04-16-2023, 09:18 PM
Next time he woke, it was in another bed. The room was decently clean and moderately sized. Curtains fluttered a window that was barely ajar, but by the scents wafting inward, Arikan did not think they remained in the country. There was a ladder-back chair in the corner. A wash basin was dry. A warped mirror hung on the wall, but there was no other art. Even the blankets were clean. It was clearly the lodgings of an inn. He grumbled to himself and began to sit up to find his head throbbed. Ever suspicious that he’d been poisoned, he checked himself for other signs. Wounds remained, and notably, his feet had progressed to outright numbness, which was a little worrying. Talin wasn’t wrong when she warned the need to respect his wounds, but darkness damn the woman for her insults.
Despite the temptation to stay off his feet, he threw aside the blanket and found he was wearing more proper clothes than last he remembered. Breeches covered the shorts and a loose shirt draped his shoulders. It must have been for the journey, he assumed, and wondered how the Oath-bound Aes Sedai explained ferrying an unconscious man to an inn.
When he hobbled to the window to discover their location, his eyes were immediately drawn upward, and he swallowed nervously. The Stone of Tear loomed like a great mountain in the distance. Images flashed through his head. Endless passageways. Columns soaring into overhead darkness. The glowing sword hovering midair, endlessly taunting him.
The water pitcher flew across the room a second later. Crashing thunderously into the wall.
“Bloody Tear! Are you insane!” he roared to himself.
A minute later the door opened to reveal a fat innkeeper, his soft eyes wide with concern and shock.
Arikan stared at the man a moment before waving him generally in the direction of the shattered porcelain. He then ordered food and drink be delivered and he climbed back in bed.
Despite the temptation to stay off his feet, he threw aside the blanket and found he was wearing more proper clothes than last he remembered. Breeches covered the shorts and a loose shirt draped his shoulders. It must have been for the journey, he assumed, and wondered how the Oath-bound Aes Sedai explained ferrying an unconscious man to an inn.
When he hobbled to the window to discover their location, his eyes were immediately drawn upward, and he swallowed nervously. The Stone of Tear loomed like a great mountain in the distance. Images flashed through his head. Endless passageways. Columns soaring into overhead darkness. The glowing sword hovering midair, endlessly taunting him.
The water pitcher flew across the room a second later. Crashing thunderously into the wall.
“Bloody Tear! Are you insane!” he roared to himself.
A minute later the door opened to reveal a fat innkeeper, his soft eyes wide with concern and shock.
Arikan stared at the man a moment before waving him generally in the direction of the shattered porcelain. He then ordered food and drink be delivered and he climbed back in bed.