Leaving the dwarves to help Ceidin down from the gurney, Aleria slipped back out into the corridor. The cacophony of noise from the waiting area washed over her anew as she approached - a steady undercurrent of pained groans and muffled sobs punctuated by the occasional child's wail.
She steeled herself with a deep, steadying breath before pushing open the door. The scene that greeted her was one of barely controlled chaos. Despite Bernard's efforts, the triage lines had devolved into an unruly jumble of bodies, each person jostling for a better position.
Haddy was doing her level best to maintain some semblance of order, her round face flushed and tendrils of hair escaping her hasty bun as she flitted from one patient to the next. She caught Aleria's eye and gestured helplessly.
"I've got the most dire cases separated to the best of my ability," she called out, raising her voice to be heard over the din. "But folk are getting restless and..."
She trailed off as a commotion near the front of the line drew both their attention. A well-dressed nobleman in finely-tailored garments was attempting to shove his way past the other waiting patients, all but shouldering them aside with an indignant huff.
"This is an outrage!" he blustered, pale face mottling an angry crimson as he fought against the tide of bodies barring his way. "I absolutely refuse to be made to wait any longer like some common beggar!"
Aleria felt her jaw tighten with barely-restrained irritation. She'd recognize that overstuffed sense of entitlement anywhere - it was the same arrogant condescension that had so frequently accompanied the nobility and wealthy elite she'd encountered during the war. The very same supercilious airs that would see the poor and downtrodden trampled underfoot without a second thought.
It took every ounce of willpower not to allow her irritation to bleed through into her expression as she shouldered her way through the press of people. Presenting a serene, unruffled front was key - the last thing this situation needed was to escalate further.
"You there!" the nobleman blustered upon catching sight of her, stabbing an accusatory finger in her direction. "This sorting of patients is simply unacceptable. I demand you see to me at once!"
Aleria lifted a single, imperious brow as she drew to a halt before him, squaring her shoulders. Despite the man's considerable girth and embroidered finery, she refused to be cowed or intimidated.
"And what seems to be the nature of your ailment, sir?" she asked, pitching her tone to one of cool detachment.
The nobleman spluttered, his already florid complexion darkening further. "Well, I... that is..." He trailed off, grasping for a justification even as Aleria's steady gaze bored into him.
Finally, he straightened his shoulders with a haughty sniff. "A most terrible case of the grippe, that's what. Simply dreadful. I can scarcely draw a full breath without being set upon by a fit of the most miserable coughing."
Aleria's eyes narrowed imperceptibly as she studied him. His red cheeks and laboured breathing could just as easily be attributed to the exertions of his tantrum - she saw no other outward signs of true illness. Certainly nothing to warrant being seen ahead of the myriad other, more dire cases currently awaiting her attention.
"I see," she said at length, keeping her tone infuriatingly neutral. "Well then, I'm afraid you'll simply have to take your place in line with the other patients, sir. Cases are being evaluated by severity and urgency, not status or coin purse."
The nobleman's eyes bulged with indignation at Aleria's calm dismissal. "Do you have any idea who I am, woman?" he sputtered, puce splotches rising high on his jowled cheeks.
Aleria noted one of Bernard's men shouldering his way through the throng, no doubt alerted by the commotion and aiming to intervene. She lifted one hand in a subtle gesture, warding the man off before he could escalate the situation further.
Keeping her gaze levelly fixed on the irate nobleman, she replied in an even tone, "No, I'm afraid I don't know who you are. Nor do I particularly care."
She allowed a faint note of challenge to bleed into her words as she continued, "You can either wait your turn in line like everyone else, or feel free to take your coughing fit and arrogant bluster back out those doors. Your choice."
The nobleman's already crimson face darkened to purple at Aleria's insolent dismissal. Clearly not one used to being talked down to, he raised a meaty hand with the intent of striking her.
"How dare you address me in such a fashion, you impudent bitch!" he snarled, the words wheezing from between clenched teeth.
Aleria didn't so much as flinch. In one fluid motion, her hand shot out to clamp around the man's up-raised wrist with surprising strength. She didn't tighten her grip - not yet - but the threat of force was implicit in her easy restraint.
The nobleman's outrage faltered, eyes widening in sudden uncertainty as he found himself locked in her vice-like grasp. He tugged fruitlessly against her iron grip, his expression rapidly shifting from indignation to dawning unease.
With a subtle twist of her wrist, Aleria deftly pivoted the man's arm, applying just enough torque to force him down to one knee with a grunt of effort. All without the slightest strain marring her placid features.
The gathered crowd fell abruptly silent, the pained groans and restless shuffling stilled as every eye turned towards the spectacle. Even Bernard's soldier seemed taken aback by the deft manoeuvre, holding his position with an expression of bemused uncertainty.
Aleria held the nobleman's startled gaze for a long moment, allowing the unspoken warning to sink in. Then, slowly, she released his wrist and took a measured step back.
"I believe we've reached an understanding," she said, her tone cool and even once more. She lifted her gaze to the dumbstruck soldier, "Please remove this man and instruct him not to come back until he's learned some humility."
The soldier nodded, breaking from his stunned stare at Aleria's command, gripping the sputtering nobleman firmly by the elbow and hauling him to his feet. The man's outrage had been replaced by a sullen, red-faced humiliation as he allowed himself to be frogmarched towards the exit.
A heavy silence hung over the waiting room in the wake of the confrontation, the gathered patients gaping in stunned disbelief. It was Bernard's gruff chuckle that finally broke the stillness.
"Well now, 'Ria," he drawled, leaning against the doorframe with arms crossed over his broad chest. "You certainly have a way of makin' friends 'er you go, don't ye'?"
Aleria exhaled a long, slow breath, rolling the lingering tension from her shoulders as she turned to face the crowd and blowing an errant strand of hair from her face. She could feel the weight of their stares pressing in on her, a mixture of awe and trepidation writ across their expressions.
"Next patient, please…"
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