The New Freeglader
Chapter 2
Disclaimer: Sorry, I forgot to put this on the first one: Although I am currently using his characters, I do not own anything of Paul Stewart's. The mysterious young woman is mine, though, and he's not having her…
Author's note: Yes, I have gone straight to using Rook and Xanth's names, but it's not like you couldn't have figured out who the two young men were, anyway. This one is also quite angsty on Xanth's part. Sorry. It needed to happen.
The young woman was taken inside the gates and laid down on a bed. Xanth fetched Tweezel and the two rescuers were ushered out of the room
"Tweezel looks worried," Rook noted. Xanth nodded wordlessly. He was more interested in what was further down the corridor.
"Rook!" cried Felix Lodd, an old friend of Rook's from their days of studying hidden in the sewers of Undertown. Felix, like so many other Free Gladers, had never quite gotten used to the idea of Xanth as a true Free Glader. To so many people, Xanth was still a traitor for the Tower of Night, despite Rook and Magda's best efforts.
"Hello, Felix," Rook returned, buying time as Xanth slunk into a nearby shadow. He had the haunted look on his face again, the one that he had worn for so many years. Rook hated that look, but no matter how hard he tried, it kept coming back. Xanth was as good as any Free Glader, but some people couldn't forgive him.
It was too late; Felix had already spotted Xanth.
"Rook, are you still hanging around with…" he left the question hanging.
"He's as much right to be a Free Glader as anyone," said Rook firmly. In the shadows, Xanth gave a small smile, but it was quelled by Felix's disapproving expression.
"Rook, you know what he did. And you know what he's doing to your reputation."
"That doesn't matter. And he's right there. The least you can do is give him some respect, Felix."
Felix half-shrugged doubtfully. "Well, you know him better than us, Rook. I just don't want you to wake up with a knife in your back one day." Abruptly changing the subject, he grinned at Rook. "Another one saved by the valiant Rook Barkwater, eh?" he said jovially, clapping Rook on the back. "How about we drink to the resident hero of the Free Glades, then? Come on. I'll pay."
Rook looked at Xanth, who nodded.
"I wanted to speak to Tweezel, anyway," he said quietly.
Rook studied his friend's face for a moment, then nodded and walked off with Felix, who was demanding information about the mysterious young woman they had saved from the woodwolves.
Xanth waited outside the door to the woman's room for over an hour, his knees tucked up against him with his hands crossed over them and his back resting against the wall. Eventually, Tweezel emerged, carrying his medicines and a lot of very bloodstained cloth.
"Oh, Xanth!" he said, "Is something bothering you?"
Xanth nodded miserably. Tweezel returned a sympathetic nod, more information passing between them in those two head movements than could have passed between them in words.
"Come with me," said Tweezel.
They sat and had tea together, as they so often did. Once Xanth had got the load off his mind, he sat in companionable silence with Tweezel.
"How is she?" he asked after a few moments.
Tweezel shook his head sadly. "She's not well. Woodwolves are vicious creatures. Her back's a mess, she's broken a couple of ribs, her legs are broken, bruised and bleeding in over twenty places, there's three fingers she won't see again, and she's lost a lot of blood."
Xanth's stomach turned over. He'd known it was bad, but…
"I've cleaned up most of the wounds. She's not bleeding anymore, although with her fingers, that took some doing. I wouldn't like her chances normally, but she looks like she hasn't had a decent meal in a week. If she doesn't show a marked improvement in three days, there probably won't be one."
Xanth nodded. What would Felix say when he found that out? He wouldn't say anything to Xanth, that was for certain. No-one did. Xanth was the outcast.
Outside, the sun was going down.
"You'd best go to bed, young Xanth. I'll keep you informed. You might want to relay the news to Rook."
Xanth nodded and slipped out onto the streets. People moved away from him as he walked along. He wasn't surprised. Normally, the only reason people weren't worse than they already were was that Rook was there. Xanth was eternally grateful to Rook and Magda. They were the best friends he had ever had.
His feet instinctively took him to the tavern where he knew Rook and Felix had gone. The New Bloodoak Tavern. He entered and made his way through the crowds of patrons, some of the people serving drinks looking very much like they'd like to throw him out. He tried to ignore them and made his way to Rook.
As he approached, Felix slapped Rook on the back, said something that was unintelligible over the babble and, draining his tankard, left. Rook looked up as Xanth sat beside him.
"Tweezel said for me to tell you about the girl," he said, before Rook could say anything. Rook nodded and looked interested. Xanth relayed the information and Rook winced. "That's bad," he said. Xanth nodded.
Rook drained his tankard and they both left, heading for their sleeping quarters. Xanth tossed and turned, but eventually slept.