The Unearthing (Book I of the Tebel Chronicles)

Chapter 15

The figure in front of her was large and caped. She could only see him vaguely. The man was wielding a sword dripping with something. Poison? She could feel her fear and anger rising. She had to protect the person behind her! She tried to see who she was protecting, but it was as if there was a dark misty veil hiding them from sight. There were sounds of battle raging nearby and someone was calling her. But she could see so very little...

Cyan blinked into the bright light streaming in through the window. All around, she could hear the sound of rushing water. She shook her head trying to remember her dream. Something had seemed so important. Strong hands were pushing her back down onto her bed telling her to be calm. Other hands were forcing something liquid into her mouth. She dozed out of consciousness again...

She was in a large room with windows lining one side and ceiling-high mirrors covering the other. There were mountains in the distance. Some youths were practicing sword sequences in front of the mirrors. She wanted to go over to them and instruct them on how to tighten their movements, but when she opened her mouth to speak she couldn't...

Cyan opened her eyes. She was in a large candlelit room with single beds lining the walls that faced big glass doors covered with curtains. It was nighttime. Outside, a storm was raging. It felt very cozy in her small bed as she listened to the violent rain and thunder. 

How did I land up in a sickroom? 

Where were the others? Cyan tried to sit up, but found she was tied to her bed. Someone rushed over as she started to struggle against the bindings.

'Lady Cyan, please don't struggle – you'll hurt yourself,' a young woman admonished gently as she pushed Cyan back down.

'Why have you bound me?' Cyan demanded, continuing to strain frantically against the tethers.

'Please, my lady, you kept struggling in your delirium and causing damage to your wound – we had no choice. If you lie still, I will untie you,' said the woman, keeping her voice low.

Realizing that she wouldn't be able to escape without help, Cyan stopped struggling and allowed herself to be pushed back down. The small woman unbuckled the straps and helped her to sit up, pushing big pillows behind her back. She bustled around the bed to light another lantern hanging next to Cyan.

'Who are you?' Cyan asked the petite woman. In the improved light she saw that the medic had short black hair and grey eyes and looked to be in her early thirties. 'And where are Trey, Jesse and Kael?'

'I'm Xai,' said the woman. 'Your friends are all asleep in their rooms. Your injury had festered making you very sick. We've kept you asleep for almost four days.'

'Kept asleep?' Cyan was alarmed to hear this. She didn't like the thought of being kept unconscious by strangers. She wondered if any medical examination had disclosed her identity to them.

The woman nodded. 'So that you wouldn't struggle anymore than you needed too in your fever. Your friends stayed by your side until Master Gerjo ordered them to return to their daily routines. They weren't happy with her at all.'

'Where am I?'

'In the infirmary in Noring.'

Cyan lifted the clothes they'd dressed her in to find her ribs bandaged tightly. She prodded her ribs gently and winced.

'It's going to take a little while to mend properly,' said Xai. 'We had to give you some pretty potent medication in order to sew up the wound. And you definitely cracked at least one rib in your battle.'