Posted by The Black Knight on July 13, 2002 at 22:23:27:
Chapter 7
Ramin Ko-vär paced frantically outside the doctor's room. The magistrate and the jailor stood leaning on the wall.
"How could a tired old war horse and a twenty year old girl get past an entire garrison?" Ramin said angrily.
"We think he had help, my lord, the deputy magistrate did come to their aid in the dungeon." the jailor said.
"He had help. Of course he had help, every single one of you blithering idiots I call my men. If Lavia dies I will require her blood on each and every one of your heads." Ramin shouted.
"No need to shout, my lord, your wife will live." Rescan said as he came out of his room.
"There are times that I think that you are a miracle worker healer." Ramin said.
"If I worked miracles you would be dead by now." Rescan said.
"I'm surprised you didn't take the opportunity to poison her to death?" Ramin said.
"I would not have needed poison. All I had to do was let her bleed to death, but like you said all of your men would have died if I had." Rescan said.
"No doubt you gave the girl the dagger to start with." Ramin said.
"Show me the proof or leave it be, my lord. Even you are bound by law." Rescan said.
"No, you've covered your tracks too well healer, as usual." Ramin said.
Rescan smiled as he walked past Ramin.
"Change the bandages every three hours and let her rest. She will be fit to walk by the time the Princess arrives in Boshia. If you have any further need of me I will be in my chambers." Rescan said as he walked down the wall.
"Why do you keep that man around, you know he would slit your throat if he had the chance." the magistrate asked.
"He knows as well as I that he will never get that chance. He is the best healer in Boshia, and when our war begins anew we will need someone with his skills." Ramin said.
"You plan to start the clan wars again?" the magistrate asked.
"No clan war, my friend, a war for the throne." Ramin said.
"Wouldn't Can-ler stand in your way?" the magistrate asked.
"He's a tired old man, he wouldn't be there now if it weren't for the Man-yins and the Mi-yärs. By this time next month I will be on his throne. The only problem that we have is a bunch of idiots like you two." Ramin said pulling out his sword.
Instead of steel the blade was clear white crystal. The word HERCULES was engraved on the hilt.
"Lord Ko-vär it was an honest mistake." the jailor said as he stepped behind the magistrate.
"There is no such thing as an honest mistake jailor." Ramin said.
The magistrate backed away.
"I helped you raise to this position Ramin. You would have never survived the war if I hadn't pulled you out of that shuttle." the magistrate said.
"That's entirely possible, but someone must answer for the prisoner's release and the Tal-sha-dor's death." Ramin said.
The magistrate pulled the jailor in front of him.
"He is responsible for the dungeon area, my lord." the magistrate said.
"But you are responsible for him magistrate." Ramin said.
Ramin drove his sword through both men killing them almost instantly. Ramin pulled the communicator out of the magistrate's belt.
"Lieutenant Ra-shan there is a bit of rubble in the north hall. I expect it removed within the hour." Ramin said as he pulled his sword of the two bodies.
He put his sword up and walked into Lavia's room. Lavia looked up at him as he stepped over her.
"Go away." Lavia said as she turned her head away from him.
"You really want me to leave or are you upset because I let someone get close enough to hurt you?" Ramin asked.
"The wood in the door is either weak or thin, because I heard every word you said. Now we have to find a new Tal-sha-dor as well as a couple of new magistrates. I realize that you have your faults, but not too many people like to work for a homicidal psychopath."
"I have heard the same said about you, my dear." Ramin said as he sat down beside his wife.
"I told you to let her rest." Rescan said as he came in.
"When has he ever listened to anyone?"
"I've known him for ten years and he hasn't listened to me yet." Rescan said as lay his hand on her forehead.
"I thought you said she was in good health." Ramin said.
"She was just stabbed and as strong as your wife is, that kind of trauma will nearly kill her if she isn't allowed to rest."
"Is that your way of asking me to leave?" Ramin asked.
"Well you could stay here and place an even greater strain on her, personally I don't really care whether she lives or dies."
Ramin smiled a little.
"As much as you dislike me, you're still just as loyal to Can-ler as you ever were." Ramin said.
"Get out of here." Rescan said.
Lavia nodded and Ramin left the room. Rescan lay his hand on her wrist.
"May I?" Rescan asked.
"If you must."
Rescan lay his fingers on her wrist below the palm of her hand.
"Find anything interesting?" Lavia asked.
"You're one of the healthiest young women I've ever treated."
"Even in spite of what happened?" Lavia asked.
"You've spent too much time with that bow of yours Duchess. Your abdominal muscles stopped the blade before it could do any serious damage."
"Why didn't you tell Ramin what you told me?" Lavia asked.
"Shan Mi-yär was a good friend of mine and I have no desire to see her killed."
"It was Lorta Nei-shon that stabbed me not Shan." Lavia said.
"But I know the way your mind works Duchess. You would blame them both for your injury." Rescan said.
"Perhaps, but you know who Ramin would blame for it." Lavia said.
"Those two will meet soon enough, and I don't want to be caught between them. If you're smart you'll keep out of it too. The Ko-värs and the Man-yins have been enemies for centuries and its only a matter of time before Ramin or Yasin kill the other."
"You forget healer, I am a Ko-vär now too." Lavia said.
"But you are the niece of our king. It is your duty to protect those who might get between those two."
"I've heard enough of your babbling for tonight healer." Lavia said.
Rescan poured liquid out of a small flask into a glass of water.
"Drink this, my lady. It will help you sleep until morning." Rescan said.
"I am assuming that you wouldn't poison an heir to the throne." "You, I would, but I have no desire to get my neck stretched because of you." Rescan said.
Lavia smiled as she took the glass. Rescan walked toward the door as the drained the glass.
"Something else Duchess. Lorta Nei-shon will hold you accountable for her cousin's murder. What she did to you tonight was just the beginning." Rescan said.
Lavia smiled slightly.
"Get out of here. I'm in no condition to listen to a cynic tonight." Lavia said.
Lavia lay her hand on her stomach as the doctor left the room.
"Perhaps someday, there will be another heir to the throne to follow me." Lavia said to herself as she lay her head back on her pillow.