A Bad Day|Haven | Ilyamen

[hisdivineshadow]

Shen gritted his teeth and tried to argue, succeeding only in producing a faint gurgling noise from his throat. Frustrated, he gestured in answer, jabbing a finger in the direction of the next room. After a few more seconds, he managed to whisper. "You'll use . . . mine. That room . . . cabinet . . ."

He tried to reach for the key tucked in his belt pouch, but the movement proved to be too much and he lost his balance, collapsing again to the floor.

[Deleted]

Ansrax sighed, screwed the cap back on his bag, and he crawled to Shen's side, gathering him in his arms. With a curse, he stood, wincing as he felt the hole in his gut get a little wider, and somehow managed to get Shen on the bed without dropping him rudely. Fishing in the belt pouch, the bounty hunter retrieved the key, and pressed his free hand against his wound as he went for the next room.

[hisdivineshadow]

The healer didn't bother to try and struggle any more -- it wasn't as if he had any strength with which to do so, anyway. His priorities now were getting Ansrax's gut wound patched up and then getting him to leave. Forces, I hope he doesn't try to stick around and mother me . . .

[Deleted]

Ansrax found the locked cabinet and managed to unlock it after two fumbling tries. He had more blood than most people to lose, given his build and height, but the injury was starting to push the limits of his tolerance now, and his hands were shaking.

"Not my best day ever," the redhead muttered, refusing to blink as he pressed the contents of a jar against his stomach. "But not my worst, certainly."

That rather dubious honor was reserved for when his aunt Auriel died and Amelia Maore-Black lost her arm.

The wound finally closed, leaving a pink scar that would be tender for a few days. Ansrax used the now powerless water to flush the blood from his pants, then threw the messy stuff away. Finding some bandages, he wrapped his stomach tightly and went back into the other room.

He took a seat on the floor next to the bed, having a drink of ordinary water. "Will you charge me extra if I have a nap, Shen?"

[hisdivineshadow]

The healer shuddered slightly, feeling chilled to the bone as he always did after an attack. "And . . . why would I . . . let you stay in the first place?" Struggling, he propped himself up on one elbow, then tried to muster a fierce glare, but could tell he was failing miserably. Slumping back on the bed, he weakly grabbed at a blanket and muttered, "At least tell me your name."

[Deleted]

"Because I have lost blood," Ansrax said dryly, "and I'm not fit to ride at the moment, otherwise I would pay and leave." He tossed the key onto the bed as an afterthought. "I am Ansrax Sougai, and I thank you for your treatment, Healer Shen."

[hisdivineshadow]

"Feh." After about a minute of silence, Shen closed his eyes and slowly sat up. "Help me into the next room . . . and you can have this bed. And forget payment."

[Deleted]

"Very well." Ansrax managed to heave himself to his feet, wincing again, and held out a hand to the healer.

[hisdivineshadow]

Shen stared at the hand scornfully for a moment, then rolled his eyes and slipped his legs over the edge of the bed. "I had hoped . . . a big guy like you . . . would just carry me," he muttered in a tone of mild complaint.

[Deleted]

"If you don't mind being carried like a woman again." Ansrax hooked his arms under Shen's back and knees, easily lifting him with a grunt of effort. "Where in the other room do you want to be put?" he asked, starting that way.

[hisdivineshadow]

"On the bed, of course," he answered acidly. At this point, he really didn't care about being carried like a woman. All he wanted was sleep, and refuge from his unexpected guest. Forces, if my head would just stop throbbing I think I might faint from relief.

[Deleted]

Ansrax shrugged; he hadn't noticed a bed, so it had been polite to ask. Shen was placed on said bed as gently as possible, though it hurt a bit to bend over to do so. "Rest well," he said in an offhand manner, and went back to the sickbed, easing himself onto it.

Outside, Belaria whinnied somewhat worriedly, and the bounty hunter replied with a whistle that basically meant he was well. The large mare shook her head and settled in for a longer wait, while Ansrax resolved to wake up in half an hour.

[hisdivineshadow]

When Shen finally came to several hours later, it didn't take him long to realize that Ansrax had already left. And had also left a reasonable stack of coins on the lip of the washbasin. Feh, I told him not to bother, the healer thought.

The whole incident had left a foul taste in his mouth, both literally and figuratively speaking. The last thing he wanted was to be hanging onto the man's money, as a tangible reminder of the whole wretched day. He considered trying to return it, but at this point it would probably be more trouble than it was worth.

Whatever, he decided finally, I'm going back to bed.