She awoke to a dull pain emanating from her wrist, where was she? She seemed to be lying in a bed somewhere. It took her a moment to realise that her clothes had been removed and that the only thing covering her was the sheet from the bed. Looking around she started to notice the familiarity of her surroundings. She was lying in her bed back in Riften. As she tried to sit upright her body screamed at her as what seemed to be hundreds of bruised muscles moved for the first time in a while. Once she had recovered from the sudden burst of pain she called out for her Housecarl.
“I…” her throat was raw. Sheliah took a moment to wonder why and then tried again, but after a couple more attempts she succeeded in calling out. “Iona, are you there?”
After what felt like an eternity to her pain addled mind Iona came rushing through the door.
“My Thane you shouldn’t be up, the temple priests were reluctant to let me bring you home. So it wouldn’t do for you to make your injuries worse.” While she spoke she moved over to the bedside table and poured some mead into a mug that was waiting to be used. Sheliah accepted the drink mentally commenting on Nords and their mead.
Once she had wet her throat and the mead had started to have an effect on the pain radiating from her back and wrist, Iona spoke up.
“My Thane, what happened? The guards say you collapsed just outside the gate, they said it looked like you had gotten into a fight with a giant and lost and from how you looked when they came to get me I’d have to agree.”
Her memories were fuzzy and neither the pain nor the mead was helping. Sheliah was silent for a moment as she tried to remember what had happened. She had rushed out in pursuit of the man that had been following Alarne… only to be ambushed and badly beaten. Once she had regained enough of her senses she had limped back to Riften only to collapse at the gate. She repeated this to Iona and then made as though to stand up. Before she could move very far Iona was gripping her shoulders holding her down.
“No My Thane, in the condition you’re in now there’s nothing you can do. Don’t try to order me to let you go, I may be sworn to serve you but my greatest duty is to ensure your safety and to let you go now would be to break my oath.”
They sat staring at each other trying to judge if the other would give first, sighing Sheliah lent back and Iona visibly relaxed. “Very well Iona for the moment I’ll rest, but first could you bring me some garlic and juniper berries, oh and my mortar and pestle too please.” After a moment’s hesitation Iona relented and left to retrieve what she had been asked for.
Once she was far enough away Sheliah leant over to the bedside table and pulled out a pouch filled with a fine powder. She sat trying to calculate how much she would need before tucking it under her pillow as Iona returned.
Thanking her Housecarl she took what she had asked for and started to grind the too ingredients together. Hopefully she’d be able to make a potion strong enough to help even with her arm as it was. Once she was satisfied that she had done the best she could she poured the mixture into her mouth and swallowed only to grasp for the mead from before. After a couple of mouthfuls she had managed to remove the taste from her mouth and now she just needed to wait for it to start taking effect.
All the while Iona sat watching, curious at what her master had mixed; she suspected it was a something to help with her injuries but another part of her was wary in case it was some form of trick to help her go after that boy she had been so interested in.
“I’m sorry Iona”
The Housecarl snapped back to attention as Sheliah blew on a pile of powder that rested in the palm of her hand. It didn’t take long for Iona to start to give into its effect, and only seconds after that she was sprawled out on the floor next the bed.
Moving as slowly as possible so as not to aggravate the bruises on her back, Sheliah stood from the bed and moved towards the wardrobe on the other side of the room. Taking out a plain set of clothes she dressed herself and then moved over to the chest that rested at the foot of her bed, were she started to strap on the armour that had been packed away inside.
Once she was done, Sheliah walked over to where Iona lay sprawled on the floor and doing her best not to strain her back she moved her into a more comfortable position and then left the room. Making her way down to the basement she walked over to the weapon rack that stood against the far wall and selected an iron sword. To most people there was nothing special about the blade, but those that knew what they were looking at would know that the blade housed a raging inferno.
Strapping the blade to her waist, she turned and walked over to her alchemy station and started to dig through the various potions and poisons that sat on the shelves to either side. Picking out a handful of vials she tucked them into one of the many pouches that was attached to her belt. Sheliah then stopped to consider if she had everything that she would need. Realizing there was one more thing she could use she rushed back up to her room and being careful not to step on Iona made her way to the bedside table.
After rummaging around in one of the draws for several minutes, she pulled out a small box that held an assortment of throwing knives which she then placed into another of the pouches on her belt and then made her way to her house’s backdoor. Stepping out onto the porch she stared out across Lake Honrich and gathered her thoughts.
Taking a deep breath she walked down the stairs that lead to the lake’s shore and then started in the direction of the ruins she had sent Alarne too.
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