Marked by Honor - 5

Chapter 5

When he woke, Halua felt absolutely terrible. His body ached, especially his legs and feet. Groaning, he opened his eyes and stared up at an unfamiliar ceiling. For a long moment, he didn’t know where he was or how he got there. Turning his head, he tried to look for some hint or clue as to where he was. Seeing nothing, he sat up carefully.

He looked down at himself and saw himself to be garbed in the same clothes he wore during his ride to the temple. Seeing them upon him still brought his memory back to what had happened. He recalled the ride up to the forest, the attack, getting chased through the forest, meeting Banthus, then walking to the station.

He remembered them taking care of the scratches and blisters and other small injuries. Amazingly, he had managed to convince the healer not to take off his clothes for a full inspection. So that was where he was. The temple. Or at least some part of it.

Pulling aside the blanket that covered him, Halua inspected the bandage that wrapped around his feet and traced up his shins. They were clean, no sign of blood or other stain on them. Someone had probably changed them recently. Looking around, Halua took in the details of the room; it was adequately furnished, if only with the necessities. Halua carefully pushed out of bed and up onto his feet.

The bottom soles stung as soon as he put pressure on them, threatening to send him to his knees. Halua bit his lip and fought the urge. He waited until the pain went away before taking a step. Gingerly he picked his way across the room until he came to the door and opened it. Just as soon as he stepped outside, he was greeted by one of the carriage guards.

“Princess! You’re up!”

Halua smiled at him and looked around. “Yes. Where is everyone?”

“Captain and the others, and Advisor Chaliwek are likely in the lobby.” When Halua asked where the lobby was, he said, “Would you like me to take you there, Princess?”

“Yes.”

“Then please allow me to carry you.” The man held out his arms in a manner that suggested he meant for Halua to accept and let him pick him up. However, Halua stared at him incredulously, his gaze flickering from the guard’s face to his hands. Catching the way Halua looked at him, the guard pressed a hand to his breast. “Advisor Chaliwek ordered us to keep you off your feet if you were to ask to go anywhere. Captain has also told us to do the same.”

Halua’s lips pulled into a line. Of course Mern would place such an order. With a sigh he nodded and stepped toward the man. The guard carefully scooped him up, one arm behind his back, the other behind his knees. Like this, the guard took Halua down the hall. They crossed a flight of stairs and turned the corner before they made it to the lobby.

Halua felt embarrassed beyond words. He said nothing as they entered the room and several heads turned their way. The guards were there, some carrying various bandages of their own. Mern was there also, fit as a fiddle if only for a bruise on the side of his head. Halua didn’t see Prina and felt his heart sink.

The guard took him to an empty seat near the head guardsman and Mern, setting him down and pushing him closer to the table they were sitting at. Mern passed a plate of cut fruit for him to pick at. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine. How is everyone else?”

The head guardsman, Captain as the other guard had called him though he gave no name, turned to him. “We lost one, but all the others have survived.”

“Don’t you mean two? Or was she the only one to die?” When the man’s brows furrowed, Halua elaborated. “Prina. My attendant. Was she the only one to die or did she and another pass on as well?”

Mern was the one to answer him this time. “Prina is alive, Princess.” His words made Halua jerk in surprise, his eyes widening in disbelief. “We rushed the injured here as soon as we could. We barely managed to save her.” The man’s brows knit. “It was not our intention to leave you in the forest on your own. Captain Nettika had sent out a few of his men to find you while we took everyone here. When neither they nor you arrived, another search party was formed. I had insisted on coming to help look, but was denied. Thankfully, you showed up, safe and sound.”

“Where is she? Prina.”

“She is in the room next to yours. She is likely resting and recovering from the attack.”

Relief swept through Halua at this news. Prina was alive and well, or at least as well as one could hope considering what happened to her. Sinking back in the chair, he relaxed and was better able to enjoy the fruit he was given. It was without prompt that more food was set before him, the men -- Mern especially -- eager to see him recover quickly.

After he was done eating, Halua turned to Mern. “Will we be staying here at the station for much longer?”

“We will ascend to the temple later in the day, after everyone has had a chance to fully rest. After this, only a few of the guards will remain with us at the temple and the rest will journey back. We trust that once you are in Prince Reshar’s care, there will be no need to be so wary of your safety.”

“I see...” He mulled over this news, not sure if he should feel pleased or not. “What of my betrothed? Is he there yet?”

“We haven’t had word that he has arrived yet.”

“Do we know when he will come?”

The man shook his head. “He should arrive within the next day. Do not worry.”

What he meant by this, Halua didn’t know. Do not worry about what? There was plenty to worry about, so which one did he not want him to fuss over? Giving a small smile to show he understood even when he didn’t, Halua changed subjects and asked if he could go see Prina. Captain Nettika offered to carry him. Seeing as how he couldn’t refuse, he accepted and let the man take him back upstairs.

They went to the room next to the one he was in earlier. As soon as they entered, Halua saw Prina laying in bed, sleeping. Nettika set him down in a chair by the bed before asking him, “Are you comfortable?” At Halua’s nod, he added, “Is there anything else you needed?”

“No, thank you. I’ll call if I need something.”

Nettika nodded and bowed before making his way out. Unlike Mern, he was a different sort of man of duty. He didn’t see the need to linger when it wasn’t necessary. Halua appreciated that and turned his attention to Prina. Though she never made any noise before, her silence now was eerie. To think, she had almost lost her life just yesterday. And to what, bandits? Halua couldn’t think of any other label for the men who had attacked them. Such uncouth behavior, such dress wear, such chaotic purpose could only be linked to outlawed men who made their profit by stealing from others. No matter what or who it was they stole.

Halua gently touched Prina’s cheek and sighed softly. He watched over her quietly, paying little attention to the time that passed by as he did so. It wasn’t until his bottom had become half numb from staying still so long that he realized the hour. A knock came to the door at that moment.

“Come in,” he called and turned to see it was Mern who entered. “Yes?”

“Would you like to clean up? There is a private bath you can use. We will be making our way to the temple shortly.”

“What about Prina?”

“She will stay here until she wakes. When that happens, we can bring her to the temple as well. I do not think she is in any condition to make the trip back to the palace.”

Halua turned to look at her. Not once did she open her eyes during the time he had spent watching her. “No, I don’t think so either.” He stood up and made his way to Mern. The man called over a guard to carry him down the hall to where the baths were. When asked if he needed any further assistance, Halua replied, “No, that’s okay.”

The men left him alone, keeping a guard near the door for whenever he was ready to go back. Halua felt self conscious to have someone so near the only barrier that kept hidden his true identity. He took off the bandages around his feet and legs and grimaced at the sores left behind. He hoped they wouldn’t scar.

With a soft sigh he undressed and filling the tub with water. Once it was ready, he slipped in. He didn’t linger too long to clean up, though it felt very good to just sit in the tub and soak. When he was done he rinsed off, dried, and dressed himself in a thick robe. He hadn’t thought of it before, but now that he was clean he wondered of the state of his other clothes.

After meeting the guard at the door and being carried back to his room, he asked the man to get him Mern. When the old man arrived, he was in the middle of wrapping his own feet with medicine and gauze. The man saw what he was doing and helped him with the rest as they spoke. As it turned out, his clothes managed to survive the raid. Some of it had been damaged, but most had gone untouched. Halua was lucky, he didn’t have to worry about anything except himself.

When they were done wrapping him in bandages, Halua was given time to dress properly. Though he always had Prina to aid him, Halua knew how to put on most of his clothes. It took him longer to figure out the layers, but he managed to do so on his own before he fixed his hair. He didn’t care enough to make it pretty, just brushed it free of tangles and let it fall over his shoulders.

Just as soon as he was done, Captain Nettika came to fetch him. Apparently it was time to head for the temple. The man carried him out of the station, a couple of the other men carrying his belongings as they went. Together they made their way to the steps that led up the hill. Halua, though he was fairly light, was still a great deal of weight to consider. The trip was long and slow, and he felt doubly embarrassed to be passed from one guard to another along the way.

Eventually they came to the gates of the temple. Once again transferred into Nettika’s arms, Halua looked up at the grand structure that lay before them. Never had he seen anything like it before. Whatever texts might say of these places, their pretty words did little to compare to the actual magnificence.

Turning his head to look around, Halua tried to take in every inch he could. The land was vast and it looked like the property stretched across the horizon. Surrounding the walls was the rest of the forest, leading to places he could only imagine.

The sound of steps across the cobble stone path drew his attention of an old man in flowing robes and a tall hat who emerged from the front entrance. Behind him trailed two more men, younger in age, who wore similar robes. The way they kept their distance behind the old man made Halua believe they were servants, maybe attendants of the old man.

The old man stopped before them and bowed, waving his arms in a peculiar gesture. “Kresh nahalendi. May the gods smile on you.” He straightened and smiled at them genially. “Welcome, we have been waiting for you. A room has been prepared for you, Princess of Iipah.”

Iipah, the land his father ruled. Halua had never really understood the need for all the different titles when the person was still one and the same. Nevertheless, he smiled at the old man politely. “Thank you for letting us come here,” he said.

“I am Kreshand Delenqui, the head of this temple. Call for me or any of my disciples, and they will gladly assist you while you stay here. Our other guests have not arrived yet, so allow us to show you where you will be staying.” He turned to one of the young men behind him and muttered something. The boy left with a bow, leaving the rest of them to follow after Delenqui as he led the way.

They circled around to the eastern side of the temple. It was sectioned off by a low raised path that connected a side house to the main temple. Delenqui gave them a small tour of the east house, pointing out the arrangement of sleeping that had been prepared. As before, Halua would be given his own private quarters. Everyone who would be staying would be split into the other rooms as they deemed fit.

After introductions had been made and the sleeping arrangements figured out, the guards took their leave. They announced they would stay at the station until tomorrow before making their way back to the palace. A guard was to be left behind to keep watch and relay any important messages.

The temple was kind enough to serve them a meal which was delivered to them at the house. Halua, discouraged by Mern to move around too much now that the guards were gone, ate in his room. He didn’t enjoy the thought of sitting around all the time, confined to a room, being unable to use his legs. After he was certain the man had left him alone for a while, he braved the pain of his feet to slip outside and sit upon the porch in the back of the house.

He rested against one of the support beams and dangled his feet over the edge of the porch, absently swinging his legs to and fro as he watched the trees and listened to the sounds of nature around him. He hoped that the sores on his feet would heal quickly, for he longed to explore the rest of the temple. He might have been here for an engagement, but Halua did not want to deprive himself of the joy of being able to look at things he otherwise would never have had the privilege to see firsthand.

Lifting a leg to scowl at his bandaged foot, Halua shook his head. He probably should have let Banthus carry him when he had offered.

The thought of the man brought that familiar yet unnameable sensation within him. He wanted to see him again, thank him for all that he did. The man had saved his life from those men and even showed him the way to the station. Halua wanted to give him something in return for his kindness. And maybe even talk to him too, if that was possible.

The sound of gravel crunching together brought Halua’s attention back to the present. He turned his head toward the source. Just around the corner of the house appeared a person. As they came into view, Halua’s heart quickened. It was Banthus.

Halua straightened up and smiled at the man. “Banthus! I was just thinking about you. Care to join me?” He gestured at the spot next to him on the porch. Banthus glanced at the empty spot before sitting down. Halua, pleased to see him again, said, “Thank you again for helping me yesterday.”

“It would not have weighed well on my mind if I had allowed those men to place their hands on you.”

“You deserve a reward. Is there anything you would like? I do not have anything material with me, but once I am able, I will deliver it to you.”

The man shook his head. “I do not need a reward.”

“Are you sure? Not money, no new equipment, a new horse? Would you like a title to your name? Rights to land? Anything?” Halua wasn’t certain he could even give half of thee treasures, but he wanted to repay Banthus for saving him.

Banthus shook his head again. “I receive enough wages and accommodation for my travels. I have little use for land or a title to my name either.”

Halua frowned slightly. If this man would not take a reward, then how was he supposed to properly thank him? “Is there truly nothing I can do for you?”

Banthus turned those dark eyes toward him. The way he looked at Halua made a shiver run up his spine, both frightening and strangely pleasing at the same time. Halua fought down the urge to shudder and met the man’s gaze unblinkingly. “...No, there isn’t,” the man eventually replied and broke eye contact.

Halua sank against the support beam at his back and folded his hands in his lap. “Then... will you grant me the joy of talking with you more? I’d like to know more about you.” When Banthus gave him an odd expression, as if the request caught him off guard, Halua’s lips tipped into a wry smile. “I admire your strength and composure. I think my father would have loved to have a warrior and son like you. Do your parents praise you often?”

Something flickered in Banthus’ eyes. “I have been complimented by those who employ me, but I am not familiar with receiving such words from my own parents.”

Halua’s brows rose in surprise, feeling he might have touched upon a sensitive topic. “I’m sorry.” He was familiar, after all, with being unloved by his father. His mother made up for all the neglect his father had given him, but he still wished Lord Teth had been warmer toward him. Looking up at the trees, he said quietly, “I suppose not every parent can be proud of their offspring. As children we dearly wish for that acceptance and love, but sometimes we simply do not please them.”

He looked at Banthus again. “Even if they do not approve of you and your skill, I am still grateful. If not for you, I would not be here right now.” He lifted a foot to show Banthus the bandaging. “This would not have been the worst of my pains.”

He did not know if bandits were against forcing other men, but he wouldn’t put it past them. In fact, rape might have been the least of his worries.

Banthus touched the back of his ankle, gently supporting his foot in his hand. Halua was surprised as the level of care the man demonstrated, but then he supposed that appearance weren’t everything. Though Banthus looked dangerous, and he had a strong bow arm, he could also be gentle and kind.

“Did you get this from walking through the forest?” he asked. When Halua nodded, he said, “It would be ill advised for you to be on your feet while this heals.”

Despite himself, Halua sighed, his lips twisted into a scowl, though it was not directed at the man. “So I have heard. They wish to carry me everywhere.”

Banthus gave him a curious look. “That bothers you?”

“It discourages me from moving at all, and I have had my fair share of confinement as is.” Though it wasn’t strict, being separated at the palace was not all that different from being caged. He had to keep out view all the time, avoiding the eye of servants, family, and most especially any guests that came to visit. It was highly unpleasant and tedious to say in the least. And he would not be surprised if, even upon marriage, he would still be made to sit like a wallflower. Assuming that his husband never figured out his identity and killed him for it. The possibility still scared him.

“I would like to walk about while I still have the freedom to do so. This place is astounding. The forest had been frightening but here the atmosphere is very serene.”

“Have you never traveled from home before?”

Halua shook his head. “No, never. My father... he did not approve of my wandering about. Even at home.” He caught the way Banthus looked at him and shook his head. “I’m used to it. A mere piece of my life I must accept. You must a lot more freedom. Do you travel often?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Then this probably isn’t all that impressive to you. Where have you been to?”

Banthus was quiet for a moment, seeming to think through his answer. “I have been to all the lands at least once.”

Halua’s brows rose in surprise. “Truly? What is it like? Do you have any stories of your travels?” Unconsciously he leaned toward Banthus, eager to hear whatever he had to say.

Banthus stared at him, glancing down at the lack of space between them, yet he did not ask Halua to lean back. He opened his mouth as though he meant to tell him those stories he asked for, but then he suddenly became still, a distracted look in his eye. Halua looked at him expectantly, about to ask what the matter was. Banthus relaxed before he could get a word out and smiled at him.

“I do have many tales, but they will have to wait.”

“Why? Are you leaving?”

The man nodded, causing Halua to reach out and grasp his arm.

“Will we meet again? Are you staying at the temple?”

Banthus looked a little startled at the contact and stared at the hand on his arm. He seemed to hesitate before putting his hand on top of Halua’s and meeting his gaze. “I am not staying at the temple, but I will return. We will meet again shortly.”

With that, he stood up. He carefully released Halua before turning and disappearing around the corner he had come. Halua watched him go and curled his fingers in. It was warm from where he had touched Banthus and the man had returned it. Halua looked down at his palm as if it were a foreign thing before shaking his head.

He hoped they could meet up soon. He enjoyed talking with the man and wanted to hear of his journeys.

“--ncess? Princess?”

Hearing Mern calling, Halua responded. The old man came around the other corner of the house. After a brief scolding, they returned inside where Halua was insisted to stay put for the rest of the day. Halua could not argue, so he stayed in his room through the evening and put himself to bed when night came upon them. He slumbered with Banthus on his mind.

-x-

Kreshand : equivalent to a head priest or monk; a direct disciple of the gods