IV
536 Words
IVWHEN I WOKE, I SMELLED the dust and sneezed. Of course that made my leg hurt. But the cushions underneath me felt good, as well as a cotton pillowcase-covered pillow. I hadn't luxuriated in a real bed for a long time. The wool blanket scratched, but the deep smell of natural fibers was another scent I hadn't experienced for too long.
All brought back memories of earlier times I'd interacted with humans. Good and bad.
The narrow room held this bunk opposite a workbench. It looked like she had been using it for potting. A large set of windows was above the bench and gave a decent amount of light through the dingy panes. Enough to see the rest of the rustic room. All the walls were covered with hanging tools and shelves that held glass bottles and plastic containers made from cutting off the tops of jugs and bottles. Screws, bolts, nuts, and seed packets filled up most of these.
The single bunk was leftover from a time where the farm needed part-time labor. And the layout said that there used to be more of these bunks, but the room had become more of a work-shed since then.
I sat up to feel my leg. It still hurt, but had healed quite a bit. I cast another healing spell on it to finish it up. That healing would take a few more days, but I'd be good to travel after that, with a staff to lean on.
The outer door opened and Beth came in at that point, a concerned look on her face.
"Hi-ya, Beth!" I spoke as cheerfully as I could.
Her worry eased at this, and she was able to smile slightly. She looked tired after all she had been through. "Hi Trimble, how's the leg?"
"Better, thanks. I put another spell on it, and it will be good to go in a few days." I replied.
Her face got quizzical at this, one eyebrow raised. Even without makeup, her face had laugh lines and a smooth quality that was appealing in simple ways to any man, let alone a male nymph.
"Here, sit down, take a load off. " I pointed to the unused portion of the bunk.
She eased into it with a sigh. "Well, the chores are done, and so I came to check on you. But thanks be that you nymphs aren't as difficult to treat as humans. We'd be months healing a broken leg otherwise." Then she paused and looked toward the other end of the bunkhouse, opposite where she came in. "I just have to ask - what's this spell stuff? And what was it that you and I did out there to that 'troll'?"
I smiled at this. "You really have no clue, do you? I count myself so lucky to have found you when I did. You have a really rare gift. Maybe one in ten million inherit what you have. It might not be the best time to start your training, but we don't have much other choice."
Her face went wide-eyed, then frowned in serious lines. "Rare gift - training - wait, why aren't there other choices?"
I tried not to look too serious to reply to her. "Others are coming, and not just more trolls."
- Writer
