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sage once said that there are three kinds of people in the world: those who get into trouble, those who get others out of trouble, and those who stay away from trouble. In the past several weeks, soldiers on the Black Wall have speculated that these people come in threes. There's the strange, scarred, sarcastic Ashen Lander who barely made it to Qenar alive; there's the Bereshi physician who has offered his services and is being paid handsomely for them; and as to the third--well, no one in ths area really qualifies, because the Black Wall is trouble, always. [GM's note: a "week" in Qenar is 5 days. The same word in Avrezin refers to a period of 8 days.] Now that he's well enough to walk around--by *his* reckoning, at least, if not the healers'--Frenil Bentyr has amused himself by startling the occasional civilian with his appearance. To his disappointment, these housebound people are less impressed than he'd hoped...but the prevalence of similarly disfigured veterans, such as the axe-wielding officer he ran into yesterday, explains much. Today, he is looking out to the Ashen Lands from one of Tenu's watchtowers. Above are Qenar's banners, which he has found puzzling: crossed daggers, a barbed cross, a key and coin, a black gate. From here his homelands look peaceful, a distant susurrus of green and grey, restful to the eye. Frenil knows better. [GM's note: Frenil ended up in Tenu, the "capital" canton of Qenar and the one that borders the Ashen Lands.] He hears footsteps behind him that don't match the pattern of the sentries' pacing, and whirls...coughs, a little. Recovery has been faster than the shamans might have made it...if the shamans bothered at all. Healing was for women and children, in the main; warriors no longer capable of fighting were given to death's cold rest. It is the physician who saved his life, another foreigner. Takashi Shibano. No doubt come to chide him for wandering around when he should be resting--but in the Ashen Lands there *is* no rest, only the endless struggle to escape the wraiths. In fact, that *has* occurred to Takashi...but he's seen many a patient who can't bear to stay in bed, and has become resigned to relapses. Then again, this Ashen Lander is tougher than most. Life out past the Wall must be difficult indeed, and Takashi wonders how many have died for lack of adequate treatment. From Frenil he's gotten the impression that medical practice is underdeveloped at best. More footsteps. This time both men turn: a messenger, wearing the green surcoat of Qenar's military. She has sharp eyes and a barely perceptible limp, and she salutes--perhaps out of habit--with her fists crossed over her chest. [GM's note: That's the Qenaren military salute, used throughout the land. Other regions have their own salutes. Veterans among the civilians are also sometimes seen using the salute.] "Compliments from the captain of the guard," says the messenger, bowing slightly. The captain of the guard? Frenil frowns, wishing he understood the rank insignia better; the Qenaren don't seem to employ a straightforward hierarchy. Takashi vaguely remembers him as a small, wiry, and grim-faced man...like many soldiers here. "Fortunate I caught you two together," she goes on, eyes becoming slightly distant as she prepares to recite her message. "We have a visitor who's come back from the Ashen Lands and requires medical assistance." She turns to Frenil. "Captain Aris would also like to request your opinion on certain tidings from this...visitor." *Back* from the Ashen Lands? "It will be a honor for me to help your wounded," Takashi says and bows slightly. After a quick glance at Frenil to see whether he is ready to go (or if he might need help) Takashi turns to follow the messenger. So far, the Ashen Lander seems to show no signs of imminent collapse. Frenil, too, meets the messenger's eyes and follows. She leads the way from the tower and into the Stronghold proper, through halls lit by both magelights and lanterns, down stairs where shadows dance warnings. Once they begin to move Takashi addresses the woman again. "May I inquire the nature of your visitor's wounds?" he says in low tones to avoid being overheard by any people who might be nearby. Shortly, she says, "Physically--not much. Some burns, some slashes, a slight fever. But she's been delirious since she was brought here, and he who brought her said they were attacked by wraiths from beyond the Wall. Or not delirious exactly, just very, very quiet, almost like coma. She speaks sometimes in Chedraqis, and sometimes in her own tongue, which unfortunately none of us here understand." When the messenger starts to answer his questions Takashi's gaze becomes somewhat distant, while he mentally notes anything that could assist him in healing the "visitor." Every now and then he glances at Frenil to assure himself that the Ashenlander is all right.
Forward: Frenil & Takashi's Prologue 2 Torch image provided by Clipart Castle.
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