The King's Reckoning
IC time is: evening -- just after sunset
IC date is: February?
IC year is: 3186 S.A.
LOCATION:
Healing House: Garden Porch
Visible from the path and even from the park in some places where the cypress tress do not block it, this porch is raised up three steps made of wooden planks, as is the deck itself. Covered by a wooden trellis, the potted flowers and plants here thrive in a lazy mix of sun's rays and shade. Ivy grows along the trellis, making this a pleasant place to relax, no doubt favored by both healers and those healing here as well. A few chairs are scattered about the sides of the deck along with one or two small tables. Northward where the path leads back through the park, one can step down onto it, but if one faces north, the double doors stand, for those who would enter.
Healing House: Hall
This hall has many windows, all along it's long length. At the fore near the door there is an entryway of sorts. A few chairs there are and a desk near the wall. A wide arch separates this entry from the rest of the hall, and it is high. For the ceiling itseif is high, with lanterns mounted on the walls on all sides, lighting the hall at night, and brightly. On one side of the large room, a door leads to the Infirmary. To the right side a door leads to the offices of the healers and one more door there is, but it is at the far end of the hall. That door leads out to the herb gardens. Indeed as one gets close, a large window looks outs into the gardens.
Contents:
Zimrelen Healess, Door Ward
Obvious exits:
Far Door leads to Healing House: Herb Gardens.
Right Door leads to Healing House: Healers' Offices.
Double Doors leads to Healing House: Garden Porch.
ZIMRELEN
A studious looking woman, with dark grey eyes and silvering hair sits at the desk in the entry area. Her head is down, and her nose seems buried in parchments. If you want her attention perhaps you should ask her a question. She usually answers to her name.
The sun has long since disappeared behind the Umbar Hill to the west, and night's chill lies heavy on the land. The park that surrounds the Healing Houses is a place of shadows, hints of movement that could be bird, beast or human - it is hard to tell.
One shifting shadow resolves itself into the shape of a man, cloaked against the elements, short and broad-shouldered. He approaches the porch giving entrance to the Houses, his steps oddly hesitant. The guards flanking the entrance give the newcomer an odd look, but say nothing. After pausing a moment in apparent indecision, the cloaked man raises one hand to knock upon the heavy door.
There is the sound of shuffling footsteps from within, a key turning in the lock, and the door opens far enough for a weary voice to be heard: "Yes? Do you seek healing?"
The man clears his throat, answers gruffly in a voice that is deep yet with a slight nasal twang, "No - I seek Gimilvel or Galen-ren." He makes no move to enter.
"Galenrien's not here," the speaker within the Houses announces, perhaps a little crossly, "but-"
She is interrupted by a younger voice, a girlish one. "Here I am. Who is it, Zimrelen?" Before Zimrelen has time to answer, the door is pulled open a little further and the face of Gimilphel, Galenrien's apprentice, pokes out. As she sees who is standing there, the girl's faintly worried expression relaxes into a smile. "Good evening, Barzag," she says gravely.
Barzag nods in return, and the right side of his mouth lifts slightly. "I wish you a good evening also," he offers in reply, looking down for a moment and then continuing, "You did say once you could help with reading - can you still give that help?"
"Of course," Gimilphel answers, smiling again. "Come in and we'll see-" She halts her words as a shaft of light from the open door streams out, highlighting the Hillman's bruised features. "What happened to you?" she asks with obvious concern, reaching forward one hand but not quite touching the one standing before her.
Barzag looks away. "It is nothing," he mutters, "I am - clumsy." Amber eyes are raised to look at the young apprentice healer once more as the Hillman labourer tells her stubbornly, "I do not need attention."
Gimilphel frowns, opens her mouth to say something and then shuts it quickly. Behind her, the querulous voice of old Zimrelen, who has long since returned to her desk, can be heard telling her to close the door before everyone freezes. A momentary smile flits across the girl's features, and she says to Barzag, "Come in, anyway, before Zimrelen gives me a tongue-lashing." And then, seeing the Hillman's hesitation, "It's all right, you will be welcome here."
Advice and company are, after all, the reasons that Barzag has come here, so with a shrug he steps through the double doors and into the warmth of the Healing Houses, loosening his cloak almost immediately.
Gimilphel gestures to the table in the corner where she has been preparing some herbs, and draws up a second stool. "Come, sit," she instructs Barzag. She looks at the Hillman again, perhaps speculating at the cause of the bruises on his face, but when she speaks it is on an entirely different subject. "Now, what do you need help with?"
Barzag gingerly lowers himself on to the stool, glancing round a little uncomfortably at the long room that can be seen through the archway, with its rows of beds - most unoccupied this night - and attendant healer. Returning his attention to Gimilphel, he replies, "I have no lessons for many days now, and I fear I may forget if I do not have practice."
Gimilphel gives a nod of understanding. "Your teacher is away?" she asks sympathetically.
Barzag frowns. "No, but I think he has not the time now? The lessons were in the lady Rozilel's shop - the Scripted Page - but for many days now it is closed. This morning I did see Inzil-gadin, but he said that his evenings were busy - and that he had not seen the lady Rozil-el lately. Maybe she has gone away on a visit?"
Gimilphel's green eyes widen, and she gives a soft 'ah' of understanding. She bites her lip, then tells Barzag in a near-whisper, "No, Roziliel is missing. Many begin to fear she has been abducted. Her brother, Marazon, often comes to these Houses, and he is near frantic with worry ... You know him?".
Barzag tilts his head slightly, considering. "Marazon? No, I do not think I know that name. And I know not - no, did not know? - that something had happened to the lady Rozil-el." He looks down at his hands briefly, and adds, "I owe her a debt because she allows Inzil-gadin and me to use her shop, and for materials. And she did not yet take payment for this in work. If there is something I can do ..."
Gimilphel sighs, the weary sigh of a young girl who has witnessed the pain caused to those dear to her by events she herself knows little about. "I don't know," she admits, her voice breaking slightly, "I just don't know what anyone can do, or how to find her." She blinks, then regards the Hillman thoughtfully. "Your face - you were attacked? Maybe by the same people?" She leans forward slightly, awaiting the reply.
Barzag scowls, then shakes his head. "There were some who did not like my face, or that I am not of your kind. The one who hit me was drunk, nothing more. I do not think one of Umbar would have any problem with that one." He places a slight emphasis on the word 'Umbar'. He falls silent, perhaps wary of admitting that he has come off worse in a fight. Then he lowers his voice, adds quietly, "I did not hear any tales of one attacked, or one taken away by force, but maybe I know some who do hear such things. I will ask, as I may, and if I learn anything, I will tell - you, or Inzil-gadin."
Gimilphel looks somewhat surprised at the offer, and draws back slightly with a nervous shiver. However, she answers, "That - would be good. To watch, and to hope - that's all we can do. All anyone can do." She sighs once more, before offering a sudden change of topic. "Now, what about that reading?"
Barzag nods at the first statement, then replies to Gimilphel's question, "I have no texts that I may read. I did hope that perhaps you and Galen-ren might have something."
Gimilphel's face brightens, and she jumps to her feet. "Of course!" she exclaims. "I'll go and get something - one of the early teaching works, perhaps? Though I might have to explain some of the herb names ... Just wait there a moment." And with that she is off towards the office that also acts as a repository of records, in search of something suitable.
The Hillman watches her go in silence, but for once the bitterness so often apparent in his features these days is replaced by a genuine smile.
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