Carnelian

Chapter 5

Watching the Fairy-king, Sir James fought to remain awake, sensing that the king would make an important announcement. Though the powder he'd been sprinkled with got in his eyes and up his nose, it did not make him sneeze, nor did it sting his eyes. It did, however, make him forget to hide his emotions. Tears sprang to his eyes as he forgot to remain awake.

After a moment, he forgot why he was fighting and drifted off to sleep. He was awakened again when the Lady Carnelian placed a short stick in Sir James' mouth. He opened his eyes. "You will need to bite down on this," she told him quietly. Without having to be told, Sir James knew it was for him to stifle his screams of pain with.

Grimly, Sir James nodded his understanding. With his free hand, he removed the willow long enough to speak. "I will not move. Do as you must, My Lady." The lady gave his shoulder a bit of a squeeze and she offered him a sympathetic expression before turning to the task at hand. Sir James steeled himself for the pain that was to come. On his brow, the Bloodstone warmed against his skin.

"Now, you must cut here, where the skin is just beginning to turn down," said Proud Obsidian when Lady Carnelian returned to the deadened wrist. "Cut down to the bones, all the way around."

Sir James tried to look away but his attention was snared by the trembling in Lady Carnelian's hand as she obeyed, concentrating on doing as her king commanded. Sir James remembered her panic when she'd first seen the entire, terrible state of his hand and was grateful for the Fairy-king's presence as he directed the maiden's actions.

When she first cut into his wrist, Sir James felt the pain but decided it was bearable. As she worked, the pain increased steadily until he could no longer ignore it. Sir James dug the fingers of his good hand into the soft grass and soil, seeking something to hang onto, lest he move the arm he'd promised to keep still.

"Now, slice back to about here." The Fairy-king indicated a short distance from the original incision and continued with his instructions as Lady Carnelian obeyed.

Throughout the proceedings, Sir James lay rigid and still as he'd promised, though he could not control his breathing or the pain that gripped him. He ground his teeth against the stick as the pain became more than he could bear, digging his heels into the ground and arching his back as he fought to remain still. A scream welled in his throat but, stubbornly, Sir James refused it voice.

Lady Carnelian interrupted her king. "My king, let us pause to allow the knight to recover himself." She turned her head and caught Sir James' eye.

His breathing had degenerated to a kind of pant that allowed very little air to move through his lungs. Desperate for air, he felt as if he were drowning.

"Sir James," she said quietly, "breathe with me." She took several slow, deep breaths, obviously modeling what she wanted for him to follow.

He tried, but wasn't able to gain control of his own chest. Lady Carnelian laid aside the blood-covered blade and turned to him. She touched his face and stroked his hair, using the cleaner of her two hands. Calmed and comforted by her touch, Sir James allowed himself to relax and breathe the way she'd asked him to.

"Concentrate on that and not your arm, My Friend." Her concerned affection reassured him. He managed a little nod, still not trusting his voice. "Look over at the brook, at the waterfall. Let your breath flow." Lady Carnelian's calm voice soothed him until his racing heart had slowed enough that the pain in his chest receded.

He forced himself to tear his gaze from her beautiful face to look at the waterfall across the glade, to breathe deep breaths the way she wanted. "We must continue," she said after a moment. "Only keep your gaze on the waterfall and take deep, even breaths."