Bound By Madness

14. Pruned Flowers

I climbed down from the wagon as soon as we got close enough to the gates that the guards began walking over, making my way into town as I heard the Jester who might be an Assassin begin explaining the issue with the wagon needing repairs.

I flinched when I felt a few of the cut threads on my limbs catch against my clothing and pull, knowing that I would need to tend to them more than I'd expected. I dreaded how much I might have to spend on healing potions or a priest's assistance, rather than the usual salve to simply fight off infection when I removed stitches from time to time.

Giving a sigh, I wandered towards the inn, hoping I could rent a room for a few hours so I could take a much-needed bath in privacy and remove the stitches so as to avoid too many awkward questions if I did indeed need a priest to tend to the wounds. If the wounds were that bad, I would need to have a true healing done and then Ellery would likely refuse to speak to me for days afterward, no matter what the Jester called Cicero said.

Just thinking of the man sent another shiver down my spine. Part of me wanted to run and hide, but if he was indeed an assassin like Amicus, I knew there would be no hiding from him. After all, the only way to stop an assassin from finding their target was to kill them. And Amicus had already said that the man was skilled. I didn't want to find out how skilled.

No, my best bet, for now, was to try and keep his interest enough that he kept his dagger sheathed, although I had no idea what it was that he found interest in with me. Amicus and Ellery were the interesting ones, being an Assassin and a Jester in turn. Surely that was something that would catch the man's attention, being as he was one, if not both, himself.

Me? I was just a sneak thief, all but a very good one if I said so myself. But still, a thief which was not something worth the attention of an assassin nor a jester. Ellery and Amicus were only interested in me because we had become friends over the years. That and I owed Ellery a new cap! Must never forget the cap, otherwise, he might leave and never forgive me!

I would never forget your cap, Ellery, no worries. No, no, need your forgiveness too much to ever forget.

After finally finding a room that offered privacy, I slowly peeled the clothing from my body, tears running quietly down my face as threads stuck to the fabric and ripped from their spots in the patterns I'd worked so hard to create. Blasted jester, I really would have to start over again after being healed. Especially with all the dirt and grime that had gotten under the layers of clothing and caked my skin. To do anything other than a full healing would be to invite infection, something I didn't want to chance dealing with on top of everything else happening right now.

Climbing inside of the steaming tub of water I'd paid extra for, I began washing the partially dried filth from my body, hoping that it would get me clean enough to safely remove the rest of the stitches. It would be awkward enough with the looks I knew I would receive from them without inviting even more questions if I didn't remove all the threads.

Yes, I would truly be starting from scratch this time. It had been a long time since I'd had to get a full healing done and start with a blank canvas, only old scars left behind to create patterns around. Oh well, I would figure out something even prettier to stitch for Ellery once everything was healed up and had a clean needle to work with. Maybe some new thread, too.

I wonder if they have any red thread at that shop we passed earlier. We should go check before we head back to the gates after everything is seen to.

--------

I'd almost jumped when I felt Amicus pull me back around the corner I'd just passed, stumbling over my feet and nearly dropping the assorted threads I'd been stuffing into the pouch I kept my sewing kit in. I'd found a lovely red, as well as a few other colors I wanted to test out.

"Shhh, keep still. The yelling man is over there, shouting at our new jester companion," the warmth of Amicus' breath against my ear as he spoke almost distracted me from what he'd said.

Why were they yelling at the Jester maybe Assassin? Surely he wouldn't have done anything to cause suspicion from anyone. No, no, he was smarter than that. Otherwise, he would never have survived this long. Maybe the yelling man just liked to yell at people he didn't know? Yes, that might be it.

Slipping back around the corner of the building, I began sneaking closer to the arguing pair, barely able to make out the Jester called Cicero's high pitched voice as he screeched at the angry-looking man who seemed to be telling him to stop blocking so much of the entry. Pausing for a moment, I noticed that the wagon did seem to be blocking part of the gates the way he had it parked.

Had he done that on purpose, to make sure I couldn't try to leave without him seeing me? As if I would even attempt to test his ability to track me down and steal my life as quickly as I could steal an apple from the market on a busy day. No, I was no madwoman to tempt his blade to seek my blood!

Standing up from my crouch, I rushed over and grabbed the rude man before he could yell anything else at the man I was traveling with, stepping back quickly as he turned to me with a shout.

"What now?! Can't you see-" he began, freezing when he finally looked down and saw me. Damn but even the shorter Nords were ridiculously tall. "It's you... I thought you left?"

Frowning at the man, I motioned to the bandages that poked out from beneath the edges of my shirt. I'd worn one with shorter, looser sleeves. The priestess I had found had insisted I not wear anything with tight sleeves until the wounds had a chance to finish healing. She'd refused to do a full healing, as most of the wounds had been 'self-inflicted'. As if she had any right to judge me!

However, it was useful right now, enjoying the way the man flinched at the sight of the bandages. Completely worth spending the coin I had on threads instead of a minor healing potion to finish up mending what the priestess hadn't.

What, do you feel guilty that I am back here with wounds, after kicking me out yesterday? Do you blame yourself for the injuries that I might not have if you had simply left me alone? Hah! I hope you wallow in misery!

The sudden cackle from the jester standing next to his cart had the now subdued man looking at him, anger rushing back to his face. "What? You think it is funny that this woman is injured?"

"Oh no, Cicero feels bad that she is wounded. Surely if she had been able to stay the night safely in town, she would never have gotten hurt so badly as to require a priest's tender ministrations. Although he wonders why they left her still injured. Surely they would not be so cruel as to leave such a gentle soul in pain? Did sweet Faith perhaps not have enough coin to afford a full healing?" The way he smiled at me as he spoke, his eyes darting to look at the way the other man flinched from his words, left me knowing that he was more than happy to feed the man's guilt in ways I could not.

She refused to heal the rest of the wounds. I'll be fine. It will just take a while to finish healing natur-

I was stopped mid-word as I felt a large hand rest on my shoulder from behind, a healing potion appearing before my eyes before I turned to look behind me. It was the shouting man's brother, his eyes filled with sadness as he slowly removed his hand from me after giving a gentle pat.

"Sorry you got hurt," he mumbled, grabbing my hand and wrapping my fingers around the potion before letting go and walking over to his brother. "Let's go home, brother. He was just waiting for her. Right?"

"Of course Cicero was waiting for his friend Faith to show up! He wouldn't dream of leaving without her!" The jester spoke happily, a sharp smile on his face as he looked at me. "Cicero is very glad sweet Faith showed up when she did. Cicero worried he was going to have to go searching for her."

I had no plans on abandoning our travels together. I guess things took longer than I had realized. But I am here now and we can leave. Let us see what adventures await us, Jester Assassin.

"Hmmm, Cicero likes that. Yes, he likes that indeed. Sweet Faith comes up with such interesting nicknames for Cicero," he said in a playful tone as he assisted me up into the wagon, climbing up beside me before grabbing the reins. "Cicero looks forward to what else strange Faith has to say during the 'adventures' ahead of us."