Post by zeita on Aug 17, 2009 19:46:39 GMT 1
Rayn stood in the doorway to her home watching the sun rise, breaking free of the distant mountain range. The past few days of spring, Rayn had enjoyed observing each new days dawn and she found she could relax and forget all the hard decisions she had to make before the summer solstice festival. Her home, as she liked to see it as, belonged to the village’s healer, who she had only just finished her apprenticeship with. The eight summers that Rayn had been trained were some of the most memorable times she had had, and yet soon she was expected to leave it all behind, to where and to do what were Rayn's main concerns. The healer, Kara, had been like a mother and a sister to Rayn, who had previously never known the love of a mother or a sister. Kara had taken her in when she had been merely seven summers, when the man she viewed as her adoptive father had asked for Kara to train her in the ways of a healer. The apprenticeship was arranged and he left, only to come back once, in the middle of the night, three summers later, to deliver a gift to Kara to give to Rayn. She hadn't seen or spoken with him since that day he gave her to Kara, and over the years, she began to feel pain and anger at him for leaving her. The gifts that he had delivered that dark night almost six summers before, had been worn ever since and showed vividly on her wrists. The two simply designed bands of silver etched with her name rune glinted and reflected the dawns sunlight onto the village throughfare.
Kara had known that Rayn had seen every dawn for the past few days and that the girl was attempting to make the large decisions that would help shape her future career. Rayn was bright and remembered everything she had taught her and had even begun to achieve a better understanding of advanced healing, that Kara just couldn't understand due to the complexity. She had written to her own master to see whether he would take the girl in and help her in her advanced healing skills, but no reply had been returned and yet she had been expecting an answer for over two moons. Kara loved Rayn like the sister that she never had herself but knew that Rayn carried much pain due to her guardian and family she never knew.
Kara herself had woken early and stood in her bedroom doorway watching Rayn. The girl looked much as she had at that age, almost twenty summers ago. The long dark hair that shined in the sunlight, to the petite size of the girl. Although Rayn was soon to be acknowledged as a woman, Kara knew that she had already reached a woman’s maturity that had some of the village boys wanting her as their prize. Rayn tended to be shy and uncaring when she was in the boys company. She rarely joined in on the festivals but rather stood to the side, not wanting attention. The numerous other girls of the village shunned Rayn, due to her 'strange' ways and the attention the boys gave her, even in her plain black breeches and shirt, whilst the other girls wore pretty, colourful skirts and revealing blouses. Kara had found that over the years, it was harder to read Rayn's moods and emotions and presumed that Rayn had learnt how to guard her feelings and shield herself from pain and torment. Yet, with Rayn standing in the dawn light, she could read her emotions as if she was still seven summers. Pain and worry were dominating and yet Kara knew that she could do no more for the one she had adopted as sister.
* * *
For Rayn, , the day started well with Kara giving her a list of jobs that would keep her mind off her troubles. She enjoyed being free to start her journeyman years in Forkston. She ate the breakfast that Kara had prepared in silence and then began to start her days work. She retrieved her satchel of herbs and tools she had prepared the evening before and set out. Her first job was to deliver herbs to a woman on the opposite side of the village. Her feet swiftly carried her to the door where she knocked. A woman of young years, with blond hair but green eyes answered giving Rayn a broad, cheery smile.
"How are things going for you at present Rayn? Many of us are concerned as to how you’re bearing your burden?"
"I have much still to plan and decide upon, but I feel like everything’s falling together,"
"That’s excellent news. But I feel as if there is more than what you've said Rayn," Lyn left the thought hanging, hoping Rayn would pick up the train of conversation.
"There is. But it isn't of consequence at present. I don't understand what it is myself, but I hope to find out soon. How's things going for you and your child?"
"Alls well for everything apart from the morning sickness. Did you bring more of the infusion?" Lyn looked at Rayn hopefully.
"That’s why I came, Lyn." Rayn replied as she plucked a small bag of herbs from her satchel, handing it to the relieved looking Lyn.
"Thank you. I hope this morning sickness doesn't go on for much longer. Although I have never seen my husband as happy before. He can't believe he's going to be a father. I think even the horses have got sick of him going on about it. I have to admit I can't stop talking about it either. It's so exciting!"
"I think you'll be brilliant parents. I just wonder whose looks it's going to have."
"We're hoping for a mix of both. Blond with blue eyes, but we'll just have to wait and see. I hope you'll pay a visit after it's born."
"I can't promise, but I’ll try Lyn. I'll come back tomorrow as well," said Rayn as she turned and set off for her next patient. She heard Lyn close her door and couldn't help but smile. Lyn was twenty summers and had married Kerin, who ran the village stables, last autumn. Rayn liked both of them and enjoyed their company and conversations, whether about horses or the village’s affairs.
Rayn's next stop was at the Blacksmith's to deliver a vial of medicine for the coughing son, and then she paid a visit to one of the various farmers that scattered themselves around the village. There, she renewed her patient’s bandages on his broken arm and left another vial of medicine. Her final job for that morning was even further away from the village, as she searched for the precious comfrey plants that were important in many of the healer’s medicines.
The sun was nearing it's zenith before Rayn decided to return to Forkston. Her satchel was filled with a variety of herbs and her mind had been temporarily unburdened. She had wandered over a few hills to reach the herbs and could no longer see the village when she turned to head back. Upon climbing the last hill before the village, she savoured the view of fertile meadows and fields, dispersed with the occasional bunch of trees. When she moved her sight to the village, she was unsure as to what she saw. A collection of horses with armed men were milling around on the throughfare. Two men guarded each end of the village’s throughfare and even though she couldn't see any sunlight reflecting off steel, Rayn had a certain feeling that something terrible had happened.
With her attention caught up on the sight of Forkston, she didn't see the figure approaching her at a run. However as the figure drew nearer, Rayn turned and recognised the figure as Horkin, a lad of fifteen summers, who approached gasping for breath.
"Horkin?"
"Rayn! You’re needed." Horkin took another breath, "Kara begs you to come back to my father’s inn."
"Kara begs me?"
"Those were her exact words."
"The riders?"
"Harmless."
Rayn knew immediately that something was terrible wrong as Kara had never begged Rayn to do anything before and it portrayed fearfulness to Rayn. Upon hearing that the riders were harmless, Rayn clasped her satchel closer to her body and ran toward Forkston. A couple of times she slipped down the loose shingle on the steep hill but she kept her speed steady. She was known as one of the fastest runners in the village and so soon left Horkin behind her. The hill was quite a distance from the hill itself, but Rayn's fear kept her at her break neck speed and gave her the wind that she needed. The riders on the throughfare saw her coming and parted to let her through, but as they did so, she noticed they all had grim expressions and spoke very little. Once back in the village, she headed instantly to the Horse and Cart Inn. She barely noticed the two men posted outside the door as she barged through the door out of breath. She was welcomed by silence, until Horkin's father emerged from the back room.
"Rayn! Come. Hurry. Kara needs you upstairs." Rayn followed the Innkeeper glancing back to see the empty eyes of riders watching her. Pushing her discomfort aside she followed the man to the last man on the landing. He knocked and a tall, dark haired man of middle age opened the door. Behind him Rayn could see Kara who was attending to a figure in the room’s bed. She pushed passed the man in the doorway and approached the bed. Kara looked up from her administrations and Rayn could tell that Kara saw no hope for the patient.
"He's beyond my capability Rayn. But I was hoping that with your better knowledge of advanced healing, that you might be able to do something for him. You can only try Rayn. Please?" Rayn looked at the man in the bed and then studied his various injuries. The ones that Kara couldn't heal were open to sight and Rayn pitied the unconscious man. He had a shallow, but long gash across his forehead and a bone deep slice on his right arm, from wrist to elbow.
" Kara? I need you to make a comfrey tincture and infusion. Take my satchel as it has the herbs that you need in it." Rayn dug in the satchel and removed a roll of cloth before handing the bag to Kara, who then left the room. Rayn then faced the man who had answered the door for herself.
"I'm going to need your help to heal him." She glanced across the room towards Kara's supplies and started her work.
Many hours later, Rayn sat back and looked at her work. She had thoroughly cleaned and stitched the arm appropriately and administered various medicines. After so long of solid concentration, she was exhausted and sat on the wooden floorboards leaning against the wall, but she wished to know more about the man who she had just helped save, or so she still desperately hoped. On first glance, the man would be handsome if his face wasn’t creased in pain, framed with blond hair.
“Thank you,” Rayn whispered to the man who had helped her with her patient before her eyes closed and she fell into an exhausted slumber.
The room was lit by a single candle when Rayn awoke, stiff and sore from her position. The moon shone through the uncovered glass windows, lighting some of the room across from the window. Her patients face was partially lit by the candle as was the other mans, which was resting in his arms as he slept in the only chair. She quietly got up and stretched her cramped muscles then approached the bed to check the injured mans breathing, bandages and stitches.
Closer to her patient, she could tell he was tall and well muscled, most likely a warrior, somehow injured when no others were. He was thankfully mending and was no longer in the life threatening condition he had been in when she had first arrived.
Kara had known that Rayn had seen every dawn for the past few days and that the girl was attempting to make the large decisions that would help shape her future career. Rayn was bright and remembered everything she had taught her and had even begun to achieve a better understanding of advanced healing, that Kara just couldn't understand due to the complexity. She had written to her own master to see whether he would take the girl in and help her in her advanced healing skills, but no reply had been returned and yet she had been expecting an answer for over two moons. Kara loved Rayn like the sister that she never had herself but knew that Rayn carried much pain due to her guardian and family she never knew.
Kara herself had woken early and stood in her bedroom doorway watching Rayn. The girl looked much as she had at that age, almost twenty summers ago. The long dark hair that shined in the sunlight, to the petite size of the girl. Although Rayn was soon to be acknowledged as a woman, Kara knew that she had already reached a woman’s maturity that had some of the village boys wanting her as their prize. Rayn tended to be shy and uncaring when she was in the boys company. She rarely joined in on the festivals but rather stood to the side, not wanting attention. The numerous other girls of the village shunned Rayn, due to her 'strange' ways and the attention the boys gave her, even in her plain black breeches and shirt, whilst the other girls wore pretty, colourful skirts and revealing blouses. Kara had found that over the years, it was harder to read Rayn's moods and emotions and presumed that Rayn had learnt how to guard her feelings and shield herself from pain and torment. Yet, with Rayn standing in the dawn light, she could read her emotions as if she was still seven summers. Pain and worry were dominating and yet Kara knew that she could do no more for the one she had adopted as sister.
* * *
For Rayn, , the day started well with Kara giving her a list of jobs that would keep her mind off her troubles. She enjoyed being free to start her journeyman years in Forkston. She ate the breakfast that Kara had prepared in silence and then began to start her days work. She retrieved her satchel of herbs and tools she had prepared the evening before and set out. Her first job was to deliver herbs to a woman on the opposite side of the village. Her feet swiftly carried her to the door where she knocked. A woman of young years, with blond hair but green eyes answered giving Rayn a broad, cheery smile.
"How are things going for you at present Rayn? Many of us are concerned as to how you’re bearing your burden?"
"I have much still to plan and decide upon, but I feel like everything’s falling together,"
"That’s excellent news. But I feel as if there is more than what you've said Rayn," Lyn left the thought hanging, hoping Rayn would pick up the train of conversation.
"There is. But it isn't of consequence at present. I don't understand what it is myself, but I hope to find out soon. How's things going for you and your child?"
"Alls well for everything apart from the morning sickness. Did you bring more of the infusion?" Lyn looked at Rayn hopefully.
"That’s why I came, Lyn." Rayn replied as she plucked a small bag of herbs from her satchel, handing it to the relieved looking Lyn.
"Thank you. I hope this morning sickness doesn't go on for much longer. Although I have never seen my husband as happy before. He can't believe he's going to be a father. I think even the horses have got sick of him going on about it. I have to admit I can't stop talking about it either. It's so exciting!"
"I think you'll be brilliant parents. I just wonder whose looks it's going to have."
"We're hoping for a mix of both. Blond with blue eyes, but we'll just have to wait and see. I hope you'll pay a visit after it's born."
"I can't promise, but I’ll try Lyn. I'll come back tomorrow as well," said Rayn as she turned and set off for her next patient. She heard Lyn close her door and couldn't help but smile. Lyn was twenty summers and had married Kerin, who ran the village stables, last autumn. Rayn liked both of them and enjoyed their company and conversations, whether about horses or the village’s affairs.
Rayn's next stop was at the Blacksmith's to deliver a vial of medicine for the coughing son, and then she paid a visit to one of the various farmers that scattered themselves around the village. There, she renewed her patient’s bandages on his broken arm and left another vial of medicine. Her final job for that morning was even further away from the village, as she searched for the precious comfrey plants that were important in many of the healer’s medicines.
The sun was nearing it's zenith before Rayn decided to return to Forkston. Her satchel was filled with a variety of herbs and her mind had been temporarily unburdened. She had wandered over a few hills to reach the herbs and could no longer see the village when she turned to head back. Upon climbing the last hill before the village, she savoured the view of fertile meadows and fields, dispersed with the occasional bunch of trees. When she moved her sight to the village, she was unsure as to what she saw. A collection of horses with armed men were milling around on the throughfare. Two men guarded each end of the village’s throughfare and even though she couldn't see any sunlight reflecting off steel, Rayn had a certain feeling that something terrible had happened.
With her attention caught up on the sight of Forkston, she didn't see the figure approaching her at a run. However as the figure drew nearer, Rayn turned and recognised the figure as Horkin, a lad of fifteen summers, who approached gasping for breath.
"Horkin?"
"Rayn! You’re needed." Horkin took another breath, "Kara begs you to come back to my father’s inn."
"Kara begs me?"
"Those were her exact words."
"The riders?"
"Harmless."
Rayn knew immediately that something was terrible wrong as Kara had never begged Rayn to do anything before and it portrayed fearfulness to Rayn. Upon hearing that the riders were harmless, Rayn clasped her satchel closer to her body and ran toward Forkston. A couple of times she slipped down the loose shingle on the steep hill but she kept her speed steady. She was known as one of the fastest runners in the village and so soon left Horkin behind her. The hill was quite a distance from the hill itself, but Rayn's fear kept her at her break neck speed and gave her the wind that she needed. The riders on the throughfare saw her coming and parted to let her through, but as they did so, she noticed they all had grim expressions and spoke very little. Once back in the village, she headed instantly to the Horse and Cart Inn. She barely noticed the two men posted outside the door as she barged through the door out of breath. She was welcomed by silence, until Horkin's father emerged from the back room.
"Rayn! Come. Hurry. Kara needs you upstairs." Rayn followed the Innkeeper glancing back to see the empty eyes of riders watching her. Pushing her discomfort aside she followed the man to the last man on the landing. He knocked and a tall, dark haired man of middle age opened the door. Behind him Rayn could see Kara who was attending to a figure in the room’s bed. She pushed passed the man in the doorway and approached the bed. Kara looked up from her administrations and Rayn could tell that Kara saw no hope for the patient.
"He's beyond my capability Rayn. But I was hoping that with your better knowledge of advanced healing, that you might be able to do something for him. You can only try Rayn. Please?" Rayn looked at the man in the bed and then studied his various injuries. The ones that Kara couldn't heal were open to sight and Rayn pitied the unconscious man. He had a shallow, but long gash across his forehead and a bone deep slice on his right arm, from wrist to elbow.
" Kara? I need you to make a comfrey tincture and infusion. Take my satchel as it has the herbs that you need in it." Rayn dug in the satchel and removed a roll of cloth before handing the bag to Kara, who then left the room. Rayn then faced the man who had answered the door for herself.
"I'm going to need your help to heal him." She glanced across the room towards Kara's supplies and started her work.
Many hours later, Rayn sat back and looked at her work. She had thoroughly cleaned and stitched the arm appropriately and administered various medicines. After so long of solid concentration, she was exhausted and sat on the wooden floorboards leaning against the wall, but she wished to know more about the man who she had just helped save, or so she still desperately hoped. On first glance, the man would be handsome if his face wasn’t creased in pain, framed with blond hair.
“Thank you,” Rayn whispered to the man who had helped her with her patient before her eyes closed and she fell into an exhausted slumber.
The room was lit by a single candle when Rayn awoke, stiff and sore from her position. The moon shone through the uncovered glass windows, lighting some of the room across from the window. Her patients face was partially lit by the candle as was the other mans, which was resting in his arms as he slept in the only chair. She quietly got up and stretched her cramped muscles then approached the bed to check the injured mans breathing, bandages and stitches.
Closer to her patient, she could tell he was tall and well muscled, most likely a warrior, somehow injured when no others were. He was thankfully mending and was no longer in the life threatening condition he had been in when she had first arrived.