The large Draenei took a bite from his selection of cheese. Chewing it a bit he turned to the small Kaldorei sitting on his right. They had been discussing Tindomiel’s omission of Forosuul from her list of people she wanted counseled. “You think she hiding something?” At that, he picked up his mug, taking a large swallow of ale.
The elf nodded. “Far as I know, she’s the only one who knows what happened with him…” She was cut off as Sutrakarre’s eye twitched. He briefly looked over his shoulder, then shook his head as if to clear it. “Are you all right?” she asked, somewhat surprised by his sudden change in demeanor.
Sutrakarre looked over at her again. “Hmm? Oh, apologies…eh..something feels wrong.”
“Feels wrong?”
Sutrakarre looked like he was struggling to explain. His brow furrowed a little before responding. “Hard to explain. Senses say something is wrong.”
“Do you need to leave?” She had learned year ago to trust when something within you told you to take action. In her case it usually meant her cover was blown.
Sutrakarre made a face, “Unsure.”
“All right,” she replied. Sutrakarre turned and peered to the northwest. “But yes, I think she is hiding his past. Because I…Sutra?” Eliân frowned.
The large man looked embarrassed. “Apologies, Eli. Sometimes Sutra get sense of…” he sighed, “bad things.”
Eliân pursed her lips. “Anything you are able to do about it?”
“Very vague, can go see. Usually feel it pull me.”
“Should we go?” she asked him gently.
The blue stone in his spear flared slightly and Sutrakarre winced. “I think…yes.” Before he had finished answering, he left his chair and made his way to the door of the Recluse. Eliân nodded, hurrying behind him after tossing a handful of coins on the table. Sutrakarre looked to the northwest again. “Something this way. Outside city proper, Sutrakarre thinks.”
Eliân tipped her head to the side. “Only the park that way. A bit of land with grass and trees with a cliff overlook. And the harbor of course.”
Sutrakarre replied flatly. “Harbor maybe.” He raised a hand, a brilliant golden glow suffusing his fingers. With a bright flash his comfortable clothes were replaced with a well crafted set of plate armor, all done in blues and golds. “Could Eli check docks? Sutrakarre will look on bluffs.”
“What am I looking for?” She asked before whistling sharply. A blue drake drifted down from the sky. She slid up onto its back and waited.
“Someone in distress,” he replied before calling his own mount.
“Hmmm, all right.” She took to the sky, flying off to make a sweep of the harbor.
Sutrakarre made pass after pass, flying low to the ground between the trees. Not finding anything, he moved to the cliff face, searching the edge for any sign. Moving from ledge to ledge, he finally found what he sought. On the small ledge, some twenty feet below the upper edge. Sutrakarre knelt next to her unmoving body. Seeing her pale skin and white hair, he whispered, “Silverthorn…” She appeared to be breathing, but it was very shallow.
Rising to his feet, he began channeling a number of spells, golden light cascading over her body. Her superficial wounds began to knit themselves closed, and her breath leveled out. She whimpered a little as he knelt beside her again. Kalimè’s eyes opened suddenly. She looked up at him as he placed his hand on her forehead. “Shhhh…” he whispered it soothingly.
Kalimè croaked out, “Who…where…”
“You are safe, Sutrakarre finds you,” he told her gently. Kalimè tried to move, but he held her back. “Stay,” he commanded softly. His hands started to glow as he inspected her body for broken bones. “Who are you, small one?”
She whimpered in pain. “Kalimè…” she swallowed hard. “Kalimè Silverthorn.”
Sutrakarre nodded as if unsurprised. “Yes, make sense.” He thumped his chest with his fist. “Sutrakarre. I write letter.”
Her eyes widened. “I…I was supposed to meet with you.”
The pale Draenei nodded. “How are you here on cliffs?”
Kalimè began to sob. “Three men…they attacked me…I…I don’t know why.”
He frowned. “Not know them?” She shook her head. Sutrakarre growled low in his throat. “You have many broken bones, small one. Leg shattered.” She nodded tears rolling down her cheeks. “Ribs, hand, arm…more. Must move you, but will hurt.”
“All right,” she choked out.
“Sutrakarre can make you sleep. You want?”
Kalimè asked softly, “Will…will it hurt less?”
He grit his teeth. “No, but you will sleep through. So..sort of.” She nodded her ascent, whimpering. Gently laying a large hand on her brow, he whispered a word. Kalimè eyes closed and she fell into an uneasy rest. Sutrakarre looked to be sure she had fallen asleep before gently gathering her into his arms. He climbed onto the back of his mount and headed for the harbor.
They circled a few times before he located Eliân. “Found her,” he stated.
“Shit. That’s Kalithil’s kid. What happened?” Eliân spat out the remains of her cigar. She listened to him explain the situation. “I’ll go notify the family. Where will you take her?” Sutrakarre indicate the Cathedral and she nodded. With a curt incline of the head, she took off towards Portal Lake.
Sutrakarre glided down to the top of the Cathedral steps. The winged lion lowered to its belly, allowing him to slip off slowly. He carried her inside where he was directed up the infirmary. He found an empty bed in the far corner and pulled a curtain around to provide some privacy. Slowly, carefully, he began to set the broken bones. He started with her right leg as it had taken considerable damage. The bones were shattered and took a lot of concentration to move the pieces back into place. Weaving spell after spell, he coaxed her body to begin knitting the bone together again. With a quiet sigh, he wrapped a splint around it to keep it immobile.
Turning to the other breaks, he repeated the process again and again. A young nurse came in to see if he needed help. He nodded and she assisted in undressing Kalimè and getting her injuries bound. She gently pulled the hair stuck to the young elf’s face and cleaned the blood from it. Once they were finally finished, she helped Sutrakarre put a clean gown on Kalimè and removed her stained dress to be cleaned. The man took a minute to clean up before gently waking her. Sutrakarre softly called to her, “Wake up, child.”
Kalimè slowly opened her eyes, the left only barely. “Oh gods…” she sobbed. “Everything…everything hurts.” Her chest heaved, tears rolling down her face. Sutrakarre’s hand came up, golden light trailing from his fingers down into her body, creating a numbing and calming effect.
“Better?” He asked gently. Kalimè nodded slowly and tried to sit up. “No, do not get up.” He pushed her back onto the bed slowly. “You must rest.”
She settled back down onto the pillow. “Where am I?”
“Infirmary. In the Cathedral,” he replied. “Sutrakarre send Eli to tell House.” He told her about his premonition and how he came to find her. Kalimè shifted to look at Sutrakarre closer.
He looked at the floor, slightly embarrassed.
“That’s…kind of amazing.” She sounded almost awestruck.
Smiling faintly, he explained, “Sutrakarre has…guidance.” Kalimè started to raise an eyebrow, wincing at the unexpected pain on the left side of her face. “Be careful how you move. Cheekbone on left shattered.
Kalimè brought a hand up. “They busted my face?” She ran her fingertips along it, wincing.
Sutrakarre nodded. “Sutrakarre set bones, start them knitting, but will hurt for a while. Leg and ribs take longer. Long road ahead.”
Kalimè tried to take a deep breath. “Oh fel…” She coughed, crying out after. Sutrakarre placed his hands gently on her side, golden light spilling out over her ribs. “I have no idea what they even wanted…oh gods…” She sighed a little as his magic wrapped around her.
“They say nothing?” He frowned.
She thought for a moment, trying to recall everything. “One of them…one of them said to shut me up. I don’t remember anything else.”
Sutrakarre held up a piece of folded parchment. “This yours?” Kalimè looked at it a moment before shaking her head. “Was tied to hand. Letter.”
“Tied to my hand?” Kalimè tone was almost curious. He nodded. “Does it have a name or anything on it?”
“Something on outside. Sutrakarre not read elf-letters.” He held the letter in front of Kali’s face. She looked it over, confusion taking over her features.
“It’s for Alsabe. The Patriarch’s daughter.”
“Hmm. Know this name,” he said thoughtfully. “One time spy, yes?”
“Yes. My uncle and aunt adopted her.” She shifted uncomfortably.
Sutrakarre looked at the letter curiously. “Hmm, will have someone read when others arrive.”
Kalimè closed her eyes, a tear falling from her right eye. Her breathing was ragged from the pain. “Who is coming?”
Sutrakarre shrugged. “Whoever Eli find first.” Kalimè nodded a little. “After…probably everyone.”
“That is probably true…but how could you know that?” She opened her eyes a little.
“Talk to a few Silverthorns. Seeing how things work in House.” She chuckled a little, gasping. Sutrakarre held up his hand, fingers splayed out. Then he made a fist. “When trouble, come together. Guess Sutrakarre meet everyone faster than expected.” He smiled faintly.
“Why was I supposed to meet you?”
“Tindomiel give me list of people to talk to. Tindomiel want me to meet almost everyone.” He said simply.
“Oh. Are you a Retainer for our House now?”
Sutrakarre nodded. “House Counselor.” Kalimè tried to sit up again, confused. The large man reached out a hand and held Kali firmly but gently down. “Please remain down,” he instructed.
Kalimè sighed. “All right… So…you’re what?”
“I am Counselor.” Sutrakarre tilts his head to one side. “This problem?”
She grimaced. “I don’t know. I don’t know what a counselor does.” He did his best to explain to her what that entailed. “I wish Æl was here…” she whispered.
“Brother?” He asked gently. She nodded with a wince. “Sure he will be here soon. Eli will spread word.”
Kalimè shook her head very slowly. “No. She will go to my Uncle. He will tell who he feels is best.” She shifted again, trying desperately to get comfortable.
“Word will spread. Nature of such things. Sutrakarre look after you until then,” he said, offering a matter-of-fact nod.
Kalimè’s eyes flashed suddenly. “Min’da…oh gods….don’t tell her yet!” She gasped.
“Min-da?”
“My mother….Lilybeth,” she choked out.
“Oh!” He smiled kindly. “Sutrakarre meet your mother. Not a secret to keep from a mother, child.”
Kalimè grabbed his sleeve, shaking and pulling herself up to a seated position. Her face is filled with panic. “She can’t…you can’t tell her…she’ll…oh fel. Not until I can be somewhere she feels is safe! Please! She can’t handle this.” Her body is wracked by a painful coughing fit.
Sutrakarre firmly but gently pushed her back down. “Shhhh,” he soothed. “Lilybeth…stronger than anyone think.” Kalimè sobbed. “Trust Sutrakarre.”
Shuddering, she whispers. “I don’t want to be the one that breaks her again.”
Sutrakarre smiled faintly. “Lilybeth not broken. Not ever.” Kalimè chuckled mirthlessly.
He frowned. “Doubt Sutrakarre?”
“You just don’t have all the details.”
“Know more than Kalimè think.” He smiled kindly at her. “Lilybeth not break. Lilybeth bend, and spring back. Strong, like willow.”
Kalimè smiled faintly. “That’s pretty. I like that.” She closed her eyes again. Bringing up her undamaged hand, she touched her left cheek carefully.
“Kalimè should sleep,” he suggested.
“I don’t know if I can…”
Sutrakarre rested a hand on Kali’s forehead. “Buras,” came a gentle command. Her eyes fluttered closed and she drifted off after just a moment. Her breath leveled out and her features relaxed. He smiled faintly. Stepping just to the other side of the curtain, he found a chair and settled into it. Looking to the doorway, his voice held concern that he had held back with the girl. “Hurry, Eli.”