Lightstar Family/Xarnelf/Roleplay 26
Awakening
Xarnelf fidgeted feverishly on his cot, his head turning from side to side in spasms, as if experiencing an unsettling nightmare. Sighing at his friend's unexplained infirmity, Captain Feralgem dipped a washcloth into the water basin on the small table and then reached out to mop the young knight's damp forehead.All of a sudden, Xarnelf's hand shot up to hold Urjintah's wrist in a vise-like grip as his eyes snapped open.
The captain drew a sharp intake of breath and held it, momentarily dazed. After a couple heartbeats, he realized the noble was awake and turned to call for the healer. "Arvutiel! He awakes!"
"Wh-whe-where...wh-what..Jint?" Xarnelf asked weakly in confusion as his grip on Urjintah's hand slackened.
The old healer stepped into the room and proceeded to place a wrinkled hand on the knight's head. After a short moment, he sighed deeply in consternation. "Tha ladd stell haes aie feevir rennin highe."
The Lightstar scion focused his eyes questioningly on Captain Feralgem. "W-what happened, Jint? Where am I?" He tried to get up but was promptly pushed back down again by Arvutiel.
"Ye ned ta rust, ladd."
Urjintah poured a cup of water and moved it to the knight's lips. "Here, Xarne, drink some water."
The young noble gulped it down and then lay back, feeling disoriented and dizzy from his fever. Soon afterwards, he blacked out again.
The next day, a messenger entered the room and cleared his throat. "Sir Xarnelf Lightstar?"
Captain Feralgem looked up wearily from his seat by the cot. "Bring it here. I will deliver it to his hand when he has recovered."
The courier handed over the missive and saluted before turning around and taking his leave. Urjintah turned the letter over and his eyes flickered in recognition at the insignia of the seal. It was sent from Xarnelf's family.
As he placed the note on the side table, the young knight stirred, mumbling indiscernible words. Captain Feralgem turned his head back in time to see Xarnelf slowly open his eyes.
"Jint? What happened? The last thing I can remember, we were stationed in Larmebsi on scout duty, watching for any signs of trouble from the north."
Urjintah squinted his eyes in befuddlement. "What are you talking about?" The captain paused for a moment before continuing. "Are you certain that that is the last thing you can recall, Xarne?"
The noble narrowed his eyes in concentration for several heartbeats before affirming. "Yea, I remember walking out of my tent at night to take a relaxing stroll and breathe the refreshing air. I think I lay down on the grass to look at the stars. And now, the next thing I know, I'm lying in a stuffy room feeling sore all over with a throbbing head. Tell me what happened, Jint."
Captain Feralgem sighed and furrowed his brow, not sure where to begin. "Well, we are in Nahad at the moment and have been for the past couple of days, while you lay recovering from an ailment of the head. It has been almost two weeks since we were stationed in Larmebsi as sentries."
Xarnelf absorbed this information silently in contemplation. After a few moments, the serious implications of his captain's words finally sank in fully. "That would mean I have apparently lost my memory of the recent events..." He closed his eyes tightly and rubbed his head. "How could this have happened?"
Urjintah frowned and rose from his seat. "I do not know, Xarne. I will fetch Arvutiel; hopefully he can offer some insight into your malady." As he moved towards the door, the captain remembered the message and turned back to give it to his friend.
"We must move out for Idapur at once," Xarnelf said grimly without looking up from the letter in his hands as Urjintah re-entered the room followed by the healer.
"Xarne, allow Arvutiel to ascertain the exact condition of your health first," Captain Feralgem replied. "You should rest until you are fully recovered."
"No, I feel fine now. I need to go back to the estate. It's urgent, Jint." The young knight looked determinedly at his captain.
Arvutiel placed his hand on the noble's forehead to check his temperature. Almost immediately, the old man raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Ehh..yer feevir's pessed, sire. Haow dew ye fell?"
"I'm still a bit tired, but my head no longer hurts. We've got to go back to the capital. My family needs me."
Urjintah glanced at the note clenched in his friend's hand. "What is it?"
"It's my father...and my grandfather.." Xarnelf's head fell with a sad sigh. "They've both fallen ill with fever...
"What does this all mean?" he asked softly to no one in particular.
