Dragon Hunter

I'll meet you there where worlds collide

The doctor had told Roman that he shouldn't even try to stand up with the condition his feet were in.
That it was a miracle that his lungs hadn't given out on him and that if he wanted to recover he should stay right where he was, on his bed in the medical tent.

He had been told that Maximus hadn't survived the exertion and that no civilians had died, in any of the cities and that he should take his time to recover.

On the small chest next to his cot however was Virgil's note.

Helal was a big city a few days rides away.

Roman wasn't sure when the next new moon was but a voice at the back of his head told him that if he wanted to meet them he'd have to leave. Otherwise he'd be too late.
Otherwise he'd have no idea when he'd get to see them again.

He couldn't risk that.

The doctor told him that he was insane when he had tried to explain his situation.

If he wanted to leave he'd have to do it while the doctor was gone.

Probably at night so that nobody could just drag him back and so he could steal a horse. There was no way he'd make it anywhere without a horse.
If it was nighttime and he was lucky he'd even be able to see how long new moon was away.

So, Roman waited until everything was silent and only a few torches shone between the tents. Their dull light was visible even inside the medical tent and he could make out the shapes of the beds.

Slowly he sat up. If he moved too quickly the bed would creak and he didn't want to risk anyone hearing him.

He sat his feet on the ground and a jolt of pain almost made him scream.

Gasping for air he clenched his hands around the bedframe.

Shit.

Still breathing heavily he looked up to the tent exit that suddenly seemed way farther away.

He couldn't walk that far. There was no way.

He glanced at the other beds.

They were all about an arm length apart, the last one standing just next to the exit.

Maybe he could use them to make it outside. He'd have to figure it out from there.

Roman ripped off a small piece of fabric from his tunic and shoved it between his teeth to bite into and to muffle any noises he couldn't keep from slipping out.

He could do this.

Again, he put his feet down and almost blacked out when he put his weight on them.

The next bed creaked miserably as he all but fell onto it and he froze.
Ignored the thousand needles piercing his legs and listened for any indication that someone had heard him.

Nothing.

Roman let out a small breath.

Still, he'd have to be more careful.

He shifted to bring his legs to the other side of the bed and stood again.

He stumbled over the rough floor and leaned against the bedframes he passed.
His vision was blurry and he only focused on the next step.