Roy stayed by his friend's side for three days and three nights. He wasn't about to let any of his own inexperienced young soldiers or any of the Margay tribe members attend to his friend.
They would poison him at first opportunity, or so Roy believed. He had always been very suspiscious of others.
The duty of caring for the warrior therefore fell on his shoulders. It was a task, and as it continued, Roy realised it was a task he was very unqualified to accomplish successfully.
James the Margay informant was kept in the same residence for monitoring and Roy only managed to leave Hudson's side only once during the long vigil. He did so in order to question James more about Eris's family.
During the silence where his friend was resting, Roy had long formulated a plan to force the female from her sanctuary, but he wanted to make sure that he hadn't missed any other considerations.
Hudson's condition unfortunately, deteriorated. By the end of the week, it had become apparent he would die if he didn't recieve proper treatment. Roy wasn't about to let that happen, not on his watch.
In desperation, he took his long time friend to the shrine. Both Bryant and Hudson's second in command, Troy, flanked the cart in which Hudson rested.
The four men were denied entrance to the shrine until they agreed to remove any and all weapons on thier person. Roy didn't argue with the order, and once all weapons were handed over, the open heavy iron gates leading into the shrine were opened.
The main healer met them in the center ofm the stone-paved courtyard. She was an older female, nearly forty years of age by Roy's estimation. Through scent alone, he determined she was a herbivorous beastkin; stooped in posture but with a surprisingly clear, unblemished and unwrinkled complexion.
She was dressed in dark heavy furs, had a viel hiding her hair and had leather shoes covering her feet. Though the top of her head didn't even reach his shoulders, she was not intimidated by his size.
Instead, she was the one who seemed quite unimpressed with Roy and his entourage. Her gaze was direct and unwavering.
The head healer reminded him of Healer Frey... or rather, Princess Eris, in her gaze.
"Why have you placed your soldiers around the walls of the shrine?" the elder asked in greeting.
"My soldiers are here to ensure that Princess Eris stays safely behind the walls of the shrine and doesn't leave her sanctuary." Roy answered, cooly.
"Have you come here with the intent of persuading her to leave?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Roy steadily met her gaze and shook his head. He walked over to the back of the cart and motioned for the healer to follow.
The elder proved to have a compassionate heart, as she instantly ordered for Hudson to be taken inside the shrine.
Hudson was too weak to stand on his own, eyes glazed over and unresponsive. Roy hiosted up the warrior over his shoulder. He staggered under the weight, straightened, and then directly followed the head healer inside.
There was a stone staircase directly to the left of the arched entrance. He and his men climbed the steps andx followed the female down a long brightly lit corridor.
Whispers followed them. The clatter of their boots as they strode down the wooden floor echoed off the stone walls. However, even with that, Roy could still hear the soft chanting prayers of the other healers.
The closer he got to the end of the corridor at the end of the hallway, the stronger the voices became. He recognised the chant, one his own father had participated in before large scale hunts. Instantly, he knew the healers were at prayer.
From the direction of the sweet comforting sound, he guessed the healers were all situated on the floor above.
"We have only one large room in which we can house the sick or injured to come to us," the healer explained. "Just one week past, we were filled to capacity. However today, we only have one young male remaining under our care. Do you agree that all beastkin are equal within these walls? Be it that they are from different tribes, cities or different species."
"I agree," Roy answered. "Is this male, a soldier related to Princess Eris by any chance?"
The healer turned around with a slight smile on her face and a glint in her eye. "Yes" she answered. "Timo is resting insider."
"Is he dying, as I was informed?"
"Only the Goddess will know the answer to that question," she replied solemnly. "Timo refuses to accept the healing thrust upon his shoulders. He fights our every treatment. He prays for death whilst we all deligently pray for his full recover. I can only hope the Goddess above does not become confused by our contradictory pleas."
Roy was not certain if the elderly head healer was making a jest or not. He brows were knotted tightly and lips curved downward into a frown.
Instead, he nodded again and shifted Husdon over his shoulder before asking, "I would like to get my friend settled please. Can we not discuss your concerns after Hudson has been made comfortable?"
"I've only got one concern now." the female announced. "You would best know that I have every intention of placing your friend in the bed next to Timo's. I can see from your frown that you have very little liking for that decision. However, I have sound, practical reason behind it. Healer Felicity is best qualified to care for both males. She is quite elderly not, and I will not have her running from one end of the room to another end. She will sit in between both soldiers or not tend to any at all. Do you accept the condition?"
Without any hesitation, Roy nodded. His priority was ensuring his friend made full recovery. The healer looked relieved, face relaxing and lips naturally curling back up into neutral position.
She turned and opened the door. The room was gigantic. He squinted against the sunlight that poured warmly into the room from three large windows of the far wall.
Wooden benches stood below each window. The walls were sparkling clean and the smell of fresh healing herbs wafted gently into the air around them.
Along the opposite wall, there were well over twenty beds all lined up in a row. Next to each bed stood a beautifully carved wooden chest and a single white candle sat on top.
Each bed and chest could be enclosed on all sides by beautifully soft dried leather curtains that hung from the ceiling to the floor. When they were pulled, the area would become a cell of privacy.
All but one of the beds was exposed to the sunshine now. Roy immediately knew that the inhabitant of the square leather bound cacoon near the center of the room was none other than Timo.