[Ridge]
There are no medical supplies anywhere in the cabin.
However, one thing I'd like to address first is that what the Riddotha's call a 'cabin', is more like a lodge. In fact, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a decent sized inn. Money sure is amazing. If I was Drina, I would've done a hell of a lot more to lock my engagement down. Although that may have been pointless seeing as the entire country is potentially being ransacked by Nymour right now.
We searched the hundreds of rooms from top to bottom, and all we managed to find were a few dried bundles of basic medicinal herbs. We can't even use those, because despite not being trained in apothecary, we both recognize them. That's because they're often used in calming teas. Not super helpful.
We have no choice but to try to make the journey to the nearest town, and hope they have a doctor. Honestly I'd take any kind of doctor equivalent too. I'd probably accept a kid in a funny looking hat dancing to Nymourian music if he said he was a doctor. I'd even let a woman treat me.
If women could be doctors it'd solve a lot of issues within the Empire. If women were allowed to do anything men are, we'd be a lot better off right now. Things as important as medical professionals wouldn't be so far and few between. We'd have more Knights, more merchants, more teachers. Not utilizing over half of the population is currently looking really stupid.
We'll just have to hope to all hell that there happens to be someone who can help in that tiny village. Getting there is another problem though. It's about a day out and another to get back. Even with my ankle feeling better than it was directly after the attack, I wouldn't trust it to hold out for that long.
Having Kadeeth carry me is slow and downright inconvenient. Which means that the most effective method of getting help would be for Kadeeth to go alone to the town and bring back either the doctor or their prescription.
"That's an awful idea." He deadpans.
I glare, trying to reason with him, "It's the best awful idea we've got. I need serious help, and your father obviously wants us to stay in the west." My hands flail around in the air to make my point, "So if we can't leave, we have to find help here, and that village is the closest one for miles. Obviously I'm in no condition to go anywhere for a while, so you have to do it!"
He grimaces, "I can just take you with me. We don't have to stay here."
"The Duke told you to protect the West! It's your job to hold down the fort over here. If we do that, maybe he can help gather an army to defeat the invaders, I'm sure he has some kind of plan to help the country." I remind him earnestly.
"Trust me I am the last person that needs to be reminded of how much my father loves the Empire." He retorts. The sarcasm is not appreciated.
"Kadeeth! Your daddy issues are not our most pressing concern right now!" I settle him with a hard frown, "My foot could fall off, your hands could get infected, Nymour soldiers could come back, the village could be attacked, we could be separated, I could die-"
He cuts me off, practically growling, "Ridge!"
"You're only mad because you know I'm right!" I don't back down, pulling out sass I didn't know I had.
"I know, goddammit I know!" He throws his arms up and tugs at his hair in frustration. His bad habit of rubbing the back of his neck rears its head again. Pretty soon he'll scratch a hole through it, "I know, I know..." He's practically whimpering.
I almost drop the plan right then and there, but I know something as pathetic as pity shouldn't take precedence over our health and safety. So, instead I revel in how much he hates it when I win. This elated feeling is what I imagine it would be like to punch him in the face.
"Let's get some food, and a good night's sleep. Then we can make a solid plan in the morning." I suggest, trying not to gloat.
Despite my suggestion, after finding some preservatives neither of us feel up to sleeping. I don't think I could force my eyes shut even if someone sewed them together. So we both end up huddled on the leather sofa in the den. Long cotton drapes cover part of the looming window to our right.
Through the crack in the drapes the moonlight chases the shadows atop the canopy we traveled under. The large rismint trees reach high above the other trees, hovering over the rest of the forest, and the cabin. The buzz of crickets and nocturnals pierced the silence. Kadeeth lit the fireplace using some logs he found stacked outside, so a luminous glow casts a soft glow on everything in the room.
It's the biggest room in the cabin, but scarce of furniture. Besides the fireplace and long sofa, a short, wooden coffee table on wheels is the only other prominent piece of decor in the open space. Antlers and taxidermied critters line the walls above our heads, all pointing towards the dusty chandelier hanging from the ceiling.
Despite how long the couch is, Kadeeth settles down only inches from me, and I make no attempt to move him. I think while traveling we could preoccupy our minds with thoughts of survival. It was vital not to let the emotions all the way into our heads, but now that the dust has cleared, and we can really rest, it's sinking in.
The memories of the beam caving in on us, the quiet grunts from the other Knight. He was alive, and maybe the woman was too. Then suddenly they weren't, and I almost joined them. Several times.
I'm still at risk of meeting them again soon. I think if that happened right now, if I close my eyes and leave while sitting here with my best friend, basking in the warm light of the fire, I'd be glad to see them. I want to be their friend. I want to know their names, and meet their families. Who's going to tell their families? When their bodies are found, who will identify them?
Are they even recognisable?
It's nice here though. I also wouldn't mind waking up like this, with this warmth. I still have things to do anyway. What would Kadeeth do without me? He's really just so useless on his own.
I guess I'm not ready to go yet.