Aleria turned her gaze towards the window, watching as the sun began its slow descent towards the horizon. Burnished rays slanted through the glass, casting long shadows that stretched across the floor like grasping claws. A faint frown creased her brow as she considered how swiftly the day had waned.
"I should get settled at the clinic before nightfall," she remarked, glancing back at Bernard. "Would you have someone show me the way?"
Bernard gave a curt nod. "Aye, of course." Striding over to the door, he flung it open and leaned out, peering down at the courtyard below.
"You there!" he bellowed, his gruff tones carrying easily over the din. "The lad who brought the lady up - fetch him here!"
Aleria arched an eyebrow at his brusque manner, though she couldn't quite suppress an amused smirk. Clearly, being in charge agreed with Bernard - he had always been one to embrace authority with relish.
A few moments later, the young clerk who had admitted her earlier scurried through the doorway, eyes wide. "Y-You called for me, sir?"
"Aye, that I did." Bernard jerked his head towards Aleria. "See the lady gets settled at Perchfoot's old clinic, would you? And try not to get turned around - she's got enough on her plate without having to go huntin' for you."
The young man bobbed his head furiously. "A-At once, sir!" Turning to Aleria, he gestured towards the door. "If you'll just follow me, m'lady?"
As she fell into step behind the lad, Bernard called out once more. "I'll have a couple lads sent 'round come first light, 'Ria. Get the place proper aired out, ready for you to receive patients and the like."
Aleria paused, glancing back over her shoulder with a faint smile. "My thanks, Bernard. I expect I'll need all the help I can get, once word spreads."
The older man's gruff features split into a knowing grin. "Aye, you're like to have your hands full soon enough, I'd wager. Best get yourself settled in while you can."
With a final nod, Aleria turned and followed the young clerk out into the torch-lit corridor beyond Bernard's office.
Bernard's gruff tones echoed down the corridor behind them. "For Eldain's sake lad, take the lady's bags for her!"
Aleria glanced back over her shoulder, lips quirking in faint amusement as the young clerk flushed crimson. Clearly chastened by the rebuke, he spun on his heel and hurried back towards her.
"M-My apologies, milady," he stammered, stooping to scoop up her modest trunk from where it rested at her feet. "I should've - that is, I mean to say, allow me."
Aleria merely inclined her head, acknowledging his belated attempt at gallantry with a demure smile. Truth be told, she wasn't accustomed to such courtesies - her nomadic existence since the war's end had bred a certain self-reliance when it came to the simple tasks of travel.
Still, she could hardly fault the lad for his nervous ministrations. No doubt Bernard had impressed upon him the need to treat her with the utmost respect, regardless of her unassuming appearance. A wise precaution, she supposed, given the reputation that preceded her, however diminished it may have become.
"Think nothing of it," she replied smoothly, gesturing for him to lead on once more. "I'm quite capable of managing my own affairs. But I appreciate the thought all the same."
The clerk bobbed his head in a jerky nod, face still flushed a bright crimson as he turned and set off down the corridor once more. Aleria a half-step behind, her booted footfalls nearly silent on the worn stone floors.
Comments (0)
See all