Claiming The Remnant

Chapter 17

[ Taiya ]

Morning came much too quickly. My sleep had been heavy and dreamless yet not enough. My mouth was dry, lips sticking painfully together, and my eyelids! Ye Gods it was like trying to pry open a stone tomb. I think I could have slept all day had Han not woken me from my slumber.

Han helped me with all my morning necessities. It was a tad embarrassing but I was so weak and stiff there was no way I would have been able to manage on my own. A bath had been drawn for which I was entirely thankful for. Once again it was steaming hot; full of sweet oils and petals.

Mistakenly I tried to remove the stunning necklace King Leoré had presented me with. Such an exquisite and expensive piece I was fearful of damaging it while bathing but as soon as I unclasped it my knees connected with the cool mosaic tiles that adorned the floor. The headache and tender stomach that it was suppressing began an instantaneous and highly villainous assault on my being. If Han had not been there to come to my aid I fear the pain would have kept me pinned.

Han was such a blessing. Her sure hands, calming presence and expressive face, dominated by those rare violet eyes, had become precious to me in this exceedingly short time. Han was welcoming in a place that had become frightening despite its splendour.

Onced bathed, and dressed in a deeply blue day gown with long sleeves, Han helped me to the sitting room of my quarters. Grace was at the hearth, lazily provoking the fire, the trapping from yesterday evening had been removed; the room reset to, what I presumed, was its original state.

“Good morning, Lady Esther.” Housekeeper Grace greeted me with a relaxed tone once I had settled into the turquoise chair nearest the fire. “I trust you slept well, how is your arm?”

“Good morning to you as well, Ms Doran.” I gave a small nod and a tight smile. “I did indeed sleep well but it seems to have done little to alleviate my exhausted state. My arm has not given me any trouble but its colour is somewhat alarming.” I pulled down my sleeve a little, despite the offending limb already being entirely hidden from view by the soft fabric.

Han, who had disappeared shortly after helping me to my seat, returned with a tray. Ye Gods, please let that be breakfast. Grace brought a side table of appropriate height closer to my chair so that Han could set it down. Whilst it was irregular for a Lady to be served, what I was now quite certain was breakfast, in the sitting room and not at a proper dining table I was more than happy to forgive them. The thought of moving from the warmth of the fire for no reason bar principle would have brought me to tears had I not felt so dehydrated.

Tea was poured, black and gently steaming in a delicate china cup, I could smell the bergamot. It was not a tea that I favoured but with my position here still being so uncertain and after all the drama of yester evening I dined not to make waves; even over something so simple as tea preference. It had not yet been 24 hours since the unfortunate business in the dungeon and I was more than aware that I could quite easily end up back there.

I sipped the tea, feeling my stomach clench with each drop, while Han hovered over me. She dabbed my lips with a napkin after each sip and watched me with concerned eyes. I hadn't the energy nor the inclination to shoo her. She was sweet and kind even if it was a little overbearing. I eyed the closh with longing, wondering what luxurious morsales it covered but said nothing, instead drinking the tea.

“Han.” Grace said simply. At the Housekeeper's kindly mention of her name, Han took the half finished cup from my hands and placed the tray on my lap. She lifted the closh that I had so vividly imagined to cover the breakfast of all breakfasts only to reveal a tiny portion of scrambled eggs and two slices of unbuttered bread that were the size of my palm. I had small palms.

“Is there a problem Lady Esther?” Ms Doran was astute in her observation or perhaps my disappointment had been obvious.

“Not at all, Grace.” I tried to be reassuring but Grace was too sharp for that.

“I assure you, My Lady, the food is for the benefit of your health. Anything too rich or heavy will have you creased up and vomiting.” She told me, not mincing her words or tone.

“Oh yes, because it worked out so well yesterday.” The sulky and mildly petulant tone of my comment had Grace purse her lips. Han however was hovering, a spoon laden with scrambled egg gripped in her hand, ready to feed me.

“A Healer will be here to see to you soon, best finish eating before he arrives.” Grace told me briskly. Seeing how it distressed me she quickly followed up with further information. “Not Asperonin, another Healer will be attending to you. Han, would you please give the Lady some space and let her feed herself, she is not a child.”

Han placed the spoon down on the plate with the utmost care before stomping off in frustration. I ate the eggs in silence feeling sorry for both my very annoyed Chambermaid (indicated by the way she continued to stamp her feet and bang round the quarters) and myself.

The breakfast left my stomach uncomfortable and bloated. I hadn't even touched the bread either. Grace cleared my plate and took the tray while I relaxed back into the chair twizzling the sapphire pendant between my fingers and soaking in the heat of the fire.

I had drifted into a sort of half sleep state, I suppose it might be said I was dozing, when a knock at the main door to the quarters brought me to attention. It must be the Healer. I looked around the sitting room with its plethora of turquoise furnishings. Both Grace and Han were absent, making me wonder if I should rise and answer the door myself. Soon it was clear that I needn't have concerned myself. Grace entered the sitting room with a young man whom she introduced.

“Lady Esther, I present Healer Poflorin. He will be your personal attendant for the duration of your stay.” The Head Housekeeper announced in an increasingly bored manner.

Poflorin took a small step forward before graciously bowing. Grace rolled her eyes.

“Lady Esther, I am Healer Poflorin. His Royal Highness King Leoré has hand picked me to be at your service, My Lady.” The young man told me whilst smiling widely. He seemed entirely delighted to be here and genuinely excited to be at my service. “Please, stay seated, I shall come tend to you.” He beamed when I attempted to stand.

Poflorin was graceful. His steps were soundless and looked less like he was walking and more like he was gliding. The young Healer had long golden blond hair, the hallmark of Healers, but it was braided, a long complex design that started at the right side of his face above his pointed ears. Healers usually kept their hair straight, a proud display of healing heritage so the choice to braid it was odd but I liked it.

“Lady Esther, I would like to perform an initial assessment. May I?” Poflorin asked with a cheerful but calming demeanour. I nodded my permission, feeling somewhere between comfortable and weary. He raised one hand, which he placed softly on the side of my face, the other hand against my side just above my hip.

“Relax and breathe normally, this will only take a moment.” Clearly Poflorin was excited to be here. His green eyes, muddy, like shaded forest leaves changed to a light gold as they glowed with the power of his healing magic. Something about him felt familiar, not in the same uneasy way Healer Asperonin had but in a reassuring way. “Tell me, is there something particular that plagues you?”

“Well, Healer Poflorin, I… can’t remember very much beyond yesterday morning, I’m permanently exhausted and ache everywhere. My stomach has been incredibly tender and my head has been pounding.” I told him honestly a slight tremble in my voice, a voice that seemed to develop a higher pitch the longer I spoke.

“I see, do you feel like there are any holes in your memory between yesterday morning and now, any dark spots at all?” His hands didn’t move and his eyes glowed that little bit harder.

“No, everything from when I woke up yesterday until now is clear. Everything from before that is fuzzy. I don’t remember how I ended up here, I… I can’t even remember my home or my… my,” I sniffed, “my parents’ faces.” A sob welled in my chest. I tried to speak again, to tell him that I didn’t feel like I remembered myself but the sob slipped out instead. I expected Poflorin to patronise my hurt, my fear, my tears with a ‘there, there’ or ask me not to cry, or tell me that it was ok but he didn’t.

“Here.” The Healer before me simply dropped his hands from my face and side then held out a yellow handkerchief. “Take all the time you need.” The glowing ceased and Poflorin waited patiently.

“Thank you.” I told him, my throat still feeling tight.

“Lady Esther, thank you for your time today. My apologies but there is nothing I can do that will have an immediate impact on your health. First port of call is for you to get some more rest, I can arrange some herbal tea if you have any trouble sleeping. Secondly I’ll speak with the kitchens and arrange a meal plan with Cook that will be both nourishing and kind on your stomach.” Poflorin continued to smile as he spoke. “Is there anything you don’t like?” It surprised me that he was asking.

“Not that I can recall.” He looked at me with such kindness in his face that I almost started crying again.

“That’s alright, My Lady, just let me know if there are any issues. I’ll be by everyday to see to your health so you can let me know then.” I nodded appreciatively as he spoke, Poflorin watched me, a little shadow obscuring the sincerity in his eyes before he continued. “I will speak to His Majesty regarding the memory loss and see if there is anything we can do. Objects, places or persons that you may have been familiar with previously could unlock the memories. Do you have any questions or is there anything I can do for you before I leave?”

“No questions, Healer, thank you.” My body ached with tiredness as I watched Poflorin stand. He bowed respectfully.

“Rest, Lady Esther, I will be back in the morning.”

I was relieved. Healers orders; I could go back to bed.