Araman

~ 4 ~

   Warm and steamy bath water cascaded around Kassen's aching body, soothing his muscles while he thought.

Once the King had left, Derio and Sitnen brought Kassen what they called 'a man's breakfast.' That was when he had tried to describe to them the strange girl who he was still sure had saved him.

"You've been away from the ladies for too long if you've started dreaming about them." Derio laughed tucking into the pile of bacon he had brought up for them all.

Kassen was determined to make them believe him. "It wasn't a dream, she was here. She saved me." His voice drifted off and he stared towards the open window. "She was so close..."

"I'm sorry, Kassen, but I haven't seen a girl like that around the castle." Sitnen tried to comfort the General.

"Yeah, I would have had my way with her long before she came to your bed!" Derio grinned at Kassen.

"As if that would ever happen. You're all muscle, Derio, but nought on the charm!" He replied.

"Too true." Sitnen slapped Kassen on the shoulder making him wince. "Sorry."

But General Kassen could not get the stranger out of his mind.

Allowing the water to embrace his body, he ducked his head beneath the surface with a large breath, enjoying the solitude of his thoughts.

Even if she was a dream, he thought, I have no doubt she brought me back to the living.

Deciding he was clean enough, Kassen dried himself and got swiftly dressed.

The servants of the castle greeted him as he made his way to the stables. They bowed and curtsied and said how pleased they were to have him up and well again. Kassen returned their greeting with small nods but was grateful when he reached the far entrance to the castle and was able to breathe in the mid winter air as he stepped into the castle gardens. It cleared his head while he walked casually across the stone path to where the royal horses were kept.

"Good, you're back." Was how Alti, Kassen's second in command, greeted him. A strangely delightful change from the normal welcomes he had received.

"There are some new drills I need to go through with you. You should find them suitable enough." They both strode to the far end of the stables where they could view the training grounds. Men were all in array on the field a little distance away, stretching in the mid morning light and talking heartily.

"We are a little behind with the new recruits however, as your illness was more than a little inconvenient."

"I'm glad to hear you missed me." The General replied while leaning against the fence. Alti just gave him a sideways glance and continued talking him through the drills; seeming not to notice that Kassen wasn't listening.

He didn't remember much of his illness. He didn't even remember much pain but it seemed by everyone's reaction it had been worse than he was being led to believe.

Kassen tried to think back to the last thing he remembered. It was sitting in the mess hall with Sitnen and Derio, discussing the strange customs of Verxia with this Unisayan business.

"I'm sure they're just implied." Sitnen had speculated. "Like some sort of test of courage that they call 'slaying the Unisayan,' perhaps."

"Surely it would be easier just to kill one?" Kassen replied, he had not seen a Unisayan himself but had heard tales of a horned creature that roamed Canah forest to the West. "They are only supposed to be a little larger than a horse."