The World of Rhune

      “Umm, I’m not quite sure what we have. I can go look though,” Trei said with little assurance. He stood from the bathroom floor and headed for the door out of the apartment. Trei swung open the door, and, much to his surprise, found a startled Princess Hannah. “Oh gods, you scared me,” She breathed out. The princess narrowed her eyes slightly, “What’s wrong?” She must have noticed the hurried expression on his face. “My apologies, Princess, but I am actually in quite a rush. You must excuse me,” Trei said, with a bit more of steel than he intended. The situation was wearing on him. Trei started to go but the Princess reached out and put a hand on his arm. Seeming to realize the misconduct she hastily retracted her hand, but continued, “May I accompany you? I am just a little sleepless from –“ Trei cut her off before she continued, disregarding social graces, “Look, right now a man in there is about to suffer a very painful demise from blood poisoning if I am unable to go and get him medicine or some kind of help. So if you wouldn’t mind just entertaining yourself for the night, I’ll be going,” Trei said in a low voice. He was aware that this was no way to treat his country’s ally’s future daughter, but he was too on edge at the moment. He fixed her with a cold stare, but she met in unflinchingly, those amber eyes stared straight back at him. At that moment, Trei didn’t think the princess looked so small despite having to look down at her. “Fine, I will entertain myself,” but even as the anger was evident in her eyes, she seemed to be holding back a smug smile. Trei gave a final look and turned away, beginning to hurry his way down the hall.

      “Just remember to boil the clay,” the princess called to him. Trei stopped mid-stride. He turned to see the princess with arms crossed and her standing with her leaning on her back leg, giving her a smug expression, added to by the raised eyebrows. “Excuse me?” Trei said with false patience. “Just that you should boil the clay before you apply. You know, to draw out the infection better. I mean, you are going to use clay right? Or do you have a different method?” Hannah said, and suddenly here amber eyes seemed to become ten times more malicious to Trei. Gods, he really hoped he hadn’t just made her an enemy.

     “Princess Hannah, are you saying that you know how to treat blood poisoning?” Trei said as he made his back to her. “Well I hope so, I only live in a rainforest where half the creatures are poisonous. Besides, who hasn’t stepped on a rusty nail at some point or other.” Trei took a breath, “Would you mind assisting my friend then?” Hannah replied, “Not at all. I assume he’s in here,” Hannah said as she opened the room door. Trei only nodded and, holding the door for her, let her in. “He’s this way,” Trei said leading her to the bathroom. Trei noticed the stench upon reentering the bathroom. Hannah stepped in behind him and took in the scene. She noticed Karillian first, though she couldn’t know who she is. Trei watched her as her eyes flitted towards Zayde in the bathtub next. “Well shit.”

     “How long since he first got bit?” Hannah asked as she kneeled down besides Karillian. She immediately began taking in the damage. “Awhile, I think. Probably a week,” Trei replied. “Well shit,” Hannah repeated, “This wasn’t some snake or rusty nail. And the fact that it has been left untreated so long doesn’t help.” Hannah turned to Trei and began pulling her hair back as she said, “We need clay, or if you can’t find that at this hour, I suppose the insides of potatoes. They’ll help to draw out the infection.” She tied her hair back and turned back to Zayde. “The tourniquet is good to keep it from spreading any farther, but if we leave it too long he’ll lose his leg. So we’ll have to hurry.” She turned back to Trei, “What are you waiting for? Go!” Trei just nodded and left the apartment rapidly. “Alright we’ll need bandages for him, do we have any?” Trei could hear Hannah’s voice as he closed the door.