Dashyl's Quest

Bored. That’s what Dashyl was all day. No one else shared any of the beds in the room he was in and no one came to talk to him. A woman dressed in the same yellow robes and blue hood as Rathyra brought him three meals, but never said anything. Rathyra had not appeared since leaving him that morning.

The boy sighed. He had tried to get up and explore, but his whole body was so weak he could barely get his legs over the edge of the bed. It was all he could do to roll over and change his position under the sheets. He tried remembering what happened to him, but nothing would materialize in his memory. At least he could remember his father and their last journey together. After that, his memory was a blur of recovering with Alerial and the assassin’s attack. He felt like crying a few times. Where was he? What was he supposed to do? Did anyone care?

Suddenly, Rathyra burst through the door. “Put him here,” she said to others outside the door. Four women appeared, all dressed the same as Rathyra, all silently clutching the sides of a stretcher. They placed the stretcher on the bed next to Dashyl. The four women then proceeded to lift a body as Rathyra pulled the stretcher clear.  They remained standing around the bed while Rathyra adjusted sheets and pillows around the unconscious body. “That will do,” she said, satisfied with the situation, and the other women left the room quietly.

“Dashyl, this is a young man just a little older than you. He’s been badly injured and has just been practiced on by the High Curic here. He will sleep for a long time. If,” she caught herself, “when he wakes up, please be aware he may be delirious or agitated. This is normal and nothing over which to be alarmed. Just know that he may say some fantastic things and to simply go along with what he says. Everything will be alright for both of you.” She smiled and patted Dashyl on the head.

“How are you feeling, my boy,” Rathyra asked him after a moment of looking into his eyes.

“Okay. I’m bored.”

“Well, that will change soon. We will begin a program of strengthening exercises that will help you to return to normal. Plus, you can talk with your new friend.”

Dashyl was going to ask his name, but Rathyra interrupted saying, “Now get some rest, you are still healing and you need energy for tomorrow’s exercises.” Her eyes seemed to sparkle a little under her hood, Dashyl thought, as she tucked the sheets in around him.