Misery in Tides
For a long while all she could think about was how dry her mouth had been. No matter how many times she swallowed it had been like a hot, barren wasteland scratching inside her throat.
It was hard to concentrate.
Finally Kaevia removed her hand from the side of Abashka’s temple and the shaken heel of her palm lifted to draw along her forehead, “I think that might be enough for today.” her words tumbled out. She was sweating terribly; never once did she do well in extreme heat or cold. The desert was certainly not her favorite location and if it was one thing she hated it was sand in nearly every nook and cranny of one’s body besides between their toes. This was no simple walk along the beach.
Rocking back to her calves, Kaevia’s trembling fingers drew over her flesh that felt like it was one fire, she had exerted too much energy for too long. Abashka expelled a deep breath past his maw and the Tol’vir rested back against the dry plush behind him within the tent. At least they were thankful for the rays that the tent blocked. It was hard to tell if it was worse within the confines of the tent itself or if one were better off daring it out in the blinding sun. There was really no escaping the sauna-like sensation.
“What did you find?” Abashka finally asked tiredly.
“The same as yesterday. I know this seems like there is no end in sight but you won’t be afflicted forever, these things take time. We will try again tomorrow.”
“And the next day?”
“And the next day, if that is what it takes. Get some rest in the meantime.” Kaevia had reached for the water basin as Abashka settled himself comfortably, even his eyes decided to lid and the wet cloth met his forehead. He had been riddled with nightmares and tormented by hallucinations since before Kaevia’s arrival to Ramkahen. Since, she had been Mender to a list of people from some Physicians who had been experiencing Nightmares as well, a Wastewanderer and several of the Tol’vir Priests within the area. It could have been a matter of time before she too could experience the same afflictions.
“Some day I’ll travel to this Eversong woods of yours. Clear water and lush grass. It sounds like our oasis.” he spoke with a grumble and hum.
“A lot less hot than it is here.” she chuckled in response and she watched Abashka. Having nothing else to say he seemed at peace for the moment and drifting thanks to exhaustion – the heavy rise and falls of his chest was enough of a sign for Kaevia to duck out of the tent and into the bright sun above.
The warm and wet rag in her hand was smoothed over her slender fingers several times and instantly she felt the radiating heat pelting down to her flesh once exposed to it.
Weeks.
She had been away from Eversong for weeks though correspondences arrived daily from all sorts: her mother, Whitstan, Silvia and updates with the children, her Uncle Areus even wrote once and then there is the constant gossip and chatter shared between her and the rest of the Keepers. The Smoking Crow was doing well enough in her absence – thank the Light for those she had under her employ that were capable.
Everything aside, she was still in need of wares, certainly a quick letter to her trusted ‘apothecary’ would do the trick. With a squint to her eyes, Kaevia bested the bright rays and meandered back to her own tent, fighting the deep desire to want to die with how terrible the heat had been to her. In her mind, she complained about it daily. However the prayers for soothing chills turned troublesome in the evenings when the sand and moons brought freezing temperatures along the dunes – this place was terrible. But compared to the nightmares the Priests and others faced in Ramkahen, she abolished all words expressing such; keeping it inward.
The Confessor knelt along the small tray that had been carefully placed along the side of her bedroll and belongings as she began working her way through a letter penned for one Miss. Shiverflame.
@whitstanwilhelm - @areussunrael - @nyllae-shiverflame for mentions.
