treachery | t. holland

03. bayern

[note.] this is an updated version of chapter 3 so don't be confused. sorry for the change but i've had a better idea of where i want to story to go from here. xx
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The first thing you felt was pain.

You opened your eyes and had to squint. The sunlight shining in through the window was far too bright. You were lying on your stomach.

"Good morning, dear," Came a weathered voice from beyond the foot of your bed.

You pushed yourself up on your elbows but stopped because the pain was almost unbearable.

"No, no, darling, stay still, I haven't had time to sterilize the last round of stitches yet."

You lowered yourself back down to the bed and blinked to clear your vision. "Where am I?"

"I think," The woman said, coming to sit on a stool beside you. "The real question should be who are you." She began touching your exposed shoulder with a rag covered in something that burned.

You winced at the touch.

"This mark you've got on your neck," The woman continued. "You're not from here, are you?"

You winced again, but this time not because of the salve. She had seen your royal Kildenrean tattoo.

"And the way you speak, my, you could be mistaken for an outsider. Tell me, did you come from a southern forest settlement?"

"Please, ma'am," You shut your eyes at the searing of her work. "Where am I? Who are you?"

The woman stopped spreading the salve and rolled the rag up in her lap. "I am Hope. And you are in my bed."

You glanced around, your eyes widening. "I'm so sorry—"

"Easy, darling," Hope pushed your lower back down so you would stay put. "I only had to sleep in the barn one night. Nothing to fret over."

You still felt guilty.

"As for where my bed is, well, it'd be in my cottage, I'd say. And that's a good league out from the city."

"You mean the capital of Bayern?"

Hope eyed you as she stood up. "What other cities are there?"

You ignored this. "How long would it take to reach it on horseback?"

Hope gave you a pitying look. "A few hours at most, dear, but—" She looked out the window. "Well, I'm sorry to say, but that elegant steed you had fell over and hasn't moved since last night. I've had my son take it to be buried out by the garden."

You felt a sudden spring of tears in your eyes. Not Lola— surely....

"By the time I found you I couldn't tell if the blood covering its flank had been hers or yours. Now it's clear it was both. A big long slash in its side, similar to the one in your shoulder. Except you'd also got an arrowhead in there too." Hope held up a small and blood-stained triangular blade. "It's a wonder you even found me, I'm the only healer for leagues around. How did you get in this state in the first place?"

Despite her urging and the great toll it was taking, you pushed yourself up and looked into Hope's eyes. "I need to get to the city. Do you have a horse?"

"Now, wait just one moment." Hope said. "You're in no fit state—"

"I can ride." You promised, only wincing once as you made to pull your dress up to cover yourself. "It's urgent."

Hope sighed. "I don't know what you're getting at, or what horrors you've escaped from, but by the river gods, you are determined. My boys are taking a lumber load out later today. You can get a ride with them. All we have are oxen, anyway."