The Grey Tower

Danos was surprised when the warmth he had felt in his arm never flared into true heat. He realized he had been tense recalling the sensation of whatever Murdock Dedicated had performed on him in error. The sensation of Healing by a male channeler was different, but not truly unpleasant.

He was even more surprised when he noted that the man who was currently staring at his arm intently was actually growing a little more open and conversational. Danos could feel humour bubbling within him when the other man mentioned women’s issues but the Void allowed little expression of humour as he kept the pain at bay.

“I can only imagine that must be uncomfortable Dedicated. I myself was fortunate enough to avoid much of those topics by simply being surrounded by apprentices when my friends and I were growing into men and women. Although a room full of wool headed apprentices can grow tiresome when they are butting heads like rams,” Danos said, his voice lightening even with the Void as he relaxed some.

The sound of the other man’s voice was helping take his mind off his arm, and Danos hoped that soon the man would have reknitted his bone and flesh together. Strange how fast this Healing has become less miraculous. I suppose I’ve gotten to know too many of the men and women with the One Power, hard to see them the way I viewed Marzell Sedai, Danos thought to himself. He wondered if the Sister would even recognize him as the same apprentice she had saved from shock.

“I understand what you mean about landing here though. In some ways it is a bit like classes for us Ji’alantin. We are taught about battles, commanding men, and the various skills and tactics of many great warriors. And yet many of us hope to protect a single ward for our lives here at the Tower. Still I suppose the ones called to each purpose eventually find their way,” Danos said in reply to the man’s story of how he had eventually ended in the Infirmary.

“No offense taken Dedicated, it was stupid to let a brawl between some of the Drin’far’ji cause me to lose my concentration. I have no doubt that many of the accidents you treat are the result of carelessness, thankfully we are not allowed live steel until we have outgrown most of our woolheadiness,” Danos said with a small grin.

Danos felt the warmth end abruptly and the Dedicated stood, releasing the arm which he had been healing. As the other man instructed him to ensure he ate the stew, that the protein in the meat would be good for his body as it recovered, Danos nodded absently. He was well acquainted with the demands Healing placed on his body, and had fortunately never truly developed a taste for the wine that was so often served here.

Broth and meat would be well received though, and he knew he could always grab some hard cheese and bread later if he still felt hungry. Luckily with his size and Ji’alantin jacket none in the kitchens questioned him when he ate beyond meal times.

Flexing his arm a few times, he was amazed to see the skin was now unbroken, the wounds sealed and healed. Even the bone deep ache he had felt was under control, and as he released the Void he was relieved to find the pain and discomfort were easily handled.

“Thank you Dedicated, I owe you my arm and from what you said earlier a lifetime of freedom from pain. I for one am glad you found your way here. I don’t have any questions that I can think of, and if it troubles me I will seek you out for further help, but it feels as good as my nameday. If you could tell me your name, so I might inquire if I need any further help,” Danos said politely, not wanting to just dismiss the man now that his arm was healed, but knowing the Dedicated was liable to be busy with many demands on his time.