A Let Down in Knowledge

[Lady Aislin Creed of Eohmark]

A NEW UNDERSTANDING
Sometimes people are not as you once saw them, but more empty then they appear..

Squire Lucius - These were among the few days that Lucius actually had spent in Turas Lan for such a lengthy period since the war broke out. But, he would take what time off he had. As a squire, it was expected of him to have some knowledge in the basic medical needs so he could better assist his knight. There was no better teacher than that of the Lady Aislin Creed, among the most skilled physicians in all of Skye. She kept her husband and many other soldiers alive time and time again, that had to speak for something, yes? Over the pale cotton gambeson he wore a short sleeved brown jerkin, and of course the belt about his waist. Breeches were tucked into brown boots that clicked softly against the stone floor as he moved down the hallway. In his arms were more blankets, bandages in rolls. Lucius quickly made his way back into the room where Aislin had been, and immediately went to the task of neatly staking the bandages into the wicker basket on the table. Blankets were placed in the wooden bin beside the large bookcase with medical jars, vials, and other things he had never seen before. He was supposed to be learning first aid, though, not staring at mystery jars.

Lady Aislin Creed - Candles lit the way as the room had been cast into the shadows of the night. Eamonn was gone doing his duty, which left Aislin to do her own. The acquire Lucius, was now her understudy, which was not completely new to Aislin. Still, she had agreed to because he was with Kendrew. Dressed in a long gown of pale purple and green lacings about the waist, wrist and neck line, she paced back and forth on her boot covered feet as she waited for the acquire to come to the room. The moment he entered the room, she turned around and waited until he settled the items in his hand down. Straight and to the point, she moved towards the wall on the left and picked a book from the wall before looking at it, opening the parchment pages and glancing over them to make sure she had the right one. ``Can ye read Lucius?`` Looking up from the book, her calm face glanced towards him as ocean eyes stayed on his own and waited for his expression. ``This book be old, it was mine when ah first started out. Has minor scribbling in it, but it be proven and accurate. We start with this aye?`` Handing it over to him, she waited until he grasped it before moving towards the desk and turning to lean against the edge with her rear pressed into it.

Squire Lucius - He moved quickly, so he could to deliver her supplies, and as soon as he entered the room. With the things quickly and properly put in their places, Lucius straightened his tall frame, but inches taller than her, and turned around on his heels to face her. Could he read? What an odd question and certainly unexpected. Lucius blinked, silent for the moment, caught off guard by such a question. However, he nodded all the same. ``Yes, my Lady, I can read and write.`` He replied, courtesy and care of his father. Dark eyes moved from her and to the book in her hands. For a while he stared at it, almost in silent awe. Lucius loved books, any that he could get his hands on and have the time to read them, he did. With care, Lucius reached for the book and took it from Aislin. Immediately he flipped it open and was scanning the pages like an eager school boy. ``Oh, yes my Lady. Some of the best books are those with great antiquity. And if you say it is accurate, then I do not doubt that it is so...`` He mumbled softly, before his voice faded and he began to read over the pages quickly, soaking up the words and flipping the parchment pages to read on.

Lady Aislin Creed - Many could not read, more so when they were in the military. There was no need for reading save when it came to maps and that was bred into the men. Aislin's husband could not read, because it did not affect his duty. Men believed they would die in battle, so a waste of time it may have been. If Aislin was surprised that Lucius could read, it did not show. Inside the pages were neat, printed handwritings from the woman before him. Drawings of the arms and wounds that were anywhere from wide gashes to small stab and puncture wounds. Below each picture was instructions on the few ways to mend the wound up. Deeper within the book, the study of plants and herbs began, along with animal bites and how to treat them. ``Thank ye for yer faith Lucius. And just Aislin. Ah do nay need to be called " lady " while we be in private. Come over here Lucius.`` She waited for him to break from his minor spell and move closer to her so she could place her hands on his shoulders, turn him and make him lean gently by her side so she might look at the book with him. ``There..stop at this page. With the many wolf attacks that have been going on, this be good for ye to see. Animal bites. Ah have personally been bitten by a wolf twice in my life. Bad wounds upon the ankles. Look here..`` Her slender finger moved along the drawling she did, to point out the darken spots. ``When bitten by an animal, ye must wrap a cloth about the wound tightly, for bit of the teeth be never the same.`` She paused and looked towards the shelf before standing and making her way towards it. A large skull rested in the shadows. Hands sunk into the darkness before coming back out with a large, very pale skull of a wolf before she moved towards Lucius. One hand rested along the bottom, the other on the top before her fingers grasped and she pulled it apart under the jaws. ``See the teeth? They be for grinding and tearing. When the wolf clamps on the flesh, back here, the jaws be locking and pulling ye limb from them be the worse thing to do. Ye must pry their jaws open, for even in death, they be locked. Have ye ever been bitten or attacked by an animal?``

Squire Lucius - Had it not been for his father, Lucius would have been just as illiterate. He was still low upon the chain in society, and would not have had the luxury of literacy extended to him so readily. However, Bolverk made sure to educate his son and Lucius was always grateful for it. Lucius never bragged about his ability to read, for what need of there was to? No one would care, to be precise, and he did not want to land himself into trouble because of his boasting. His eyes traveled over the drawings, one hand under the back of the book held it while his other lifted and fingers lightly traced over the lines. Flesh wounds, gashes, bruises, everything was in this one book. He was so carried away in the pages that his eyes snapped to her when she told him to come. Blinking a few times, Lucius nodded his head and did as he was told. Lucius paused in front of her, as she asked, but was surprised by her hands upon his shoulders. However, she guided him to her side, and Lucius followed easily so both could view the book. Lucius paused at the page dealing with animal bites. He stared at the drawings long and hard, noting the severity of some and frowning a bit. That had to be painful. Once before in his youth he had been bitten, but he was fortunate that all he had was a bruised forearm from the dog. His father got the beast off of him before much more harm could be done. ``And the depth of the puncture varies as well, yes?`` He asked as she pointed to the dark spots on the page, before moving off to pick up a skull. Dark eyes followed her as she moved to the shelf, plucked the skull off, and came back toward him with it. While his eyes were glued to the skull, Lucius sat the open book aside on the desk behind him, and as Aislin held the jaws open, a finger ran down the fangs. Lucius noted the canines, the molars, the fangs, all with a different purpose. ``I was when I was very little..a dog..it knocked me over and tried to bite my arm. It was winter, so the sleeve was thick and my father pulled the canine off before its teeth pierced skin..but even still..I remember the pressure and bruising..`` He answered casually, still studying the skull in her hands, fingers brushing over the teeth and even the jaw line, trying to add muscles, flesh, and fur with his mind.

Lady Aislin Creed - Animals truly did run the world. Wild and untamed, they were faster sometimes then men, no matter how smart men believed themselves to be. ``Aye. Very good Lucius. Each animal be different. A bear, for instance can crush ye arm faster then a wolf.`` Pausing, she looked to him as he touched the teeth and spoke of a time in his youth when he was attacked by a dog. ``ye were very lucky. The pain of teeth piercing the skin is very difficult to describe. Ah was a little younger then ye are now when ah was first attacked by a wolf and dragged into the woods. A fight among them be what saved me. The second, ah was in the year of twenty eight and with child, carrying young Sorcha at the time. The Lord Marshal was the one who saved my foot from being torn from my leg.`` She waited patiently as her calm tone faded off when she stopped speaking. Lucius was given all the time he wanted to touch the skull. Fingers pressed to the back of the jaw where the teeth flattened only slightly. ``If ye or one of the men finds their limb within a beast much like this one's mouth, place a stick or something blunt and unbreakable back here. Then pry, like ye would a door. most of the power is found within the back. Take the book and turn the next two pages.`` The skull would be taken and placed back to where it had been as Lucius flipped through the book. Next, was an arrow wound. The pictures showed the arrow in the flesh and embedded deep into the outline of a male. ``Tell me what ye already know of carrying for an arrow wound.``

Squire Lucius - Lucius rather liked his arm and did not want a bear or wolf to claim it. But Lucius understood the concept of leaving animals to their own devices and respecting them. Aislin only furthered his understanding of the power a wolf had with just a bite. It was amazing. Yes, he was fortunate not to have the teeth break flesh. However, he silently wondered if it felt like the time he had been cut down the length of his arm when he tried to escape from captivity. Perhaps worse, because where the sword was sharp teeth were blunter and did not make such a clean marking. His eyes widen and shot up to Aislin for a moment as she accounted for her second attack while pregnant! He blinked. That must have been terrifying. ``It was fortunate that the Lord Marshal was there...I cannot even begin to image what might have passed through the Lord Marshal's mind..`` Though, he did know a piece of it, kin to the feeling he felt when the soldier held a knife to Siobhan's throat. Pressing his lips together, he lowered his hand and listened as she told him the way to pry off a wolf's jaw. Lucius nodded, and picked up the book again behind him. ``While I was in Rome..a man, I believe he was of he Eastern lands for he had that exotic look about him. He told me that where he came from there were serpents as long as five tall men. He said he had been bit and showed me his hand. He said that he pushed his fist further into the serpent's mouth to force the beast to open its jaws and prevent...prevent tearing of more flesh because of the curve of the teeth...would such a concept work with a wolf as well?`` He asked curiously, flipping two pages over and coming to arrow wounds. Brows furrowed a bit at the sight, but his face was calm instantly. What did he know about arrow wounds? He had never been shot before! ``...I know very little, my La--I mean Aislin. Sir Liam told me to never pull it out unless it could be tended to right away..and to snap off the end to lessen the risk of worsening it...that is all I know..`` He said, shrugging his shoulders a bit and turning his eyes back to Aislin.

Lady Aislin Creed - It had been many years ago for both attacks. Aislin's memory could no longer remember what it had felt like. Aislin's oddity was only starting to really show through as Lucius spoke of what Eamonn could have been thinking. ``No. A wolf's jaw, as ye saw, is nay designed as a snake and ye would nay be able to shove ye fist more into their mouth. Would ye really want to do such and have ye limb taken off more? The Lord Marshal did what he promised to do. Protect his wife and unborn child. What he was thinking will remain in his own mind.`` Aislin never really thought to ask Eamonn. Had he told her? She could not remember. ``When or if ye get married, ye will have the same obligations.`` Aislin perked a thick brow as Lucius almost called her "my lady" but fixed it quickly and spoke on what he knew. ``Aye, that be correct. Ah have seen many types of heads on arrows. Turn the page.`` She waited until he did so before pointing at the many different displays of arrows. ``These be among the many ah have taken from the Lord Marshal and other men's bodies throughout the years. See here, how this be curved around the edges. If ye yank it out at the wrong time, ye will bleed to death. There be other risk though Lucius. If ye get shot here -`` She pressed a finger to his upper stomach, right under his pecks.``Ye be in trouble. More so if blood be coming from ye mouth and ye having a hard time breathing. Death will come quickly after that, for ye hold organs about in here that if damaged, will end ye life quickly. It always be better to sow up an arrow wound, but burning works just as well, though infections can become worse with a burning...it will leave no way for the puss to seep out. ``

Squire Lucius - Lucius turned his eyes back to the book. A wolf's teeth were different, as she said, and now thinking more of it, it would not be beneficial to apply that same concept. Fear and worry, surely passed through the man's mind if he loved his wife, and from the looks of it, they did, though did not show it openly as choice. Lucius silently wished he could show his love...but alas, he could not. ``Of course, I did not mean to pry..`` Though at the mention of marriage, Lucius paused. It was hard to protect the one you loved so far away..but he was fighting this war to protect her in the future..for the good of his wife and the people. That kept his spirit from falling. But Lucius nodded. ``And I will do my best to uphold such obligations.`` He said simply, and left it at that. Lucius turned the page, and when he saw the various types of arrow heads, his eyes widened a bit. Why, that one had barbs! Another had grooves like teeth! To rip and cause more damage, no doubt. Lucius would not be yanking any arrows now..THAT was for sure. His eyes moved from the book and to her finger as it touched his upper stomach, toward the bottom of his rib cage. Trouble? Lucius could not help but frown as his eyes shot to her and he stared at her, listening attentively as she went on. Burning? He heard of that..though never saw it. ``But...I thought the heat would stop the infection? I do not know...I am not a physician though..`` He said, before turning his eyes back to the book. ``...What if a man's head was bleeding?...How would you treat that..?`` He ventured to ask, his heart skipping a beat at the memory it sparked. Curiosity.

Lady Aislin Creed - Aislin's touch came then went just as quickly. Generally she did not touch people unless she had to, but she wanted to show the spots that would be more dangerous. Where the organs lay, would cause death, more so with the different types of arrow heads. ``Nay, not always. Arrows and bows, are laid down often, fall out some times and gather dirt. When the arrow be pressed deep into the body, the heat can nay get there and sometimes the Whiskey ye pour in there will nay clean it out completely.`` Turning the page, she went past the arrows until Lucius asked a question. A good one. ``It depends on what made his head bleed in the first place. If he was hit upon it with a rock or hammer, then he could be in trouble. `` Taking the book, she went all the way to the back to show the drawing of a skeleton. ``Ye see here, this be what is inside of us. What keep us whole and help us walk. It may feel tough, but it can break easily with the right pressure. If ye break this area, ye can die as well. Bleeding from the head does nay mean this, but ye should try to keep the person awake, for ah have known many people to sleep and never wake up. Feel about the head, if ye feel weakness in the skull..then they be in trouble. What kind of wound do ye be talking about?``

Squire Lucius - Oh Lucius was learning much about the body now. There were organs that he knew of in a general sense and their location, but that had been before he engaged in fighting. Now, it was a very real concept and how vulnerable a body was. How a precise blow could end your life quickly. Lucius swallowed hard. Still holding the book, he asked his question, and Aislin began to answer it honestly. Silently, he wondered if it was the head wound that caused Sir Liam to die. Or, was it the other wounds as well he had that Lucius could not see or treat. When she stopped at a cryptic picture, Lucius blinked. That was..what he looked like under the skin?! Lucius blinked a few more times. It was strange and odd to look at, almost frightening. Lucius had been fortunate not to have broken a bone yet. And, just as she suggested, Lucius slowly lifted his free hand to quickly feel about his head and noticed soft spots. Lucius quickly pulled his hand away. His eyes were glued to the page, not wanting the flash of painful memories to show. ``I don't know..I could not exactly see where or the severity of it...I just saw blood in the dim lighting..I wrapped it as best I could..but I suppose that did very little..`` And his voice was soft, almost stoic as a way to mask the painful memory.

Lady Aislin Creed - Aislin's eyes rose up as Lucius felt about his own head and then lowered it down. She knew this was not normal things that were shown to those who did heal. These pictures could very well scare people or few would find them not completely true unless they looked beyond the skin themselves. Aislin should not really have such understandings, as a woman and within a city that Christianity was spreading through,. ``Ye did what ye could. A wound such as they is hard to treat with little supplies. Ye did what ye could ah be sure`` she held little sympathy in her tone, though it was not cruel. ``Lucius, ah want ye to promise ye will nay tell people of these books and what ye have seen. Many do nay understand such advancements and for others to know, could cause chaos. Ye are very privileged to see such.``

Squire Lucius - It was a rather frightening image. To see the body in that form and be told that was what you looked like beneath flesh and muscle..well it was very cryptic, but at the same time it have him a better understanding of how the body worked and what it protected. Strangely fascinating. He did what he could, but could more have been done had he more knowledge of it? Perhaps he could have even saved Liam..Lucius simply sighed and nodded, noting her tone though the flatness was neither comforting or completely harsh...just insensitive and objective. His gaze turned to Aislin as she asked him to promise not to share what he was learning now. People would not understand? At first, he frowned, but quickly understood. ``I promise, my Lady.`` He replied. ``Thank you for sharing these things with me..`` He said, before changing the subject and facing her partly. ``My L--uhm Aislin..why do you carry yourself so indifferent or stoic? Forgive me if I go to far..but I do not understand why a healer need be so...I suppose the word is objective..especially in grave matters..If I were gravely wounded..a bit of hope or even a small amount of compassion would be comforting...I have noticed and heard of your seriousness and stoism...perhaps even dare I say akin to the Lord Marshal..but..I do not understand such stoism in a place where pain and depression are easily found..`` Lucius did not mean to pry, but..he did not understand.

Lady Aislin Creed - Aislin did not want Lucius to tell someone else and that person take it the wrong way. It could spell dangerous times for Aislin and Eamonn would not be happy in the least about it. Aislin would keep what she could to herself and away* from others outside. Reaching for the book, she took it gently from Lucius' hands, closed it then moved to return it back towards the wall as Lucius asked his question. Aislin did not seem to pause at it, though it was something no one had ever really asked her before. Either they accepted it, or did not seem to notice because they were in too much pain. Taking a soft breath, Aislin turned around to face him. Her back now faced the wall of books as her hands stayed firmly at her sides and then slowly moved to fold over each other in front of her long gown. ``Ah do nay feel emotions like ye or others do Lucius. Ah never have. There be no reason for it, it simply came to be one day in my youth. Ah can nay say why ah be nay affected where others feel sorrow and tears. Ah am as empty as ye see me Lucius. Perhaps...that be what make me better then most. `` She thought for but a moment and went on.``When ye have emotions, ye make mistakes. Yer mind wonders and ye worry too far ahead instead of the here and now. Ah truly do nay care if that person lives or dies.. but ah do my duty completely, because it be my duty. The person can nay afford for me to care Lucius. Ah do nay pray for them, but other healers do as ah work. They get what they need from others..or loved ones. It nay be my duty to comfort their hearts and minds. They is for lovers, religion and memories...``

Squire Lucius - Lucius knew the value of a secret, he was holding one of his own right now for the world, the same world she guarded knowledge from, would frown upon him and he could even be killed just for loving a woman above him in class. Lucius would take it, but he guarded it well. Lucius watched Aislin take the book from his hands and carry it across the room to slip it back into it's place. Then, she slowly turned and faced him, he still leaning against the side of her desk. How could someone not feel emotions? Lucius frowned a bit at that, confused. How could there not be a reason to feel? A person could be dying and a last smile or even a word of hope could give them to will to survive. The courage to fight and the comfort to know that someone cared whether they lived or died. Pushing off of the desk, Lucius glanced to the floor for a moment. Then, his eyes lifted and Lucius approached her again, though stopping in front of her and leaving respectable distance. ``...I do not think you are empty, Aislin. If you were..you would not care for the Lord Marshal, or your children. I cannot imagine what it would be like to not have emotions. My father is also a reserved and stoic man...but I know he cares and feels emotion. But, I beg your pardon, but is it fair to not care whether a person lives or dies? If you do not care...why offer your services to all? Sometimes..a kind word or knowing that someone cares even the smallest..can be the difference between life and death. Perhaps what the person needs is care. I think, Aislin...that it is part of all of our duties to comfort hearts and minds of even a stranger...or else why would we fight for them..heal then, and encourage life if we did not care?`` Pressing his lips together and hoping he did not cross a line, Lucius placed his hands behind his back and tried to keep his face calm, just like his father.

Lady Aislin Creed - These were in fact similar words her husband said to her often. Aislin started up at the few inches the boy had on her and watched his face as he was now in front of her form. Not one step back was taken. No, Aislin knew she was not empty completely, for she did love her husband and some part of her loved her children. Lucius' words were his own opinions. Aislin, was not swayed even deep down inside. ``So my husband tells me. Nay, ah not be so empty as to nay love him. Ah do love my husband, as a lover, nay just as a wife. My children ah love because they are a part of us both and made from love, but ah do nay daunt on them as ye see other mothers do. It just nay be my way. Ye father may have reasons deeper then ye know as to why he is the way he be. As for what people may need, if they wish for care, they are given it from other healers, nay me. It be much like why ye go off to war. Ye either want to do it, are just good at it or ye know nothing else. Ah offer my services because ah be the best, the lord marshal for example, knows nothing but his duty. If someone says they wish to do something because they want to help people, so be it. This be where my skills lay, nay in telling people lies of hopes and smiling at them when they be screaming for death to come and take them. Anulia be the one people should see for such things. Ah can nay pretend and be some one ah nay be Lucius. It would be like asking the lord marshal to smile for his men's comfort, or to ask the general to laugh so his men can laugh too. That nay be how things work..as ye grow and remain alive, ye will understand.``

Squire Lucius - If one person believed they had a chance to survive..it made a difference. Usually, it was not a faith in the victim or one suffering, and they desperately looked to someone to have some faith in the chances they would survive to live a bit longer. Lucius knew that Aislin was not empty, but how could a person feel nothing, evening the slightest, if a child was crying and in pain? Would they do nothing to aid in soothing the child? Soothing the heart and mind? Apparently Aislin would not. Lucius simply could not be so cold and empty. He felt for those in pain and did what he could to help. Sympathy and care for others, that was the duty of a knight. Silently, Lucius listened to her response, and could not help feel the chill run up his spine. It sounded so...harsh and cold. ``It is not a lie to show that they are a bit more than just a wound to heal. When I watched Sir Liam die in my arms...I cried..because I cared. I forced a faint smile to ease his passing, because it would be horrible to me to have your last thoughts and sight of a frown or uncaring gaze. The Lord Marshal might not smile, and the General might not laugh..but they find another way to lift the spirits of their men...they have to..or else doubting men will not fight..they will apathetic for an unknown cause. A knight is taught to care for not himself...but for others as well. Fathers care for their sons more than themselves..for someone has to have even a small amount of hope. Just knowing someone cares makes a difference...and one day...you might not have a nurse to fill that position..`` Lucius said, before glancing away and moving toward the window to stare out of it for a moment. ``It is a cold world, Aislin...and I am learning it. If you have ever been surrounded by people who do not care whether you live or die...it is taxing. Roac mended my arm...but the tone in his voice was mildly soothing..and took a bit of fear and nervousness for me. It comforted me...comfort when I had none of my own. I have a very good idea of how things work, Aislin...and I know..that those of Skye have compassion somewhere...there is enough apathy in the world to lay frost over hearts..we need more warmth and light..`` He mumbled, almost to himself as he turned away from the window and moved around the desk again, waiting for his next instructions from the healer.

Lady Aislin Creed - Aislin's ocean eyes never left him as he spoke. It was tragic about his knight, but that had advanced Lucius to the place he was now. Everything happened for a reasons. ``Ye cried because ye knew him like a best friend or a father. Ah do nay know everyone ah heal Lucius.`` Aislin's tone remained calm as she watched him and listened. She had no reason to defend herself and while she gave Lucius her full attention, his words could not sway her. She was older and her thoughts would more then likely not change. ``Then people will find them elsewhere Lucius. There be many in the world that will care. People have the right to chose someone else to heal them if they wish to some compassion. Once more, they will nay get it from me. It is a cruel world Lucius, ah be who I am. I am too old to change and a change can nay be forced. Ah be sorry ye seem nay happy with my words, but ye can think what ye will. Ah will nay say sorry for this or who ah be. They will come to me to be healed. Nothing more.`` Aislin felt no sadness, or worries on what Lucius would think of her now. He asked, she spoke. She was not here to make friends, she was not a healer to save people. She was it, because she knew nothing else as good as she did healing. ``That be all for the night Lucius. Ye are free to go.``

THREAD DONE