Homecoming - (Part 3 of the Ignaius-Saga)

Can we talk?

The next person to visit Variel wasn't Tanier. It was Kimar. It was already starting to get dark and it looked like the prince had just returned from a ride and hadn't time to change or freshen up. He stood near the door and asked: "May I come in? Father sends me, but he also told me to ask, if I am welcome, as you may not want to talk to me yet. So - may I?"

As he was standing at the door, Kimar reigned in his curiosity. He had just returned from the place where Tanier and Variel had been held, had reported to Tanier and was told by him to go straight to Variel and see, if he would be allowed to tell him as well. This had made him wonder, how badly afflicted he really was, if he was not able to see visitors.

Variel was lying on his stomach, as it was much more comfortable than on his back or side in his current condition. He laid his head to the side when the door opened, and when he saw it was not Tanier, his chest tightened up.

It was just Kimar... Tanier had sent him... The king would not send someone he didn't trust... It was just the king's son...

In a futile attempt to quell his anxiety, Variel tugged the blanket up a little higher. It would be foolish to turn Kimar away, but he still didn't feel ready for this. Never the less, Variel summoned what resolve hie had and gave the other boy a nod of consent.

Variel made no effort to sit up or look more dignified as the prince entered the room and sat down. However, he kept his gaze on the other boy while he spoke, showing that he was indeed paying attention.

Kimar took a chair to sit down at the head of the bed. "Father thought you should know that we took Ond castle. It wasn't difficult, there was hardly any resistance, just a lot of confusion. Lord Nevala is presumed dead. We started interrogating everyone whom we could still apprehend, but it looks like most people who are not dead know very little. I inspected the damage that the explosion and the fire created. We are waiting for someone with greater expertise to give his opinion, but we are still in the dark. The most logical explanation at this point is that there was a hidden powder magazine that caught fire. But we think we should still have more structural damage, if this was what happened. Father wants to inspect the place tomorrow, but he says you are not well enough to come along. Seeing you lie here makes me think he is probably right."

He looked at Variel with a critical look. He knew by now that Variel was always pale and always shy, but right now he was even more pale and more shy than usual. He still seemed to be afraid of something.

"You really don't look well. Are you in pain? Or is there anything you need?"

On one hand, Variel knew the king was probably right: he was not well and probably shouldn't be taken anywhere like that at the moment. He also did not find the prospect of ever stepping foot inside that cell again appealing. However, he felt a heavy sense of disappointment upon hearing that he would not be brought along. Variel was an intellectual with an investigative mind. he felt a driving need to understand things, to solve mysteries and find the truth. He wanted to see the aftermath of this strange "explosion" for himself, but it seemed his condition was going to deny him that chance.

But what if the people looking around missed something?! They might never know what had really happened!

All the while, he did not speak to Kimar, and when the topic turned to his condition, he lowered his gaze. He hesitated when he was asked those questions: yes, he was in pain, but there was little that could be done. So, he just shook his head slowly, letting that suffice as the answer for both questions, as he still felt like there was an iron vice clamped around his throat, preventing him from speaking.

Kimar waited, wondering, if Variel would finally elaborate, but he waited in vain. "Fine then," he finally said, when it became obvious that nothing more would come foreward. He slowly stood up. "Get well soon. But not too soon. Thanks to you I have a room just for myself here, which is kind of nice. See you!" He left, glad that he could retire to his own room now and possibly get a bath.