Nariah could feel the warmth of the sun on her face but it was the excruciating pain in her side that brought her to consciousness. She shifted uncomfortably taking in her surroundings hoping the agony would subside; she was laying in an unfamiliar bed in a room that was obviously not hers, and the discomfort kept her from focusing on exactly where she was. There was a fresh set of clothes at the foot of the bed, a common study desk in the corner, a nightstand to her right, and a closet against the wall to her left, the room was quite ordinary and plain in her opinion. Moving slowly and deliberately Nariah winced casting aside the thick blanket that was coving her; she was only able to draw in short breaths a clear indication that she had sustained several broken ribs from the previous night, but for a moment she was optimistic, she knew her master could have killed her and he would’ve suffered no repercussions from the other masters in doing so. The moment Nariah had finally managed to stand up the door swung open, and the black-haired, green-eyed woman from the night before entered the room carrying a tray and without thinking Nariah immediately reaction reached for the blanket to conceal her nudity, then dropped to her knees as her body wretched in pain.
“So you did survive after all.” the woman says as she set the tray down on the desk. She then proceeds to pour what looked like tea into a small bowl. “Those leathers there should fit you,” She says pointing at the end of the bed. “they were given to me by my master a very long time ago, as a healer, I have little use for them, and after last night, well, they’re better off with you than in that closet over there.”
“Where am I?” Nariah tried to demand through gritted teeth and still on the floor.
“You are in my private chambers, which happens to be on the top floor of the dormitories.”
“I never knew there was room on the top floor.”
“Very few people do, it wouldn’t be a secret room if everyone knew about it, And I have my reasons for keeping it that way”
“Reasons like kidnapping young girls?” Nariah accused bluntly.
The woman turned around and looked down at Nariah.
“Trust me, little girl, if I were to kidnap you, we would be having this conversation, and I wouldn’t be offering you fine clothing and tea, you are no prisoner here. Feel free to leave whenever you manage to stand up on your own again.” The woman sits at the desk and takes a sip from the bowl, “Is this the way young people of today show their gratitude when healing their wounds and bringing them back from the brink of death? I will be sure to think twice the next time I happen to come across you barely conscious again, I may ask the assistance from the guards or even you master perhaps.” the woman says shrugging her shoulders and taking another sip of tea.
“My apologies madam healer,” Nariah says as humbly as she can muster.
“Much better.” The woman pours tea from the kettle into the second bowl then hands it to Nariah. “Drink this tonic it will help speed up your recovery.”
“I think I’d rather not,” Nariah replies, after getting a quick smell of what she was being offered.
“Forgive me, I assumed you could use as swift a recovery as possible, seeing how you were left by your master.”
“What do you know of my master?”
“What I know is that only the strong survive in this world and the masters cast aside the weak.”
Nariah found herself getting dressed rather quickly after drinking the tonic that was offered previously; the leathers felt slightly loose at first, but a moment later she could feel them slowly shrinking, adjusting in size, and forming to her body. This was the first time she had ever encountered enchanted clothing, like many others, she thought such things no longer existed and the art of enchanting items was lost.
“Those leathers are a rather special type of armor,” the woman said after seeing the surprise on Nariah’s face. “The enchantment allows them to fit virtually anyone wearing them, they shrink or expand according to the wearer’s body. it also has a minor enchantment that will reduce some of the damage inflicted on the wearer, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be killed, If your master so wished, he could still inflict massive amounts of internal damage.”Nariah was surprised to find that not only did the tonic relieve her of most of her pain, but the snugness of the armor didn’t hinder her range of motion. “Since you were polite enough to ask my name is Tristen.” the woman states sarcastically and looking at Nariah for a response.
“And for now I am the grateful young girl whose wounds you’ve healed and have presented with an extraordinary gift,” Nariah replies bowing.
“I see,” Tristen replies, a sly grin on her face. “Your master has trained you well, many people whose lives had just been saved would have given their savior their name immediately along with any random information they might want to know. But only a master that has experienced war and espionage knows the danger of freely giving information to someone that they have just met, especially if they don’t know whether they are friend or foe.” Tristen stands to her feet and motions to the door. “Come child I will escort you back to your room.”
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