53rd Day of Spring, 514 AV
Part One :
Apart from the occasional "you alright lad?" from Crowe, Bitt and his patron made the journey from the Antinous Training Grounds to Soothing Waters in relative silence. It was a slow, painful process for the young squire, with every step being accompanied by a jolt of pain. They passed several other people, knights and citizens alike, but no one stopped to question the pair. Knights trained, sometimes they got hurt, and life went on. Finally, they reached their destination. The tall, double-doored entryway ushered them to the large courtyard which constituted Soothing Waters. All that was left, was a series of-
More stairs... great.
Bitt had to navigate more than one staircase during his journey. It was not a pleasant experience. More than once, he considered throwing himself down the steps, just so that he could get the ordeal over with.
It's going to hurt either way...
Instead, the squire grit his teeth and, with Crowe's support, reached the receptionist. It was moments like these in which Bitt was grateful for the deference knights received. Despite the general hustle and bustle around them, people didn't get too close.
"Hello there. What can I help-"
"Not now Ivis, the lad's hurt. Is the lass in?"
"Nice to see you too, Ser Crowe." Ivis was a young, handsome man. There was an elegance to the way he spoke, a confidence. It wasn't arrogance, just a calm certainty."Of course she's in, but she's with someone at the moment, so you'll have to wait." Ivis turned his attention to Bitt, as if noticing him for the first time, "Lad, was it? You look familiar. Have you come here before?"
"I co' ere 'vry na' n den." Bitt's lip remained swollen, so the squire still slurred his speech. If anything, he suspected that it had gotten worse since he'd left the training grounds. Ivis raised an eyebrow at the answer;
"Every now-and-then, is it? I see." Ivis wrinkled his nose, prompting a small chuckle from Crowe, and Bitt felt embarrassed. His face flushed slightly, but given the large bruise that had already started to form, it was barely noticeable.
I need to start coming here more often.
Several chimes passed, and Bitt was forced to wait. All of Crowe's attempts to speed up the process were met with cold logic delivered by a warm voice. Ivis could talk circles around the older knight, and so he was forced to be patient. Occasionally, Bitt would hear his patron grumbling to himself; the phrase "young people" was a recurring theme. At first, Bitt tried to grin at Crowe's sulking, but it hurt too much to do so. Talking was another ill-advised activity for the young squire, so he suffered in silence.
Finally, a young, red-haired woman approached Ivis and, unlike all the women who had come before her, she caused Crowe to react.
"Well, she sure took her sweet time." Crowe said, his voice barely a whisper. Again, Bitt tried to smile, and again it proved too painful.
I don't think I was supposed to hear that.
"Hello, Ser Crowe. It's been a while. Who have you broken this time?"
"Don't mind Calyna, lad. She's actually a nice lass once you get to know her." The woman, who Crowe had identified as Calyna, addressed Crowe with her hands folded over her chest, wearing her annoyance like armour. At the older knights words, which were directed at Bitt instead of her, she blushed slightly, her hastily constructed armour crumbling to dust.
"Don't call me lass, old man! I hate it when you do that!" She was angry, but it was the type of anger one would direct towards a family member. Crowe chuckled at the reaction, turning back towards his squire.
"I've known Calyna since she was a little lass, even younger than you, lad. I was one of her first patients when old Coltan showed her the- ah... sorry, lass." Crowe's words seemed to visibly drain some of the energy out of the the younger woman.
I wonder who Coltan is...
"Don't worry about it Crowe," Calyna dismissed the whole thing with a wave of her hand, "So, what seems to be the problem?" Her last question was directed at Bitt, and she cocked her head slightly while she studied him.
