[VanimaEdhel]

Izrênna and Deorlin set off early the next morning. Deorlin tried his best to hide his injury. He wanted to catch up to the others. Sadly, however, his wound, he could feel, was worsening as they moved on. Somewhat luckily, his leg had gone numb, so he did not feel the pain of the rotting skin. He sighed as the galloped on, nearly oblivious to the scenery around them as they moved.

Izrênna urged the horse along, hoping that they would reach the river before long. It was still a good ways ahead of them, but it was probably within twenty-four hours of riding if they kept up this good pace.

She heard Deorlin let out a small grunt as the horse took a sharp turn. Izrênna's worries again returned to Deorlin's leg. Although he did not speak of his injury to her, she could tell that it was worsening again. She could feel it in the way he lifted himself, she could see it in the way he walked gingerly, and she was even beginning to smell something that was obviously the wound.

Izrênna pulled up fairly abruptly, planning on resting for a time. She felt Deorlin give a start. She aided him to a place for him to recline. Izrênna backed off a bit and tried to contemplate how to phrase her questioning of Deorlin's wellness. Finally, she came to a decision.

"Deorlin," she said, "I refuse to press on at all until you allow me to see your wound. I shall remain here with you until you let me near to you and that leg that you are obviously favoring."

She marched herself over to where Deorlin sat and ripped the bandage off. Izrênna jumped back, staring in awe at the gaping, festering wound. Deorlin gave a groan as the bandage tore at the sticky wound. Izrênna grew furious at what she saw.

"Why did you not tell me?" she demanded, "We may have been able to aid the injury in recovery again! This is now past my abilities. We cannot go on! This is your fault. Why do you insist on acting like you are well when you are obviously not!"

Seeing that Deorlin was in no position to really disagree greatly, Izrênna continued, "I could have at least tried to save the leg! I do not know if we can even do that now! Why did you feel you had the right to keep such an injury from my knowledge? This relationship was to be about trust and, not that you have broken it, you have stranded both of us here, probably to die! If you had made me aware of this injury even a day ago, I may have been able to aid you. Now...now I do not know."

Izrênna stopped herself, as she could tell that she had already nearly gone too far in her scolding of Deorlin. He sat, looking guilty at their situation but also looking scornfully at Izrênna. Izrênna paused for a second, guilt now welling up in her soul as well.

"I apologize," she said, quietly, "This is not the time for casting blame. I should have confronted you on this earlier, anyway."

Blushing, Izrênna slowly approached Deorlin who did not, surprisingly, lash out at her for her disrespect in any way. She knelt down by the infected wound and looked at it.

"Does it hurt you?" Izrênna asked. She was greeted by a nod, indicating "no". "Then it is numb?" she asked worriedly. This time, there was a nod of "yes".

Izrênna took some of their precious water and put it on a cloth. She went back to Deorlin and his wound. Even though it would probably be useless, Izrênna thought she should at least try to clean the wound and get some of the bacteria out of it.

Deorlin sat quietly as she scrubbed the injury for a time. Finally, Izrênna sat back. Although the wound was, by no means, better, Deorlin may be able to keep the leg.

"Did it help? Or is it useless?" Deorlin asked, finally speaking.

"We shall see," Izrênna said. She quickly ripped a wide of cloth from the hem of her dress and wrapped the wound tightly. She tied the ends and sat back to look at her work.

Suddenly, Deorlin let out a small groan.

"Are you regaining feeling in that leg?" Izrênna guessed, being met with a nod, "That is good," she surmised, "Having feeling should be good. Tell me if it goes numb again and I shall clean it again."

Izrênna looked at the sun, noting that there would be a few more hours of daylight. They could probably press on gently.

"We shall ride," she decided, "Let me aid you."

She helped the aching Deorlin up to the horse and she boosted him up onto the horse and mounted behind him. The two started off again, this time at a slower pace, for Deorlin's sake...