Cynraede slumped off the horse, landing on his feet with a slight stumble as the pain shot through his body. He forced the door of Duramarth's house open as he walked in, shutting it and locking it tightly before continuing on.
He peeled out of his armor, letting it fall to the floor as he made his way to the fire place, leaning down and begging re-stoke the fire that some one had left, probably Rannie, waiting to see if he'd return or not. The hunter grabbed the fire poker, and placed it in the brightly glowing embers that lay beneath the ashen coals, leaving it there as he turned back to the table and moved the dishes aside. He looked down, the dried crimson trail flowing down his side, hip and leg as it had continued to bleed during the ride.
He took the togs from the fireplace, holding them inside the now rising flames that kissed the fresh logs that laid over the coals, pulling them out quickly as he prepared to remove the two bolt heads that had been firmly embedded in his side. He loosed a gutteral growl as he placed the tongs on the remnants of the shaft, pulling it out carefully, trying not to cause any more damage than was possible. Pulling a bolt out was never a great idea, luckily these had not been barbed, other wise his condition would have declined rapidly.
Cynraede took up a cloth from the table and shoved it in his mouth as he prepared to grab the bolt again, gripping the bolt tightly this time, ripping it out and letting it fall to the floor, the ring of metal upon stone echoing through out the small house as a muffled scream followed after. He paused for a moment, catching his breath as he could feel his heart start racing, taking the tongs up and gripping the other bolt tightly...
Another soft ring of steel rang out as the bolt head fell to the floor as the hunter bit down tightly upon the rag. Crimson leaked out his side, flowing down his pale, dirtied skin as he reached for the fire poker, knowing what must be done...
He gave one last howl of pain, that had been muffled yet again by the rag in his mouth. The hunter set the fire poker back up as he went to the small basin, rinsing the now burned wounds carefully, trying to wash the ashy dirt from his body.
Cynraede lifted the cold wated to his face, letting it run down his dry skin as he walked through the house, sitting down on his old trunk while he started to undress so he could finish his wash.
The hunter walked into the place he used as a room, sitting down on his old trunk as he tried to slide the boots on over the woolen boot socks that covered his feet. He looked over to the tunic that lay across the table, the deep blue fabric over the leather and light chain link mail, but he stopped for a moment and shut his eyes as a smile.
Her hair, spotted with mud and swamp water. Her bright eyes looking up to him, soon bursting with tears. His heart broke inside as he sat there for a moment. Had he hurt her? Did the works he meant in jest sound as if he was trying to break her down? He wondered if she knew of the task Alkawen sent him on, relieving the world of the whom harmed her, removing his filth from the earth.
Cynraede sat up with a a grunt as he felt the pain shoot through his body once more. He took a soft roll of bandage, something he had stocked up on as of late, and wrapped it carefully around his stomach and ribs, pulling it firmly, but not tightly as he tied it gently. He gave a soft sigh as he looked over to his tunic, walking over to the table as he began to dress himself for the Lady's presence.
The hunters cleaned and buffed boots sounded in a soft thump as he walked along the stone pathway to arrowhaven, the grey cloak softly flowing with the gentle breeze that often passed through the beautiful village. He could not help but smile as he reached the Manor, for he knew, or hoped the Lady would be inside. They had not talked since he brought her the head of Aphar, the east man. Though as he walked through the door and peered down the short hall, he smiled widely as he leaned up on the post.
There she sat, smiling as she ate and converesed with the dwarf who sat opposite her.
