Ryo and Mokuba managed to drag the man to Mokuba's hay bed.
"Now keep him as warm as you can. I'll get you the first aid kit from my place and show you how to change his bandages. Now do you have a clock you can bring down here?"
Mokuba thought for a few minutes not too sure. "I'll g-go see."
"Go do it now, will you. While you do that I'll borrow his horse, get to my house and back faster."
Mokuba nodded and ran upstairs, while Ryo took Seto's horse and went back to his place and got the first aid kit as well as a canteen. This way the boy would have water on hand to give to him when he came too. He returned to find Mokuba sitting next to the man holding a clock.
"Hey any change?"
Mokuba shook his head no. "Ryo can-can I ask you a q-question?"
Ryo started to re-bandage Seto's head with a real bandage and said, "Sure kid what's up."
"I-it's strange. W-when I'm near him, I feel a strange sense of s-safety and security. But I don't understand w-why."
"That is weird. I wish I knew the answer to that question kiddo, but I don't."
"Oh, well I have a-another question."
"Sure go ahead I'm listening."
"T-the family goes in-in to town almost e-everyday. Have you ever been into town?"
"You mean do I know what keeps them going back to town day after day? No kiddo I don't the farthest I've ever been into town is just the few shops on the outskirts of town. They sell food and clothes."
"Oh, okay."
"Now you see the way I bandaged this?"
Mokuba nodded.
"Well I need you to do that every 4 hours or so. Now let me see your clock."
Mokuba handed Ryo his clock and though Ryo wasn't the best reader in the world, he could read well enough to get by. He'd been trying to teach Mokuba numbers and letters; numbers especially since that was a key part of telling time. He showed Mokuba what times it was now and what times to change the bandages.
"The horse doesn't need that much care, so I'll put it in my barn and we'll care for it that way."
"Okay."
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That night Yami was pacing the floor. "Where is he? He promised he'd only be gone 2 hours. He rarely breaks his promise like that! Even if he had decided to go longer it's getting dark he knows better even getting lost to stay out after dark, it's dangerous. I'm really starting to get worried! Oh, Seto where are you!"
By the next day, Yami was in a near panic mode when he learned that Seto had failed to return. He then formed secret search party made up of their most loyal knights to look for him and they can up with nothing! He had asked them to keep the disappearance quite. That's why he chose only those he knew to be very loyal. He didn't want the advisors getting wind of this, making it public that Seto was missing and then try to take over not long after the announcement claiming it was for the kingdom's own good. Then make a big deal and show when Seto returned making it hard for him to reclaim the thrown. He couldn't let that happen. If Seto didn't return by tomorrow not only would he truly be in panic mode but he'd have to make an announcement that Seto went on a business trip and would be back soon and avoid any direct questions of when he'll be back or where he went.
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Mokuba had been doing his best to change the bandages and keep the man warm. He still couldn't shake the feeling of comfort and security he felt for this stranger. He looked at the clock, checked the blankets on the man and went to meet Ryo. They came back to find him still where they left him.
"So did anything happen at all? Any sort of change?" Ryo asked.
Mokuba shook his head no.
"Well I hope he's going to be okay. I'd take him to a doctor but the only doctor around at the moment is the castle doctor. The regular doctor is currently away helping a woman deliver triplets. No from here on out we'll only need to change the bandages about once a day unless something happens."
"W-why only once a day now?"
"Well if we hadn't changed it as often as we did before then infection could set in; much like what I'm afraid is going to happen to you if you don't let me wrap your back."
"What good w-would that do? It-it'd only g-get tore when the n-next beating came." Mokuba said sadly.
"I'm sorry kiddo. I wish I could do more."
"I-its ok. Ryo how-how do you know so much about this stuff?"
"This stuff is called medicine. Well that's another thing about Master Pegasus' school of the arts. It teaches you a whole lot of things. Learning and training to be a royal guard and a loyal knight requires a lot of skills. This school teaches you these skills and basic first aid is one of them. That's all I've really done here and all I can teach you is basic first aid."
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Not much changed over the next two days, the family would leave and as soon as Mokuba was sure they were gone would go get Ryo.
"So kiddo, has there been any change at all?"
Mokuba shook his head sadly.
"That's strange nothing at all?"
"W-well he has g-groaned a little now and then."
While they were talking, they heard a noise outside. Mokuba went outside to check it out, while Ryo stayed with the man. A few minutes later Mokuba returned.
"Well what was it?" Ryo asked.
"I-it was his horse."
"What? That's weird I could have sworn I had it tied down good enough that he wouldn't get free. Well we can't afford to leave him out there. If your family were to come home early, we wouldn't want them to see it. I'll put it back and be back soon, okay?"
Mokuba nodded his head.
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A few minutes later Seto started to groan more and soon opened his eyes. Mokuba looked at him and wished Ryo was here.
"What happened? Where, where am I?" Seto asked looking around then froze the moment he looked next to him to see Mokuba sitting there. 'He, he looks like my mother.' "Who, who are you?"
Mokuba wasn't sure what to do. He really wished Ryo would show up. Seto tried to sit up but fell back in pain. Mokuba instantly pulled the blanket back around him unsure of what else to do.
"Oh my heads killing me, where am I?"
Mokuba was afraid to speak. He wasn't sure if he should, before he got the chance though he heard noises upstairs. 'Oh no.' Mokuba looked at the clock. 'What are they doing home so soon?'
"Who's there?" Seto asked sitting up despite the pain. "Hello." Seto called out but fearful of the family hearing Mokuba quickly covered his mouth violently shaking his head no. Seto was confused but seeing the look of fear on the child's face, he gently removed the kid's hands from his mouth. "It's all right I wont do it again, all right?" Seto said quieter. Mokuba sighed in relief and nodded his head. 'I wonder why the kid was so afraid of my calling out?' Seto wondered.
Then the basement door opened.
"Brat get up here now!" A woman's voice called out.
Mokuba looked up at the door, then back at Seto and put his pointer finger to his lips and tapped it a few times, then shut his eyes and put his hands together like he was praying and did the same thing.
Seto got the message loud and clear for some reason the kid wanted him to remain silent and not let his presence be known. He didn't understand why but lightly stroked the kid's and said, "You don't want them to know I'm here do you?"
Mokuba shook his head no.
"All right maybe when you get back I can get you to explain why. But I promise not to call out okay."
Mokuba gave a faint smile that seemed to brighten Seto's day despite the fact that his head was killing him. Mokuba then got up and ran upstairs.
"I wonder if he can even talk." Seto wondered to himself. "It's either that or he's afraid to talk. Well one things for sure I have to gain his trust, he seems like a sweet but very terrified kid." Seto then decided to try to get some sleep. However all the noise from upstairs kept him awake.
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Ryo seeing the family was home decided to wait and hope it was only temporary since they rarely came home so early. He debated on whether or not to go or stay. But he did promise the kid he'd be back. So he made his way around careful not to let himself be seen, when the coast was clear he ran to the basement hoping the kid was there. Seto was a bit worried when he heard the back door open. He kept his word and remained silent. Ryo cautiously looked around and then spotted Seto staring at him.
"Oh your awake I'm glad I was beginning to worry you wouldn't."
Seto thought it was odd since the kid didn't want him talking to anyone, however he also realized that that kid couldn't have gotten him here by himself, wherever here is. "You know, who I am?" Seto asked.
"You mean do I know your name, sorry mister I don't know you. I hope that fall didn't cause amnesia."
"No I remember who I am its just that that kid indicated he didn't want me to speak out."
"Oh so you were worried when I came in; not to worry I'm a friend I'm here to help."
"Who are you? Did you bring me here?"
"Oh my apologize my name is Ryo, Ryo Gwydion. And yes, I did bring you here. And you are?"
"I'm Seto." Seto decided not to tell his last name. Few in the kingdom knew his first name but they should all know his last and at the moment, he didn't want it to be revealed that he was the king.
"So how are you feeling?"
"Besides a throbbing pain shooting through my skull, I'm fine."
"Well," Ryo reach over and felt his forehead. "I don't have a thermometer so I can't be certain but I don't think you have a fever. I'm sure it just a headache due to your accident."
"What happened to me anyway? All I remember was riding and then waking up here."
"Well, from what I've learned recently it's too be expected, that you don't remember the accident."
"Are you a doctor?"
"No, nothing like that. I've been in training at Master Pegasus' school of the arts. I'm learning to be a knight. But unlike some of the people, I have seen training to be knight, they only want the basic skills required to become a knight."
"And your not?" Seto asked curious. He knew all to well that Ryo was correct everyone he had ever seen that came requesting knighthood lately was always upset that they were turned down when they had all the necessary basic skills. More often than not, they grudgingly accepted either being a guard and working their way to the top or taking another position in the castle. Seto always felt basic skills were fine for a guard but felt that you needed to learn more and gain trust to truly be an effective knight.
"No I believe I have all the necessary basic skills required to become a knight, however I have a need to learn. I suppose my parents being rogue scholars its understandable. If only they had trained me as well as my brother Bakura I'd have mastered a lot more by now."
'And I could teach that kid a lot more too.'
'I know of a knight named Bakura, he's a reckless, arrogant punk and one of the most loyal knights in the kingdom. If this is his brother then I have no doubts he'll be just as good.'
"So you remember nothing of what happened?" Ryo questioned.
"All I can seem to remember is riding and then I heard a noise."
"Do you have any idea what kind of noise?"
Seto thought, "No I can't."
"Hmmm…it must have been the same one the boy heard before he found you."
"He found me."
"Yes, the place where you fell has a cave just below the ridge that you were on. The boy often plays in that cave."
"Oh, I see. Where am I and why am I here?"
"Well I wasn't entirely certain what to do with you. My brother often warned me about picking up wounded strangers. He warned that since the late Master King Kaiba's death 6 years ago is still unsolved that people get suspicious easily and rumors are easily started and could ruin ones reputation in a single instance. Though the rumors are untrue and unfounded, it makes no difference; the damage has already been done. I have been told there was once a young man named Malik I believe his name was. Either way he was seen trying to help the late king after he was wounded. It is said that he was accused of the crime. It was later proven false but as I said the damage was done. He was shunned by friends and family alike. The same thing happened to another man who died the same time as the kings did. It is said that his family was once shunned but have very slowly distanced themselves from that and has been taking baby steps to regain their place in society circles. Then again, these are just what I've heard through talk. But if I ever wish to become a knight I can't let any kind of rumor be spread about me."
"Well I can understand that."
'I suppose before today if I had heard any such bad rumors I would have rejected him without knowing or bothering to learn the truth.'
"Now the answer to your question better. You are currently in the home of little boy you met. I am rarely at home for very long and it would have been hard to care for you. The boy felt he could do it and insisted on doing it."
"But why am I in what I can only assume the basement and why was the child so fearful of my calling out?"
Before Ryo had the chance to answer they heard the door to a room upstairs that lead to the basement open and then they head a laughter that sent chills down their spines.