It was dark, a thick suffocating heaviness surrounding his brain. I feel as though I've run for miles. Everything hurts. My head, my stomach, my legs all of it screams in agony. The darkness surrounds me again. It is pitch black and unyielding. It will not let me go. Why can't I see? Where is the light? Why do I hurt? This is all I remembered until suddenly a blazing light appeared waking me from my sleep. I could hear sounds of shuffling feet and movement around me. Voices? Was that a voice? My head is throbbing and my body aches in pain. Wait, I don't have a window. Where is this light coming from? How can a lantern be so bright? My room is an inner room, so it has to be a lantern. Maybe it's a light globe, but there's only a few in town. What is on my head? I can see light through it, but I can't see. "Ugggh!" My head is killing me. My mouth was so dry, I couldn't speak.
"Well, look who finally awoke," a male voice said. I couldn't quite make out who it was, but I was sure I recognized the voice. "Here, drink this." With that, he put something to my mouth. It was warm and foul-tasting. A few moments later, the pain subsided, and I began to relax despite the dizziness, then the hut began to blur turning fuzzy as it became harder to keep my eyes open.
The next thing I remember after becoming aware of light was I couldn't fully open my eyes. They felt like they were glued shut, then the voice was back. It was masculine, an old sounding baritone. I knew it, I knew there was a guy in my room. Something wet touched my face and eyes clearing out some of the gunk preventing my eyes from fully opening. Trying to open my eyes, I couldn't make out anything other than light. I couldn't see anyone. "Ow! My head hurts!" At least that's what I meant to say. It came out as a dry-mouth slur. It sounded more like, "oohw, uff heh hurss. "A moment later, someone took away the thing from my head, and I could almost see. Everything was still blurry; nothing was like I expected it. Things slowly came into focus, and I saw someone tall, dressed in white. White clothes, white hair, white cap, white everywhere. The shape moved in front of a source of light. Was it a window? The shape looked large against the light. Listening, I could hear the crackle of a fire and the smell of wood smoke. Something smelled like it was cooking. I tried to sit in hopes of getting better look around, but I felt shaky and nauseous, luckily my stomach was empty and despite my best effort to stay up, I had to let myself settle back into the bed.
The male voice returned. "You took quite a hit there, Von. I don't think I've ever treated someone who knocked themself out with their own sword before. Were you playacting? Practicing being a buffoon, or jester?" With harsh realization, I knew the voice. It was Master Healer, Branden Whitehair. I was worse than I thought. At least it was still daylight out, so I had been asleep too long. "I hear you put on quite an impressive show, young lad. I heard the tale at least four times before ever reaching you, and you managed to hit yourself so hard, even with my herbs and magics, you were in so much pain we had to put you back to sleep. You've been sleeping six days. We were coming concern you might not wake at all. Now that you have, you must be starving. If you're feeling up to it, let's start you with a little bit of broth."
Six days? What? That's almost a week! What will I do? The trial is only a week away, and I have to practice! With this, Von attempted to move quickly and stand, only to be caught and lowered back down to the cot. "Now, now, Von. You're in no condition to leave yet. I've set and spelled your ankle, and it should be ready to walk again the day after tomorrow or the next day, but you still have quite a bruise on your head, and the auguries are not promising yet. Von felt his head and stifled a yelp. No matter where he touched, it seemed like it hurt.
Having sipped a little of the broth, my mouth wasn't so dry and I could finally speak a little. "How bad is it," I asked hoping. My words still weren't clear, but I hoped he understood. I also hoped I just took a bump or two and looked silly. I had only a little over a week and I had to be in top shape.
"Well, you broke your right ankle on some roots, broke your left leg in the fall, and managed to knock yourself in the stomach at least twice from the bruises. There is a little internal damage, but Tyia and I think we've got everything stable in there. The worse of it is you managed to nearly crush your own skull with your sword. I think your ego is probably crushed going to be injured as well. Most, if not all the town knows what happened and word has reached the keep. Since I've already removed the bandages from your eyes and cleaned them out, I'll hand you a mirror so you can see your handiwork." With that Healer Whitehair took another damp cloth and wiped my eyes making the light even brighter. Master Whitehair walked to the other side of the hut returning with a small polished mirror.
As I grabbed it, I suddenly saw Master Whitehair closely for the first time. I was shocked. I didn't realize the healer was so tall before, nor so old. I have never seen so many lines on his face. I've been to the healer's hut before, but my injuries have been minor, like a twisted ankle or bad bruises. Usually, an apprentice has taken care of my injuries, but never Healer Whitehair. I don't think I've been this close to him, ever.
Having sipped more chicken broth, my mouth was finally able to work. "How old are you?" I blurted out, finally able to speak. Healer Whitehair was not only taller than I thought, but his white hair matched the lines along his face. He was quite pale and wrinkled and smelled of alcohol and herbs. There was also a faint white aura surrounding him, but it may have been the light reflecting off his white hair and robes.
"Well, your eyesight isn't too bad, just your manners. I'm older than I look, but healers know how to keep their strength and youth long after it should have been gone. I will tell you; I am old enough to have healed your grandfather of the crossbow wound he got from the goblins when he was about a year or two older than you are now. In fact, I was old enough to flirt with your great grandmother when she was learning herbalism, but your great grandfather was much more masculine than I and swept her away before I became a healer rank 2. I can remember when there was only one mill in Milltown and the only farrier was in the keep above. In other words, old enough you should listen to your elders and continue resting."
Between my panic and mind clearing, I burst out. "But I have to prepare for the knight's test next week. I have to be a knight. I can't disappoint my mom and dad! Please, can you heal me faster?"
"You don't understand, Von. Normally a broken leg or ankle would take 4-10 weeks to heal. With my skills, spells, and talents, you should be able to hobble tomorrow, and be walking normally in a few more days. Those lumps on your head should keep you down for a few months, but with the near constant care we've been giving you and the practice you are giving the apprentices and journeymen before the trials; we hope to have you back to your senses in time to watch from the stands, but participating is unlikely. If we try to rush it, you might end up unconscious through the trials instead of watching them. Eventually, we will get you back to full strength, even get you healed completely. Even some of your old scars are healing since we've been putting so much effort into you, but even with my skill, you won't be ready for the knight's testing this month. Maybe in six more, but definitely not next week."
From what I could see in the mirror, my face was swollen a little, a couple of my teeth were chipped, whether from my sword hitting me or landing on the ground, I don't know. Maybe it was from running into a tree. I had a number of bruises, and my head did look a bit odd, but it might have been the cheap mirror. I didn't think I looked so bad I couldn't participate next week.
But... I have to... "Is there a better healer around? Someone who can get me back to normal in time? What about the Baron's healer, Healer Darla? Isn't she supposed to be one of the best healers?"
Healer Whitehair looked grimly at me and shook his head. "Who do you think trained Healer Darla? She apprenticed under me, then took her first four ranking tests under my supervision. If you were less serious, one of the journeymen would have handled your case, but you have received almost my full attention for the last six days. You'll see quite a bit of me in the next few days as well. You could have died from that sword of yours. I don't know what kind of luck you have, but it must swing on a pendulum. One moment, you have more accidents than I would have thought possible, causing so much damage to yourself you should have died before we got to you, then your luck shifts and you suddenly woke and screamed before falling passing out again. Just as we began to worry you were brain damaged, since you had almost no movement in the first four days, not even your eyes. The day before yesterday, you let out a yell and began trying to talk. We had to put you back to sleep to help you heal, but you finally woke again. Fate has been both fickle and kind with you. Perhaps you should consider being a Fate Spinner instead of a knight. You have a trickle of aura about you, so you might be able to weave low level spells someday. Without a lot of training, you'll never get too far, but even poor Spinners tend to be wealthy as long as their luck holds out."
A Fate Spinner? Nothing but charlatans. Fortune tellers at their worst who goad people into given them money for a supposed glimpse of the future. How do you get rich? The best answer is to not give money to a Fate Spinner. You don't need luck, just a brain. "Aren't all Fate Spinners frauds? They just tell you what you want to hear or push you down the road of common sense?" Von inquired. His head was already aching, and talking about this nonsense was making it worse.
"Sometimes, but a true Fate Spinner, can curse the wicked, taking their luck, and passing it to someone deserving. Some courts keep one around for criminals and use them to steal the luck of a criminal sentenced to death, to bestow it to a court favorite, or to use to have a lucky break at the last moment and preserve their sovereign's life or to win a battle. Some are real. It's just hard to tell who a mage of fortune is and who is a fraud...." Examining Von, Whitehair noted, "Your aura isn't strong, but you might have just enough aura to try to become a healer or an apprentice, but I don't think you have enough to make it past rank 1 in any school without a lot of time and training. I remember you from around town and you seem to have a sharp mind. Can you read and write?" Being literate is a requirement for any amount of magic.
"I can read and write my name and a few words. Monica's mom was trying to help me learn, but other than the signs around town with words on them, and a few other things, I don't read well," I sighed heavily, just thinking reminded him of the pain in his head. His skull seemed to be thumping.
Healer Whitehair shook his head as Von paused. He examined Von's leg. "Monica? That must be the young lady who has checked up on you every day. She has visited you several times, but you've been asleep every time."
"Mon's parents and mine are close, and the Coopers take care of me while my folks are doing thier knightly duties. Although my reading lacks, I can count pretty high. I can also add and subtract really well, and I can even do some times and divides, but not real fast yet. I can do all the math I need to be a squire, and a little more. Most new pages don't know math yet, but some of the knights and noble houses teach those things once you become a page, so I wanted to be ready and try to be the best page I can, so I can advance to a squire quickly" I said proudly. Puffing out my chest and sitting up straight reminded me quickly of my injuries. "If healing magics can heal me, can it make my body stronger and faster?"
Not answering the question, Master Whitehair continued, "Magic might not be you best choice then. That's enough for this afternoon. I will be leaving you under the careful eyes of Journeywoman Tyia. She will be keeping track of you while I rest. I have missed a lot of sleep taking care of you, but now that I know you are awake and seem to be in your right mind, I can finally take a few hours and recover my strength, so I can speed your healing along tomorrow. No, I still won't have you ready for next week, even if I slept three days, but I will be able to ensure you are walking in time to see the tests." With this, Healer Whitehair nodded to a young woman in her late teens who was mixing a draught and walked away.