Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (cont'd)

"I'm sure nothing quite compares to experiencing it," she said sympathetically. She was letting her guard down a bit, or appearing to do so. "I see many former slaves with injuries thrice as bad as yours--some die on my cots. You were very, very fortunate, sir."

"Yes, ma'am," Aleth answered, dipping his head. He'd seen injuries like that. He'd inflicted rather bad ones on Ky and Tadaaki. "I'm grateful to be here. It could have ended much worse for me."

"I'm glad it didn't." She watched his face in silence for a moment, then said, "I expect it'll be a couple days for the bruises and cuts to heal, but those broken bones will take awhile. You certainly won't be fit until we've fed you proper meals for a couple weeks." That never stopped Gaius from moving about, but this man was going to eat if she could help it.

"Yes, ma'am," Aleth answered. He certainly felt like it was going to take weeks for him to even resemble normalcy again. He'd decided on the ride up here that he was, most definitely, going to find a way to get back at Tarr once he was no longer in Loquitur's employ. Isya always found a way to do tricky jobs. And if he wouldn't, then Pratik could make it happen. "Thank you, ma'am."

(Ha, little does he know!)

"We'll have more soup for you as soon as you need it; I've asked the cook to keep a cauldron aside for me." She rose. "I've got some other business to attend to now; will you be alright on your own?" Naturally she had a few apprentices about, but she was reluctant to leave him be.

(haha right?)

"Yes, ma'am," Aleth answered again. "I'm feeling rather tired anyway."

"That'll be the poppy." Sera smoothed out her skirt and headed for her office. "Get some rest; it'll do you good."

"Yes, ma'am." He agreed with her. He was far too tired to be useful if he tried to stay awake to strategize. May as well sleep for now and figure out a plan tomorrow, once he'd had time to sit on it. "Goodnight."

Sera left her office with her medical bag; Cecily had requested earlier that she bring something to soothe her migraine. Sera suspected Gaius's sister had been off the glassweed a bit too long, but it wasn't her place to say that. She'd never been as close with Cecily as she had with Tomhas and Gaius.

(Do you want to skip? We could go to Pratik/Tarr? Or further ahead to when Aleth isn't quite so dead? aha)

(Whichever you prefer!)

(I think it'd be nice to switch over to Pratik/Tarr ^-^ )

(Then we shall!)

The slave caravan had been traveling for about two weeks. They'd lost a few slaves along the way--none to wild animals, only hypothermia and starvation--and one guard to a spider that nobody had spotted until it was too late. The rest of the group arrived at Wolf Keep relatively unscathed, except for the slaves.
Gol Nasa was not a kind slaver, nor was he a patient one. Nearly all the slaves in the cages bore marks from his wrath, now, including the small child across from Pratik. Rickard had been harmed less than most; his long years as a slave seemed to serve him well on this trip. Ivar had not been so lucky.

Pratik was beaten by the time they got to Wolf Keep. He was trying his best to be a good, obedient slave -- but half a second of resentment before obeying would get you splayed out on the ground, and the glimpse of looking at a single one of the slavers the wrong way left you with bruises.

Still, while his pride may not have cooperated in keeping him from getting beaten -- he did have the good sense not to fight back, so it wasn't as bad as it could have been. Although he was thoroughly frozen through and looked forward to arriving at the keep, even though Tarr would probably be every bit as bad as the slavers were.

The gates opened for them, and the caravan came through. Several soldiers were lined up to help unload and organize, and at the steps of the Keep stood Lord Tarr himself, arms crossed and head held high.

"Oh, gods," someone mumbled. "Gods help us!"