The magician had only been here once before, and then only briefly. He had very little working knowledge of Syliras. If he was honest with himself he might admit that he had no idea how or where he was going to seek medical attention. Perhaps the guards who had directed him to the Golden Dragon Inn on his last visit would direct him toward a healer this time.
Travel, injury, and exhaustion were all visible on the haggard man's face. The left side of his face sagged visibly under the weight of scars and exhaustion. All of the bandages on his body were now stained brown from dirt and old blood, having not been washed or changed since the morning he packed up his camp. Injuries to his body now consisted of a lacerated scalp, a pierced stomach, a savaged thigh, a recently dislocated shoulder, several bruised ribs, five bruised toes on his right foot, and hundreds of minor cuts and contusions from both frantic flight and a fall of many feet. His limp was heavy under the strain of his slashed thigh and bruised toes, his lurching balanced only by the steady support of Francis the loyal chestnut.
By the time he had arrived at the gates afternoon was giving way to evening. It had been two long days of staggering with the help of Francis. Mr. Pickles was following along behind. Since his master had become injured he had become more affectionate than usual, sensing that Sturlin needed a friend. The cat rubbed his chin on the ankle of the magician when they paused.
The guards were speaking to a hunter who was bringing goods into the city. The man had better luck or greater skill than Sturlin. He was toting a cart behind him which the guards inspected, and it was filled with the pelts of large game and slabs of preserved meat for market. Under healthier circumstances he would have more clearly examined his competition in an attempt to determine the reason for their success. He could barely muster the energy to wait his turn.
Several people were beginning to stare. Traffic at early evening was not as busy as at other times of the day, but a broken and bleeding wreck of a man was news no matter how many people were there to see him. When the hunter speaking to the guards was admitted into the city and their attention was free, they saw him. The pain in his thigh was too much. When attempting to step forward for inspection by the authorities he fell to his knees with a groan.