First of all, I would like to say a big thank you to #forever-tangledup for giving permission to use Varian's pic for my cover image. Yeah !
Thank you to reviewer alejg(and to google translation !) for sharing his thoughts !
I wish I could write as fast as I think ! While I have the main thread of the story in mind, new ideas pop up every day. I'm happy to share them ! Please review and share your feelings or questions !
Chapter 7
Remyus was a wise old man. He had been the court physician for too many years to count, always loyal to the Royal family. So whenever the King or the Queen sent for him, he would always be there for them.
Even If that meant running, literally, from one place of the castle to another at his old age !
And this time, the Queen's request sounded more than urgent. So Remyus barely had time to grab his satchel before he followed Phil to the dungeons. He had no details about who needed medical attention, nor why (was the person sick ? injured ?) and he hoped that he would have everything he would need with him.
Therefore, he couldn't hold a gasp of surprise as he found the Queen, kneeling in a dark cell, beside a small, broken frame. A child.
Well, not really a child to be honest. But a kid who still looked too young to be there. And to have bee, it seems, abused in such a cruel way.
"Your Majesty", he greeted as he always would in the presence of the Queen. Arianna whipped her head around to face him. She was suddenly so relieved she found it hard to get to her feet.
"Remyus, oh I'm so glad you are here. He's cold. He's hurt, but I don't know how bad it is. I don't know what happened exactly, I'm …"
With practiced assurance, Remyus held out his hand between them, palm facing the trembling lady in front of him. The Queen was freaking out, and that wasn't what the young boy needed now.
"Can you please keeping holding his hand ? I'm going to examine him. Guard ? Will you please hold up a light for me ?"
But Phil was just standing there with his torch, outside the cell, mouth open and eyes wide, like he had been changed into stone. He had seen that kid when he arrived here only to be locked up. He was fine. Well, as fine as could be, given the circumstances, but physically alright. He was on duty when this happened. Beyond these thoughts, any process of thinking seemed to have vanished from his head.
"Guard !" Remyus called, louder, snapping Phil out of his trance. "We need that light now."
Phil suddenly swayed, getting back to his senses, and processing the physician's words, finally stepped inside the cell. He held the torch so that the prisoner's body could be seen in every detail.
It wasn't a pretty sight. But Remyus knew better that to panic. He started to examine Varian's head for any trauma. There was a large bump on the left side, with half dried blood. The right side was also swollen, with a black eye (although the boy obviously had dark circles under his eyes, an evidence for lack of proper sleep). Opening Varian's shirt, the boy's chest revealed many bruises, some indicating that a few ribs were probably broken. His right arm was at an odd angle. The list went on and on.
At the same time, Nigel was done cleaning the wound on his leg. He had covered it with a piece of clean linen, and put on a new pair of stocking. There was a slight lump but at least, his stocking were not matted with blood, which would have been more obvious. He checked himself in the mirror, making sure his hair was spot on and his bow on the back on his neck straight.
He liked everything to be neat and tidy, it was almost an obsession for Nigel. But today, his whole image was more important than ever. Nothing should be out of place. Nothing and no one should. That was why thieves, rogues, thugs and criminals of all sorts had to be arrested and put behind bars. Never to be released, even. Once an outlaw, always an outlaw, thought Nigel. People who broke the law in their lives were traitors to the Crown, and that was it. They couldn't be allowed to mix with the good people. And that scrawny scoundrel ? Who did he think he was to threaten the rightful King and all he stands for ? Such arrogance had to be punished. Nigel wouldn't let anything or anyone turn this perfect world upside down.
A stretcher was brought for Varian, and after Remyus was done with the first aid, he was laid on it very carefully by the three people around him. To Arianna's despair, he remained completely unresponsive. The bandage around his head did little to ease her concerns.
Arianna wished she could sent for Pete and Stan to take the stretcher out of the dungeon. But she couldn't get too many people involved in this. While Remyus was at work, she had been thinking, and she had a sick feeling in her stomach. Her husband had talked about helping Varian. He had mentioned two people who were "right for the job". And she couldn't stop thinking about the brutes in the cell before she found Varian's.
As she let go of Varian, letting Phil and Remyus take him away on the stretcher, her hands clenched into fists so hard her knuckles turned white. She stayed alone in the cell, Ruddiger having followed his human friend with no hesitation, head bowed, her whole body still but emotions raging inside her. How could it be ? She knew he could be easily hurt in his pride and hold a grudge for it, but this ? Even if the boy did terrible things he would have to answer for, having him beaten up by two grown men was just…
She needed a word with her husband.
Note : "Remyus" is made up from "Remus" (which means "advice" and "protector") and Remy (the one who heals). I like these meanings for the court physician !
