A quick note before we jump in.
My next release will be 'TRC - Just A Sip - An SftS Extra' which takes place a little bit after this chapter but isn't a part of the main story line.
I only mention this because it probably won't show up with the rest of the series. If I remember, I will try to see if the admins can put it in with the rest of the SftS chapters.
Thank you all so much for reading, it really means a lot that you all enjoy my stories! :D
Enjoy!
-Blu
Chapter 17
He slowly opened his eyes and sat up in bed. Groaning, he put a hand to his head in an attempt to quell his pounding headache. The sound of someone running across wooden floorboards preceded the door to his bedroom flying open. A dark-haired, olive-skinned woman wearing the plain brown dress meant for working on a farm stood there, her eyes wide with tears of happiness shining in the corners.
She screeched something that he thought was supposed to be his name, but her mouth was full of food. From the looks of the sunlight streaming in through the window, it was still morning and he must have interrupted the woman's breakfast.
Running around to the side of the bed, she jumped in beside him and wrapped her arms around his chest. In her excitement to see him, she must have completely forgotten about the contents of her mouth and her first few words came out as a jumbled mess.
The man cringed as she jostled him, groaning again at the pain that flared in his head. He also cringed at the sight and sound of the woman swallowing a mouthful of food in one gulp, that couldn't have been comfortable.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" she said, sitting up as she apologized frantically. "I was just so happy to see you were finally awake I couldn't help myself!"
"Have I been asleep long?" he asked.
"Three days, ever since Bonn threw you."
"Bonn?" the name seemed to trip a memory. "The horse?"
The woman nodded, "something on Bonn's tack broke and you were heading into town to have it repaired. He came back without you a little while later. As far as anyone could tell something spooked him and he threw you.
"I couldn't lift you, so I had to go into town and get help, the physician came along to look you over."
"Telsin has a physician?" that seemed strange, why would the town need a physician?
She nodded. "He said that you hurt your head pretty bad and might have sprained an ankle. He was really worried that you didn't wake up, even with smelling salts. Before he left, he said there was a chance you might not be the same person when you woke up, or that you might not remember things." Her voice became somber, "He also said that you might not wake at all and just waste away from not being able to eat or drink. After three days, I was getting really worried that was going to happen."
"You said something about losing memories?"
"Yes. Why?" she asked, tilting her head in curiosity even as a hint of fear made its way into her expression."
"Um..."
"You... you don't remember me... do you?" The tears of joy were now replaced by those of hurt as the man slowly shook his head.
"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised," she said as she began to sob. "We haven't been together very long and have only been married a couple of weeks."
The man's eyes widened in shock, "You're my wife?!"
Looking miserable the woman nodded. "I ran away from my family's merchant caravan to be with you and now you don't even remember who I am." Hiding her face in her hands she collapsed to the bed. "But you remember the name of the hoooorse!" she wailed, bawling into the bedcovers.
"Wait! Wait!" he said in a panic before gathering the woman into his arms. He grunted from the pain in his head from the quick movement but ignored it out of concern for this woman who was apparently his wife. "It seems to be related to people only. I remember Telsin and my horse, but I can't remember the names of anyone who lives in town." There was a long pause as his eyes widened in surprise. "Actually... I can't even remember my own name."
The news seemed to alleviate the woman's sadness and she was quickly composing herself. "You're a liar," she finally said, sulking. "I called out your name when I first came in."
"You had a mouthful of breakfast, I couldn't make out a word you said."
Embarrassed the woman blushed. "I did, didn't I." The man waited for a moment before making a motion with his hand that he was expecting her to continue. "Oh! Kal! Your name is Kal."
Kal... that's..." the man gritted in agony, a hand going to his temple as his head throbbed. A confusing image of a woman with blue skin flashed in his mind before being swept away by the pain. A few seconds later he tentatively opened one eye as the feeling faded.
Looking down at the woman, who was staring up at him with concern, he asked, "So I'm Kal. What's your name?"
"Rowan."
"Rowan... Certainly doesn't sound like a name from a girl born in Telsin, then again you have a very different look than the townsfolk as well."
She smiled up at him. "You certainly weren't complaining during our first night together, or second, or third. You spent so much money to be with me while we were here, but you stole my heart when you offered to buy me from the caravan."
"Spent money? Buy you? Were you a prostitute?"