The Shack

[Percy Rivers]

Callen slowly opened his eyes. He kept them half closed and looked around, making sure that old hag was not in the room. He had heard her leave 15 minutes earlier, but had remained still just to make sure. Safe in the knowledge that the coast was clear he pushed himself up with his one good arm. He had started to feel better in the past two weeks he had been here. That meant that he was still throbbing in pain, just not agonizing pain.

Callen rubbed the right side of his face, feeling the stubble there slowly form into a beard. When he went to go rub the other side he felt a bandage covering it all the way up to his ear. He considered tearing it off but then thought better. He put his right arm on the bed to steady himself, and immediately regretted it. The pain caused sweat to bead on his forehead and leak down into his eyes. His breath started to come in short erratic burst but eventually calmed himself down.

He looked around his quarters for the first time, before whenever that hag saw him open his eyes he was immediately drowned in dreamwine again. It was small, but clean. With light peering in through the cracks. In the corner he could see the clothes he had on when he jumped from his tower in the Red Keep. He wondered if the purse sown into the lining of the tunic was still there (he had stuffed it full of dragons and stags before his violent escape). Not thinking he moved to stand up and move across the room to get it. What happened next was all a blur. All he knew was that he wound up face down in the hard packed dirt of the hut. His leg hurt more than ever, and now he had a new cut along his forward. Gods, I am such an idiot.

OOC: Results: Callen gains beginner skill stupidness. Just kidding. Also how do you use Italics? I've never been able to figure that out.

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

OOC (because I am most certainly not there!) : to use italics, place a {i} before the text and a {/i} after, but use straight brackets instead [ ] . Same thing works for bold, with a b, or underline, with a u.

[Deleted]

Aranya and the Crone were watching him. "We were just discussing the question of your safety. You were nearly discovered twice, and by unfriendly eyes. We have to get you out of here. I was thinking of a ship to the Free Cities. A nice berth, an easy voyage and freedom until you're better."

[Percy Rivers]

OOC: Okay thanks Rhodri.

IC: Callen heard someone enter the cabin. It was the crone and the wildling woman. He listened as they talked to him about fleeing to the Free Cities. "That's a nice thought, but I have a better one. How about you help me get up off the floor? I'll grant the earth against my face is cool, but I think I'd much rather be put back in the bed."

[Deleted]

Aranya looked amused, but the Ribbon Crone hastened to help him. Feeling bad for the old crone, Aranya lifted Callen up easily and set him gently on the bed.

[Percy Rivers]

"Now what were you saying about the Free Cities?" He sat up in the bed and leaned against the wall.

[Lilith Royce]

"He might be in danger, my dear Aranya," cautioned the Ribbon Crone, "But he must make his own decisions, he is an adult, even if a wounded and gormless one. He needs more time to heal but perhaps Aranya is right that this is not a safe place. You have indeed had close run ins with..." she paused, "I think his name is Spear, he is a Lannister creature."

[Deleted]

"A ship," Aranya said as the crone tended to him. "You need to get the hell out of here. I can't protect by myself, and my family certainly won't." Seeing his confusion, she added, "I'm not a wildling. Well - not technically. But anyway, you only have me to protect you between here and Harrenhal, and that's a fucking long way. On top of that, you don't look fit to walk, let alone ride, fight, or whatever it is you want to do. If I get you a berth on a ship to one of the Free Cities, where you can heal in safety and freedom. Where you'll have anonymity."

[Deleted]

"I agree about him making his own decisions, sweetling," Aranya answered. "But I didn't risk my life to save him, only to have him kill himself."

[Deleted]

Aranya frowned to herself. "Spear, you said?" Something clicked. "Nealon Spear? I remember him from the Rock. I didn't meet him, but I saw him in the battle. And I saw him asleep in the ballroom hospital."

[Lilith Royce]

"I would invite our guest to come to town in disguise, but I fear with Spear (isn't he the worm's creature now that I think about it?) on your tail, it will be dangerous."

The crone looked at Aranya. "Would you be willing to travel to the Free Cities with our guest? He needs both a nursemaid and a guard and you could manage the first and be superb at the second."

[Deleted]

Aranya gazed at the crone thoughtfully. She had just attacked a highborn in the city, he was not like to forget that. If she revealed herself in the crownlands, there would be trouble. Aranya winced at the thought of what her sister Elane would say - and Breyn, and Rhodri. Careless, rash, impulsive wild girl, she could hear their voices. Even Selwyn would be taken aback. She looked at the man for a long moment, and then nodded. "Teach me what you know of healing, sweetling."

[Deleted]

A slow smile crept over her face at the thought of adventure. "And I know the perfect place to get a ship from."

[Lilith Royce]

"I will indeed train you, it will take some time but this will have its advantages, gives our guest time to heal." The crone yawned. "In the meantime it is getting late, so I need to go. Let us begin lessons tomorrow. In the meantime practice your simple sewing, a basic skill so useful to medical practioners. We'll also send a note to Elane by raven as she is skilled and might be pointers."

With that the crone kissed Aranya on the cheek and left for the evening.

[Deleted]

Aranya was determined that she would not send word to Elane. Not only would her sister be furious, but Elane would be safer if she knew nothing of Aranya or Callen. It made her a little sad to think of, but she shook it off and began making her preparations.