|[ THE FAERI'S KEEPER ]|

Chapter 27: Words of Pain

I was in a lot of pain. That was all I knew, all I could comprehend: pain, and too much of it. Hot fiery pain that tore at my limbs; icy agony that crept through my veins, freezing my blood. My eyes refused to open – or maybe they were open and I just couldn't see. Had I become blind? And deaf also, for I could hear no noise besides my own groans of pain, and even those echoed oddly, as if they were not my own. Occasionally there would come brief moments when a cool numbness would spread over my body, as if I had been submerged in water, sparing me from the pyre, and my senses would return to me. I had caught snatches of conversation, words like Abbadon and poison. More than twice I had heard a voice say war and death.

I groaned as a fresh wave of pain built up across my torso and bit back a scream. I couldn't tell if I was alone, wherever I was. At first I had feared I was dead, that I was in Alninė, where all sinners paid for their actions. I had certainly killed enough men to earn such a sentence; had definitely left enough children fatherless, enough wives husbandless.

A faint tingling sensation built up towards the bottom of my legs and relief flooded through me. A pain-free reprieve was on its way. As the numbness spread up my legs and then snaked its way along the rest of my body I felt my senses return to me. I could taste metal on my tongue, sharp and tangy. Was it blood? Had I bitten my cheek, or my lip? I could smell blood – like copper – and I knew that it must be mine. I tried to move but found my limbs were still cemented in place.

Voices drifted over to me, deep in conversation.

"She has been asleep for two days now," a female voice said in a hushed voice, "Perhaps you... perhaps we were too late." Had been asleep for two days? I thought vaguely. That couldn't right – this coming and going of pain and reprieve had been waging for far longer than days... it had been months, years... centuries...

"No. can't you see her arms?" another voice replied, deeper than the first, "The words are healing, and her heart beats. And her ankle, it had fixed."

"A broken ankle is an easy thing to set right," the female snapped, "But being run through with such a blade... that is not so easily fixed."

"She is not going to die." the second voice hissed, "The rune I gave her still inks her skin. Had Abbadon taken her the rune would have disappeared by now."

That name... that name again. Abbadon. I wondered at who this mysterious Abbadon was. I assumed it was a person... but who were they? Did I know them? Did the owner of this voice know them? I tried opening my eyes but still found that sense had been kept from me.

"I still worry," the female voice said, "Why hasn't she woken? Why is she so silent?" my mind misted over at those words. Silent? Silent? I hadn't been silent. I had been screaming in agony for what felt like eternity, crying out for it to end.

"It's the poison from the monsters blade. Those words carved into her arms... they weren't made with an ordinary blade or else my magic would have healed them." The deeper voice said softly, "Or else those scars would've have disappeared." My heart beat a little quicker. This was new... scars? Words? Once more I wished I could open my eyes; sit up and join in the conversation. But the darkness remained around me, pressing in on my skin, like soft material. The seconds ticked by, and the two voices fell silent, leaving me alone. I felt the first tingles of pain flare up in my wrists and ankles and knew that I would soon be consumed by the fire.

I wondered how long this time would last.

***

I could see the stars shining high above me, tiny pinpoints of light surrounding the crescent moon. They darkness around them was like the black water of a lake; smooth and soft, unmoving. I could smell something, like fire and the aroma of the forest. I could see the branches of trees reaching over my body like caressing arms. I blinked with relief as I found myself able to feel my body. No more of being unsure of where I was, of not knowing who I was with or when the next wave of pain would strike. I could see again, feel again... I moved my fingers, curling them all up into a fist. I had control over my body once more. I was awake. I turned my head to the side, feeling soft grass brush my cheek.  I could hear hushed voices whispering a little way off and I sat up and turned seeing Claude and Natona talking by a small flame that flickered in the cool breeze. Jordin and the other bandits slept still further away, blankets wrapped around their bodies, shielding them from the cool wind that was creeping through the trees. Claude was the first notice I was awake, turning as I stumbled to my feet. I felt light-headed and sick, my stomach growling as it began gnawing on itself.