Line of Time

A yearly visit from a friend

After his guests had left Gunnar got up and went to go get the things he would need to redress Tino's wounds. He brought a sheet and did the same as he had done with his old shirt the night before. Tino was still embarrassed by that part and then when Gunnar unwrapped the bandages on his legs he saw something he had hopped to prevent, an infection. It was still mild but painful all the same because when he went to clean it Tino bit his lip and whimpered. After all his wounds were cleaned Gunnar gave him some bread and water.

"Make it back to your bed before I come back." Gunnar said as he then left for town. Tino ate and then put his cup away, he walked slowly but he managed. He then went back to bed like Gunnar had told him. It wasn't long before Tino was out like a light.

As Gunnar walked to town and to the market place he couldn't stop thinking about what his friends had told him. Lukas was right, if the infection got worse Tino wouldn't live through the winter. As Gunnar walked pass his neighbour's house he stopped at him shouting something from his door.

"Gunnar, I think this belongs to your thrall, my dogs were fighting over it last night!" He said as he threw an objet wrapped in cloth, it landed at Gunnar's feet and he bent down to pick it up. When he did he unwrapped it and stared at what was there. A piece of meat, tenants, muscles and flesh. It was the piece that was missing from Tino's leg and it wasn't until now that he noticed how much had been missing. It had started to rot and had an odor that started and he quickly wrapped it back up. He looked over disgusted with his neighbour and saw the door slam shut. Gunnar put the cloth in his pocket and decided that he would through it in the fire once he returned home.

He continued walking and bought the things he needed from the village shops. As he walked back he saw a shop with medicines and stopped to look. He ended up buying an herb to help with infection, he then thanked the woman that sold it to him and went back home. He had been gone for some time now.

By the time Gunnar returned Tino was in a deep sleep and for once he didn't stir. In all the time he was here Gunnar never saw Tino truly sleep soundly but he had never seen Tino sick before either. Gunnar didn't mind much that he had to do the chores he had intrusted to Tino, but he did worry after a week and the infection had grown. Tino now had a bad fever, a sweat he couldn't get rid of but all the same he tried to get out of bed multiple times to help Gunnar. Every time Gunnar sent him back to bed but he would only try again the next day, Gunnar had considered tying a rope from his collar to the bed but decided against it in the end, Gunnar had a better solution, when he woke up he would walk over to Tino's bed. He shook the smaller boy's shoulder until he woke up, he then told him to stay there, it worked and he obeyed his command. Soon winter had arrived and Tino's infection had rendered him so he couldn't even get out of bed if wanted to anymore. Gunnar had tried the medicine to help the infection but it did little for him, even in the beginning, it only dulled the pain. Gunnar had stayed by Tino as now he was barely conscious and when he was he was weak and could do little but a few words here and there but it's not he ever talked much to Gunnar in the first place.

Gunnar hadn't gone on voyages with Mathias or Lukas and now they worried about the strong silent brut that was a part of their merry band. When they finished their journey and then were determined to go see him.

Gunnar sat next to Tino as weak coughs left his form and his eyes were dulled. His fair light blonde hair stuck to his forehead with sweat, his skin was paler than usual and clammy. His body shook from cold even if he was buried under many furs and blankets.

" . . . Gun-Gunnar . . . ?" Tino asked his voice soft and small. For once Gunnar didn't strike him for using his name. Gunnar knew Tino didn't have his mind in order because of the sickness and him being tired, he cut him that much slake.