Chamberlain's Struggles

Chapter 4

Chamberlain was unconscious and fighting the fever for three days straight.

Wyneth kept an eye on him. Byron would go tend to his Mounders during the day, but would return in the evening. He wanted to be there to see his creature wake up.

Chamberlain soon came to. At first, his vision was blurry. He felt he was lying on his left side and partially on his back. He also felt some soft material beneath him.

When his vision focused, he saw he was in an unfamiliar place. It definitely did not look like the castle.

"Where... am I?" He asked weakly.

Wyneth heard the question. She went over to the cage. He was facing toward the cage.

"You are in my healer's sanctuary." Wyneth answered him.

Sil heard a female voice answer him. He moaned and moved his head to where he heard it. There, on the other side of some bars, was a mid-aged female Gelfling.

When he saw the bars and a Gelfling, he felt panic rising. For the first time, he was the prisoner!

Chamberlain tried to instantly get up, scared of what may happen to him among Gelflings.

"Agh!" He instantly cried out as he felt pain in his body. He had no choice but to stop moving. He clutched his ribs when it had made a cracking sound. Then he saw his arms no longer had the sleeves from his robes on.

He looked at his arms and saw white cloth wrapped around them instead. His right arm was wrapped from his wrist to his shoulder. Just his left hand and wrist was wrapped. Then he felt the tight feel on his ribs and on his left leg too.

Sil couldn't believe this had happened to him. He remembered being banished, now he had been practically near death.

"For right now, Creature, it is best you don't move around much. You were hurt pretty bad." Wyneth said.

"What happened?" He asked nervously. "Where am I?"

"Byron said that Rakkida were trying to make a meal of you." She said. "He and his Mounders brought you here three days ago. I treated your wounds. We were wondering if you were ever going to wake up."

Three days? It couldn't be. Then Sil was sure of something else: a dryness had settled in his mouth. He licked his mouth, trying to stimulate saliva.

"Want some water?" Wyneth asked.

Sil whimpered. "Yes."

The Gelfling woman picked up a bottled wineskin and brought it to Sil's mouth through the bars.

He wasn't accustomed to feeling like this, but his own arms were in no shape to hold anything. He raised his head and she tilted it up for him.

The cold liquid felt like heaven in his dry mouth. He even tried to make sure he didn't let one drop spill by licking at his mouth and the wineskin.

Then she pulled it away. "That's enough for now. We'll try food later on."

"Why... am I in a cage?" He asked.

"It was just a precaution. We didn't know if you were going to be a killer creature or not. What are you anyway?" She asked.

"I am Skeksis." Sil replied.

Wyneth was shocked at that. "Don't the Skeksis live in the castle of the Crystal?"

"Yes... but I was... banished."

"Oh. Sorry to hear that. So, what's your name then?"

Chamberlain whimpered in pain. He tried to move his left leg and found it hurt to move too. Then he answered her.