretty close to one another to my eyes. The Father and I are close as well, but more in a ‘if you fuck up again I’ll murder you’ kind of way. He’s swell.”Thyrri lead him through the town, which was still celebrating – a lot of drunk people wandered the streets, singing and cheering, some of them arguing with citizens of other kingdoms, some trying to befriend them. Even under normal circumstances, the streets of Exodus were busy, flowing with life, but the festival brought it to a higher level. She chuckled, when Dalious asked if her friend was whore.
‘Wow, there is really no beating about the bush with these people.’ “She considers herself more of a companion, but it is true, that she expects gifts from her patrons.” ‘So yes, she is a whore, but you were the one who said it, not me.’ “So I suggest you wouldn’t use such words as she might get offended.”[
”Of course, some like to be called prostitutes…” he quickly shimed in.
Thyrri was glad that they left the palace and servants stopped offering Dalious free alcohol. That man had almost mysterious power to summon them to his proximity. She thought what to answer to his remarks that royalty doesn’t like him. It was no surprise to her, he was a bit of pain in the buttocks, his blunt and brutal honesty and straightforwardness must drive people, who are used to tight manners, lies and political intrigues, slightly crazy.
“I wouldn’t worry about princess Evangeline and her bodyguard, as long as you manage to stay out of their way.” ‘Which by the looks of you won’t last long,’ she thought.
“All right, here we are.” They stopped in front of one of the houses and it was just in time. Dalious, even though he didn’t show any sign of weakness, was pale and barely standing on his feet. Fortunately, the servants recognized Thyrri and took them into one of the luxurious rooms.
“Only water for this gentleman,” she instructed a maid, who, no surprise, appeared bringing a glass of wine to Dalious.
‘That surely must be some sort of magic,’ she shook her head.
”Water!?” he was to protest but thought better of it.
The lady of the house appeared a few minutes later, dressed in a beautiful semi-transparent gown, that left very little room for imagination. Thyrri grinned when she saw the spark in Mahita’s eyes and a seductive smile that followed.
“This is my friend, captain Durendail, a very important member of the Luthra delegation. There have been some misunderstandings in the palace, and I was hoping you could provide him with accommodation for the night. I will pay for your expenses of course,” she grinned at her friend, knowing that no payments will be necessary.
“Of course, that will not be a problem. As you know, there is plenty of room around here.” Mahita positioned herself in a comfortable armchair next to Dalious.
“But accommodation only. Strict doctor’s orders – rest and a good night sleep. For both of you,” Thyrri added, giving Mahita an important look.
”Emphasis on ‘good night’,” he said, looking Mahita up and down with a grin.
”...for both of us.”
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Heckno12