Tying Up Loose Ends|Darkthrone

[Kender Bard]

"We'll need the healer on hand when she wakes, I fear," Cloak remarked. "But I will take care of the maid tonight, after getting some information from her."

---

The next morning, down a member of the household staff, just as Cloak was dressing for the day, there was a knock at the door. "What?" she asked sharply, still in a poor mood from the night prior.

One of the other maids opened the door a crack and spoke in, hesitantly and softly, "Lady Fausta is awake. I think she'll need the healer. Shall I fetch her?"

[tuo]

Calan glanced briefly at Cloak and made a gesture that she should go before he continues to dress, planning to check on Fausta himself until the healer shows up.

[Kender Bard]

"I'll go," Cloak told the maid. "Go back to your duties." She finished dressing and headed briskly out of the room to find the healer from the night before.

Meanwhile, Fausta lay in misery in her room, tears still leaking from her eyes, though she'd managed to put a stop to her sobs. She held tight to her pillow, knuckles white from the grip. Even in the poor lighting of the room it was obvious she was more pale than normal and she shivered uncontrollably. When Calan entered the room, she glanced up at him and fresh tears sprang forth. Even so, she managed to try and place blame rather than submit meekly to an admission of defeat. "D-deodan.. d-didn't... protect m-m-me."

[tuo]

Calan looked impassively at Fausta for several silent moments before speaking. "You should always expect others to fail you, the fact you relied upon him enough for you to be injured because of him means you have forgotten that."

[Kender Bard]

It was true. Only Calan could make her feel so shamed. Well Calan and Bastion...

If she wasn't in so much pain, she would have been startled at that realization. In a way, Calan had taken Bastion's place in her heart as mentor and surrogate father figure.

As it was, she shut her eyes tight and gave a small nod to acknowledge that he was right. "It hurts," she complained. "Like fire in my body but worse."

[tuo]

That isn't good. If she cannot recover one way or the other...Calan dismissed that thought for now before he could finish it. "You can still talk and think at least. You will endure this and recover so we can..remind you of lessons you and Deodan have obviously both forgotten."

[Kender Bard]

Fausta swallowed at that. Heal just to be punished. That was some motivation, wasn't it?

It was better than the alternative, though, and she'd gladly take several dozen lashes on her bare back if it meant the pain would eventually go away.

"Calan," Cloak called out softly, stepping into the room with the healer from the night before. "I've brought her."

The healer came to the bedside and knelt. "You seem in pain?"

"No shit!" Fausta snarled at her.

The healer ignored the outburst. She began to touch and poke and prod at Fausta, earning curses and worse in return. At one point, Fausta tried to slap her, but she avoided it with a look of distaste.

"The pain seems to be full body," the healer said. "You said you were attacked by a Storm?"

"Yes," Fausta gasped.

"Hmm... I can give you something for the pain but I cannot say for sure how long this will last," the healer said with a small shrug. "You're still living and still in full mind. Do you remember things well? Do you know the name of your parents?"

"I know the name of your death if you don't give me something for the pain!" Fausta cried out.

The healer seemed completely fed up with her at this point. She turned to talk to Cloak and Calan instead. "As I said, I will give her something for the pain. When it wears off in a couple hours, if she's still in pain, you can fetch me again."

"What are you giving her anyway?" Cloak demanded.

"A healer concoction," the healer replied, attempting to be cagey. "I wouldn't expect a tailor to understand and it would be dangerous to try to duplicate without training."

[tuo]

Calan looked thoughtful at that, while it would be useful to learn more about this, his priorities are currently elsewhere. "Will a partial dose have any effect? And how long will the concoction remain viable without consumption?"

[Kender Bard]

"A partial dose would serve to have a relaxing effect," the healer conceded. "Though I'm not certain how much it will help with the pain. And I am... Somewhat uncertain as to how long the concoction may be used. I do know it loses potency over time..."

In truth the healer had a fair idea how long the drug lasted. But she wasn't about to set herself up to be casually tossed aside.

[tuo]

"If she cannot fully recover from this and still expects to be useful, she'll need to learn to deal with the pain. Give her a half dose for now." Calan said coldly.

[Kender Bard]

"As you wish," the healer said.

Once it was administered, and she was sent away, Cloak hovered over Fausta. The girl was still in pain, and struggling to handle it, but she did seem a bit more relaxed at least.

Cloak did not consider herself a maternal person, but she'd invested enough time and energy in rearing both Fausta and Deodan, that it was hard to not feel frustration at the current situation. She finally just picked up a blanket and draped it over her. "Rest," she ordered. Then turned and took Calan's hand, drawing him out of the room and down the hall a bit.

"You're right in your assessment," Cloak told him. "And I think she can learn to cope if she can't outright overcome whatever has afflicted her. But there's still the question of what to do with Deodan."

[tuo]

"We've been far too lax in his discipline." Calan responded with a low, but harsh tone. "He requires more training, I can see to it myself shortly."

[Kender Bard]

"Don't hurt him so much that it will raise suspicion should he venture out of the house or someone come calling on him," Cloak warned lightly. "I'll make it my priority to watch over Fausta. As soon as I feel she is strong enough to be punished, you will know of it. I can see to it myself... Or leave her in your stern hands. Whichever you prefer."

[tuo]

Calan pauses as he was about to leave the room before answering her. "I trust your judgement on this dear." He says in a neutral, if slightly troubled tone before he finishes leaving, closing the door behind him.