Into the Fold by Chase Blackwood

Author:Chase Blackwood [Blackwood, Chase]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-09-10T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter 36

“Knowledge is but a treasure, locked within the chest, forever waiting to be opened.” Lost Verses of the Book of Khein

Aeden awoke slowly and painfully.

He peeled an eye open. It was an attempt to uncover his whereabouts. A blurry scene of light and color accosted him. A sharp stabbing spasm rewarded his effort. Reluctantly Aeden closed his eyes and waited for the wave of discomfort to subside.

Fear danced at the edges of pain, whispering enticingly. It begged him to listen. It urged him to succumb to the possibility he’d gone blind, that he’d failed, that his quest for revenge and atonement had been forsaken.

But what of his friends? What of Adel? What of Thea?

The ebbing tide of agony died to a tolerable level and Aeden tried again. Hues of red and orange coalesced into a soupy mess, followed by yellows and greens. The torment within his head resumed, but this time he ignored it. He focused on allowing it to work through his system and fade away.

A moment passed before the dizzying array of light and color sharpened into detail. A shape moved toward him. He instinctively brought up his hands, one of which was wrapped in bandages.

“You’re awake…” a familiar voice stated.

It was a woman’s voice, but he couldn’t quite place it. His ears rang, his hand felt like it was on fire, and his head throbbed convulsively.

Where was he? What had happened?

Aeden struggled to prop himself up, only to be rewarded with a startling new wave of misery.

“Where am I?” he questioned, testing his voice.

“You’re in the medical room young man, and I suggest you lay back down.”

Aeden recognized the voice. It was Master Claire Ashdown. The realization failed to bring any answers.

He looked about, waiting for his eyes to adjust and take in the details of the room. He was on a bed. Beside him was a tray with a bowl of sour smelling herbs. Hints of vinegar, chamomile, and lavender washed over him in one nauseating wave.

“Sit back,” Master Ashdown said softly.

Aeden didn’t want to sit back. He wanted to know how he had gotten here. He wanted to know what had happened.

“Why am I here?” Aeden asked, desperate for answers.

Master Ashdown didn’t stop her small preparations as she moved to the far side of the room. The wall was lined with hundreds of small drawers, each filled with a different herb. She appeared to be placing them into a cup.

“I’ll let someone else explain why you’re here and it’s repercussions,” she said firmly as she approached, mixing the contents of the cup. “Drink this.”

Claire offered the cup to Aeden, who accepted it with his non-bandaged hand.

“It’ll help with the swelling and with the pain in your head.”

Aeden watched her for a moment, looking for any signs of malintent. There were none. He glanced briefly at the dark liquid before he emptied the contents down his throat. It was an odd mix of flavors, none of which he particularly cared for. Hints of elm, linseed, and animal charcoal lingered on his tongue.

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