Mending, Healing, And Sharing Words

The temple of Daeus is in fine order, one would never know by looking at it that an attack had taken place here only a few days ago. The walls and floors have been scrubbed clean long since, and all that lingers now is a slightly stronger scent of cleaners in the air than is perhaps usual.

This is to say nothing of those who require healing however. Of which there were many. Having sent word to Seldan that he should not be expected for some time due to his duties at the temple, Zeke is currently at work in care of these individuals. This is a mixture both of active healing duties - though much of that has already been attended to - and more administrative things. Currently he stands in conference with a few other clerics. Directing them to their own duties, and offering advice where it is requested or required.

After some time, the clerics drift away and Zeke is left quite alone.

Normally, Seldan would be, and had been, loath to bother Zeke, knowing that his duties at the temple held him so tightly. This warning, though, he had to give, however much he was aching, whatever his plans for afterward might be. In truth, he didn't intend to stay long, and intended to see to his own healing when he was done here.

His greetings to the Sunblades bristling at the entrance are grave and formal, and indeed, the discussion at the entrance is protracted, as not all of the Sunblades currently guarding the entrance recognize him, or are inclined to permit him access. Thus he stands at the entrance, hand spread placatingly palm-down as he explains his errand. "I bear a message for Sunguard Zeke only," he explains.

Thankfully for Seldan, Zeke - having dispensed with the meeting, is passing by at that very moment. He sees and recognizes his kin immediately, and turns from his path toward the man standing at the entrance of the temple. "Kin!" He says with real warmth, his tail already shifting back and forth with pleasure. "Peasssce on your nesst."

Zeke's greeting has some effect on the Sunblades whom clearly know Zeke himself if not Seldan specifically. The blue-scale looks at the guards and nods politely. "Thisss isss the Ssssilverguard Ssseldan. He isss thisss onesss kin; if you would permit him to passs, thisss one would sshare wordsss with him."

Some of the Sunblades look very young, and very green, but the young ones go wide-eyed, and immediately step aside. Some of the older ones eye with more skepticism, but permit as well.

Seldan pauses, and looks at the young ones in particular. "Check for evil, without fail, would you protect the Draco Solis' holy space," he warns, quietly. "You have been taught how to do so, have you not? Oft do demons and devils take the guise of a trusted friend, that they may work their evil unnoticed."

A few nods, a brief stare, and a nod. "Pass, then," one of the older ones says gruffly.

Once inside, a nasty-looking blackened bruise is quite purple across his cheekbone and down the side of his face, and he moves and breathes with great care, and there is a twig in the ginger-blonde hair. "Peace on your nest, Zeke. I would not trouble you from your duties, but I bear a warning."

It takes all of the time that Seldan stops to speak of watching out for evil to the younger Sunblades for Zeke to make his own quiet assessment of Seldan. Thus when the other man speaks of 'merely carrying a message' the expression on Zeke's face is clearly one of doubt. Carefully, and slowly, with measured care and telegraphing the motion well, the blue-scale draws the twig from Seldan's hair. "Come kin, thissss one thinksss that there isss more than a few wordsss sspoken needed." His eyes trace Seldan's side. "Thisss one offersss thisss oness arm to lean upon if you have need."

He offers his flesh-and-blood arm to Seldan, and makes to slowly lead Seldan to the more private quarters.

Indeed, the difficulty is communicated not in the look of the armor, which is its usual pristine self, but in the way in which Seldan moves. The halting stiffness suggests that whatever it is, it is under the armor. Still, a very small smile touches the Silver Guard's lips. "I had not intended to trouble you, Zeke. I think it nothing that I cannot myself tend." He takes the arm anyway, though, leaning just a little. "More privacy would be well."

Hearing no real objection to his request, Zeke takes Seldan through the temple and to his own room. The fact that Seldan takes his arm, and uses it is something that he notes with distinction. The room itself is a simple affair which Seldan has seen on many occasions. Someone has come and taken the tea away, or more likely Zeke himself has cleared the room and cleaned it upon waking so that now it lies empty and neatly appointed. Zeke guides Seldan to take one of the seats and then fixes his green eyes upon the paladin. "You sssay the injury isss easssily cared for - will you let thisss one look at it then?"

A quiet, easy chuckle holds understanding and acceptance. "It is no good to demur with you, Zeke," Seldan observes affectionately, already going for the cloak and robe above the armor. "I knew you quite busy, and for no less than my news would I have troubled you at all. Still shall I not refuse aid kindly given." It takes a few minutes for the paladin to wrangle the moonlit armor, setting it aside piece by piece, then removing the padding beneath.

What is revealed is a fair collage of deep bruises, including something across his right side that looks especially nasty. It is dark enough to obscure the art borne by his skin, and he seats himself gingerly on the bed when that is done, breathing carefully.

Zeke's tail wags softly, but the look on his face is entirely unapologetic. "Thisss one knowss well that you mean no trouble to thisss one, but to sssee you in pain kin isss unacceptable." He moves in as Seldan reveals the wounds, his eyes thoughtful. "Thisss one musst touch, to sssee if the bonesss here are broken."

He looks for acceptance from Seldan before gently doing as he had suggested he might. "Thisss will hurt." He is not one to lie about such things, or offer false comfort, and his claws are sure and slightly more firm as he skims over Seldan's ribs. "In truth, thisss one hass newsss for you asss well, but wasss unwilling to bother you with it."

He looks up at the other man with a rueful expresssion. "We are alike in thisss."

That acceptance is given readily, for many times has Zeke tended Seldan in exactly this way. He merely lies back and lets Zeke do as he will. "Do as you must," he murmurs, although the actual touch does net him an indrawn breath and tightly set lips. Yes, that does hurt, quite a bit. "Give me your news, kin, as you work if you will. I listen."

Zeke emits a soft sigh and shakes his head. "Thessse bonesss are broken kin, not merely bruissed." He eyes Seldan a moment, but continues his examination a moment just to be sure that he has identified all the affected area. He talks as he does so at Seldan's suggestion. "There wasss an attack on thiss temple the other day. A fiend wearing the fasce of Andelena'sss kin attacked her and others here, and killed no sssmall number."

He seems grave with the giving of this news, and he pulls his fingers back only a moment so as to begin a prayer to Daeus to heal the man that is lain out on his bed. "Be ssstill a moment Ssseldan; thisss one will knit the bonesss together, and offer sssome sssmall healing too."

"Then I did well indeed," Seldan murmurs, nodding. "Better me than her. Do as you will." He stills, listening and considering the news imparted, although his expression goes dark and thunderous at the nature of it. "Here? A mighty creature indeed to break the wards. This place has seen too much of strife, and I was not here to defend it. Is she well?" There is something shallow in the breath behind the words, further confirming the diagnosis.

Seldan, so he takes up the medallion around his neck and offers his words to Daeus and touches Seldan as gently as he can and only as much as necessary for the prayer to do its work. With this completed he gently begins a reassessment. The bruises remain, but he needs to be sure that the breaks are repaired before he does any healing.

"It nearly sssucceeded in itsss effortsss to capture or kill, and we do not know with any scertainty which wasss itsss intention. Ssshe isss ssafe now however, though the temple..." Zeke glances here toward the door. "There were many wounded and they are ssslow to recover."

Seldan murmurs a rote prayer of gratitude when the healing touches him, much as he always does. It is more rote than heartfelt, though he does breathe a little bit easier. The bones themselves appear to be mended, although he's likely to hurt for days. It looks as if something - several somethings - hit him at great speed. "A great tragedy. Small wonder your duties keep you here, and yet -"

He hesitates, then. "In truth was my news something of that. A demon pair has stolen my face, and Mal's. They set upon Lady Cor'lana, and blasted to splinters her front door, and I was just fortunate enough to spare her harm. I would establish with you a means by which you may know me."

Zeke nods somewhat in approval upon finding that the ribs are fully healed. Then makes a small amused noise. Not at the prospect of a devil or demon having stolen Seldan's face, or Malik's but something else. "Ssseldan..." He hesitates here because the truth is that soft-skins are sometimes sensitive on this subject. "Thisss one will alwaysss know you. There isss no way that thisss one would think that a fiend were you. At leassst... not for long."

At first, Seldan is confused, but catches on before long. "Of course. The scent would not lie." He remains where he is for the moment, staring at the ceiling. "Still would it be well for you to be wary. It is in my mind that they be of Eclavdran, or once so."

Zeke nods respectfully. "Thisss one will be sssure to sscent thossse around thisss one with more care in the future; to be more scertain of their origin. It isss very likely that they onsce ssserved Eclavdran if they know you well enough to pretend to be you. Ssimilarly with your mate." He glances at Seldan's bruised side. "Would you like thisss one to finisssh healing you, or would you prefer to do ssso?"

"I would have you save all that you may to aid the victims of the attack, Zeke. I can tend to myself, and lend aid besides, if you would have me." Closing his eyes and crossing his arms across his chest, he does just that, the rote prayers that focus his mind, repetitive and lasting for some moments. Silver light forms beneath his hands, and the bruising melts away. "I would speak with Lady Cor'lana as well, but she wishes for no visitors, and those shall I honor. Instead would I offer what I may to aid you."

"More handsss are alwaysss welcome; you know thisss kin, and yourssss more than othersss at leassst have sssome ssskill and knowledge of healing yesss?" Zeke wags his tail. "Wait a moment here, and let the healing that thisss one hassss given sssettle completely, and thisss one will have tea brought to you. When it isss gone; join thisss one and we will do what we can for thossse that remain."

Very gently, and of his own accord Zeke lays his hand on Seldan's shoulder briefly, giving the other man a fond look. Then, brooking no argument to his suggestion, he leaves to get someone to bring tea.

-End