[Ridge]
We've been trekking again for a while now. And by 'we' I mean Kadeeth.
After sleeping for the rest of the day I regained a lot of strength in my body, but he still insists I take it easy. Apparently putting too much strain on my injury could make it worse or something dumb like that. When he checked again after we woke up it was completely dark outside, so he had to check by feel.
According to his expert diagnosis, it felt worse, meaning the skin around it is slightly swollen. Swelling is a symptom of death. Well, more specifically of a broken bone or infection, but that's basically the same thing. Our country isn't very well known for its medicinal knowledge.
Throughout the entire vastness of the Empire there are only a few widely known apothecaries, and there are even fewer famous doctors. In fact, we only have one school dedicated to doctoring. It's incredibly hard to get into, and crazy expensive, so the majority of the country's 'professionals' are commoners who pass down their knowledge through their families.
Many Imperial jobs are like that, you do what your parents did. It's related to the idea that Nobles are born noble, and commoners are born common. Stick to what you know.
If my father hadn't died while I was still so young, he probably would've trained me to be a Knight himself. After he died I technically could've chosen to do anything I wanted, but I needed money in order to survive. So in reality I either needed to pick up quick jobs around my hometown for a few years before finding something to train and specialize in, or I needed an easy long-term job that could put me through the Academy.
Guess what I chose.
It wasn't an upsetting decision though. Maybe without the crushing need to find someplace to live and set me up for life I would've found something different. Or maybe not. There's a chance that I'd still realize that taking care of Kadeeth and his family is one of my proudest life goals.
Kadeeth also seems to be feeling better after getting some shut-eye. After checking my foot he tossed me onto his back again and went right back to carrying me like I weigh as much as a feather.
It's even more impressive because the forest isn't like the woods on the Riddotha property. The foliage is abundant, rampant and green. The trees almost reach the sky, and there are traces of animals everywhere. It'll be a miracle if he doesn't hurt his own feet on the uneven ground.
"Maybe I should try walking, we might cover more ground that way?" I suggest.
"No way, you'll only slow us down, and I already told you we can't risk making your foot worse. Hobbling around in the dark on one leg has no chance of making us any faster." He shoots down. His tone is firm, signaling that he believes his opinion is final on this matter. Poor bastard.
I start trying to slide myself off of his shoulders by shifting my weight around to one side. The sudden movement almost makes him drop me, not quite what I was aiming for.
"Woah, what the heck man!" He rebalances my tilting form, so I squirm some more.
"I can do it! It's not even that far anymore, you got us most of the way." I try convincing him since none of my tactics for getting off of his shoulders are working very well. The only thing left is to just punch him. In the face.
"No way! You never listen." I can tell he's glaring, even without being able to see his face, "I refuse to cut off your leg because you damaged it more by prancing through the forest on it!"
I scoff, "They're calling it 'amputation' now dumbass, and you're exaggerating! Once we get to the cabin we can find a doctor."
Suddenly my body is being propelled forward. I'm thrown off of his shoulders and I find myself inhaling water instead of air. That's not right.
I choke for a bit and sit up in the shallows. Kadeeth walks to the edge of the small creek I'm now sitting in and crouches down next to me in a condescending manner. I'm tempted to splash water in his face, but the amused look in his eyes quells my temper and replaces it with petulance.
That look of knowing he won without even having to say it. There's no point in fighting him when he looks like that, because he's almost always right about being right. It makes me sick.
"How's your foot feeling now?" He smiles. Forget punching him, I'm gonna drown this fool and make a run for it on my own. I wish I could run in this state.
"Jerk." I mutter as he scoops some water up with his hands.
He laughs, "Is that the best you've got? I expected too much from you."
I ignore the urge to grab his collar and water board him. The Duke might not be so willing to take us in if when we show up I'm dragging his son's waterlogged body behind me, but who knows? I'm sure that if there's anyone else who understands what a pain Kadeeth can be, it's his father.
It's hard to think of a time when those two haven't fought. Jeez, everything's such a mess now. We were at such a good point in life before all of this.
Sure Kadeeth and the Duke had a lot of disagreements, but Kadeeth was still recognized for his work and named heir to the Riddotha Duchy. His father may always be disappointed in him, but he still sees him as his son.
On the other hand, I don't know if my life was at as great of a point as I thought it was. I started a new life, made new friends, and accomplished my dream of becoming a Knight. I was also screamed at, used, lied to, and attacked.
Do many secrets and promises. Broken promises. I could fill a book with the amount of times I've given someone my word recently. Or maybe it just seems like a lot, because ideally, a Knight should only ever have to make one Oath.