Passage of time continued
(12-17-04)
On the colder nights Keygan would take time to bring more firewood up to Jerle's quarters and often some mulled wine. She sometimes could be seen wistfully watching the window to his room across the quad from his office as she filed reports. Keygan who had also demonstrated she was far from meek and mild mannered, seemed serene and almost differential in Jerle's company. If anyone else noticed these things, it went unremarked upon. Winter began to ebb into spring and slowly Jerle became more active, though he continued to encourage Keygan's strong role in the affair's of the city. He often watched her admistrate matters on his behalf, smiling and nodding encouragement as it seemed she was a natural leader. It was plain to see he was pleased with her progress, at times he almost swelled with pride, and at other times he somehow managed to look as if he longed for some unspoken thing as he watched her work.
The longings he felt towards Keygan were not something Jerle acknowledged much, he was old enough to be her grandfather for starters, with a wife already dead 8 years past and two grown daughters with children of their own. For another thing, it just would not do for him to become involved with a person he had a professional relationship with. He rather believed Keygan looked to him like a mentor. He knew of coarse she cared for him, but he never dared to fancy how deeply she really did.
Spring was full upon them and Jerle and Keygan had sent a group of twenty men to see what they could learn of Lucius. For the last week or so Jerle had been troubled by severe headaches and so as during the Winter many matters fell to Keygan to oversee.
He came down from his room after three solid days of rest for breakfast. The men had been gone for three weeks and still no word. Keygan was now convinced something was wrong and she and Jerle were arguing over her wish to go herself on a reconnaissance mission of sorts. Knowing that Jerle had not been feeling well Keygan allowed the issue to lapse for the time being. She urged Jerle not to over-exert himself, and he snapped at her for treating him as if he were" An old invalid" as he put it before he stormed away from his unfinished breakfast. Keygan was fast on his heels as he headed out into the courtyard.
As they reached the courtyard a rider came in the gates, in rough shape. He was wounded and his horse had been ridden hard and long. The rider nearly fell from the saddle in his attempt to dismount. Stepandore was immediately at his side to steady him. Jerle recognized him as a constable from Grandee and was in the middle of asking if he had word from Lucius when the rider collapsed. Jerle snapped at Stepandore to revive him, his face clearly red from agitation over long unheard news. Stepandore tried but could not rouse the badly injured rider.
Jerle uncharacteristically raged over the riders condition and then gasped loudly and clutched at his left shoulder before crying out and falling down himself. Keygan was beside him in the mud of the courtyard in a flash. While Stepandore took the wounded young rider to the infirmary. Keygan sent a nearby recruit after him, as she got an arm under Jerle to help him up to his room.
Once in his bed Keygan did her best to make Jerle comfortable, his skin had grown ashen in the short time it had taken to get him upstairs and his lips and fingertips had taken on a nearly blue tinge. He was trying to talk as Keygan urged him to hush. She loosened the collar of his uniform tunic and also the cuffs. Then she removed his boots and slightly elevated his feet but not his head. He still rubbed at his shoulder, the pain was great enough that he blinked back tears and gritted his teeth. Keygan looked for some wine and hoped that Stepandore would join her soon. She got Jerle to drink some of the wine and she drew the blinds to dim the room.
Stepandore came into the room carrying his bag of medicines the recruit beside him looking worried. Keygan dismissed the recruit and commended him for his timely response and then filled Stepandore in. Jerle was almost asleep, though still clearly in pain. Stepandore gave him and aspirin tonic and rubbed a soothing mint balm into his shoulder. Keygan sat holding his other hand. After about a half and hour his color came back and he drifted into exhausted sleep. Keygan and Stepandore went just outside the door to discuss the rider's condition. Then Stepandore told Keygan that he was quite sure The Commandant had suffered a heart seizure. He asked Keygan to stay with him While he finished doctoring the injured rider, to which Keygan readily agreed. She then returned to her vigil over Jerle.
On the colder nights Keygan would take time to bring more firewood up to Jerle's quarters and often some mulled wine. She sometimes could be seen wistfully watching the window to his room across the quad from his office as she filed reports. Keygan who had also demonstrated she was far from meek and mild mannered, seemed serene and almost differential in Jerle's company. If anyone else noticed these things, it went unremarked upon. Winter began to ebb into spring and slowly Jerle became more active, though he continued to encourage Keygan's strong role in the affair's of the city. He often watched her admistrate matters on his behalf, smiling and nodding encouragement as it seemed she was a natural leader. It was plain to see he was pleased with her progress, at times he almost swelled with pride, and at other times he somehow managed to look as if he longed for some unspoken thing as he watched her work.
The longings he felt towards Keygan were not something Jerle acknowledged much, he was old enough to be her grandfather for starters, with a wife already dead 8 years past and two grown daughters with children of their own. For another thing, it just would not do for him to become involved with a person he had a professional relationship with. He rather believed Keygan looked to him like a mentor. He knew of coarse she cared for him, but he never dared to fancy how deeply she really did.
Spring was full upon them and Jerle and Keygan had sent a group of twenty men to see what they could learn of Lucius. For the last week or so Jerle had been troubled by severe headaches and so as during the Winter many matters fell to Keygan to oversee.
He came down from his room after three solid days of rest for breakfast. The men had been gone for three weeks and still no word. Keygan was now convinced something was wrong and she and Jerle were arguing over her wish to go herself on a reconnaissance mission of sorts. Knowing that Jerle had not been feeling well Keygan allowed the issue to lapse for the time being. She urged Jerle not to over-exert himself, and he snapped at her for treating him as if he were" An old invalid" as he put it before he stormed away from his unfinished breakfast. Keygan was fast on his heels as he headed out into the courtyard.
As they reached the courtyard a rider came in the gates, in rough shape. He was wounded and his horse had been ridden hard and long. The rider nearly fell from the saddle in his attempt to dismount. Stepandore was immediately at his side to steady him. Jerle recognized him as a constable from Grandee and was in the middle of asking if he had word from Lucius when the rider collapsed. Jerle snapped at Stepandore to revive him, his face clearly red from agitation over long unheard news. Stepandore tried but could not rouse the badly injured rider.
Jerle uncharacteristically raged over the riders condition and then gasped loudly and clutched at his left shoulder before crying out and falling down himself. Keygan was beside him in the mud of the courtyard in a flash. While Stepandore took the wounded young rider to the infirmary. Keygan sent a nearby recruit after him, as she got an arm under Jerle to help him up to his room.
Once in his bed Keygan did her best to make Jerle comfortable, his skin had grown ashen in the short time it had taken to get him upstairs and his lips and fingertips had taken on a nearly blue tinge. He was trying to talk as Keygan urged him to hush. She loosened the collar of his uniform tunic and also the cuffs. Then she removed his boots and slightly elevated his feet but not his head. He still rubbed at his shoulder, the pain was great enough that he blinked back tears and gritted his teeth. Keygan looked for some wine and hoped that Stepandore would join her soon. She got Jerle to drink some of the wine and she drew the blinds to dim the room.
Stepandore came into the room carrying his bag of medicines the recruit beside him looking worried. Keygan dismissed the recruit and commended him for his timely response and then filled Stepandore in. Jerle was almost asleep, though still clearly in pain. Stepandore gave him and aspirin tonic and rubbed a soothing mint balm into his shoulder. Keygan sat holding his other hand. After about a half and hour his color came back and he drifted into exhausted sleep. Keygan and Stepandore went just outside the door to discuss the rider's condition. Then Stepandore told Keygan that he was quite sure The Commandant had suffered a heart seizure. He asked Keygan to stay with him While he finished doctoring the injured rider, to which Keygan readily agreed. She then returned to her vigil over Jerle.
posted by K-Squared at 10:12 PM
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