Enter Abyss

Chapter 39; Choices.

When Archer awoke, he was laying in a soft bed in what appeared to be an infirmary.

A young woman in soft grey robes stood over him,muttering strange words, her hands outstretched over his body.

'Healing magic,' Archer thought blearily, noting that the pain in his leg and head were slowly fading. For a moment, his curiousity sparked bright like a flame in a gas lamp; how did the magic heal him exactly? Was it a science or truly something supernatural? Was it knitting his bones together now?

Soon, his head began to ache once more with all the thoughts and he reluctantly pushed them away, vowing to make notes on healing magic later.

That is, if he was alive later.

For though he had won the race, he was not sure he would be as lucky with the next trials. And perhaps he would not be able to use his flying machine anyway, which was quite a disadvantage if you asked him.

Groaning in pain, he glanced around the room and was surprised to see Cogs sitting on the bed beside his own. 

"Have a nice nap?" the blond boy said.

"I feel like my head got caved in."

"It very nearly was," Cogs shook his head, "That blasted Mordren almost killed you. Pip could barely believe it."

"Where is she now?"

"Last I heard, she went off to yell at him. She mostly stayed with you while you were unconcious, however, and every once in awhile she brought cold water to splash on your face."

"Did she?"

"Aye; she got kicked out when she almost drowned you by accident."

Archer shook his head, immediately regretting it when a bolt of pain spiked through his skull. Above him, the healer finished her spell and let Cogs and him be, tending to the next bed.

"That was clever, you know." Cogs said suddenly, "The bit with the flying machine. Mordren deserved to lose after what he did to you."

"So it wasn't against the rules?"

"The only rule was to finish first," the boy replied, shrugging, "You did that. If anything, HE was the one who cheated."

Archer nodded carefully. "And Ardistan?"

His friend when quiet for a moment, with only the chanting of the healer disturbing the heavy silence.

"Dragons are like horses," Cogs finally said, "At least they are in the sense that, when they break something like a wing... they... well, they have to be... you know."

Archer could only nod again, tears pricking at the corner of his eyes, a lump growing at the back of his throat. Beside him, Cogs ran a hand through his curly blond hair.

"So, what comes next?" Archer replied, sitting up.

His leg and head already felt healed, if only just a bit achy, and his heart felt a need for avenging Ardistan. He could go on, couldn't he? Surely he could continue to fight. But when he swung his leg out of bed and put weight on it, he cried out in pain.

Immediately the healer rushed over, scolding him back into bed, to which Archer reluctanlty agreed.

"Well," Cogs replied onced that had all been sorted out, "Pip informed me that there was supposed to be something called the Dance of Blades, which I believe means is simply trial by combat."

"Brilliant." Archer moaned, his leg throbbing all over again. 

It was hopeless; Pip wasn't on their side and she was the only fighter. Galen wasn't awake and even if he was, he was no match for Mordren. Archer certainly couldn't fight with his leg being the way it was, and he was sure that no one from the kingdom dared to step forward to fight for their king.