13- LEGEND OF NEVETSECNUAC - THE UNEXPECTED VISITOR - SECTION 3

Back at the wooden Cabin, life had gone on as before, with few exceptions and minor adjustments. Now, since the day of Tekuob’s outcry, (the day of Nevetsecnuac’s near death experience because of the poisoning) she had been ailing in health but in her stubbornness, she had refused all Lord Asger Thuxur Marrog Zhon’s sensible entreaties to take it easy.

 

01- TEKUOB AND THE TWINS - jp

Compounding the difficulty, the summer months in these high altitudes came to a much swifter end, and the harsher climate indigenous to this mountain expectantly brought along with-it perilous conditions and untold dangers!

Having reckoned with three calamitous events already, the wary inhabitants of the cabin had barely time to rest when fresh disaster struck them: in this case unfortunately, the victim being Tekuob, and the culprit, none other than a large venomous Dakoe viper, the most dreaded kind of all!

This Dakoe viper long since thought extinct, seeking shelter from the harsh elements had seen fit to make his home in the large wooden barrel vat that contained a safe (eatable) variety of dried mushrooms and complimentary greens. This and other such reserves (such as berries, eatable roots, dried vegetables, dried mint, spices, grain, fodder etc.), were usually stored in clay (earthen) bins or wooden barrels alongside stacks of firewood for the use in winter months, at the northern sector of the stables.

Tekuob, in the course of her duties (daily chores) had encountered and unfortunately then been bitten by this deadly asp (Dakoa), had therefore nearly perished.

By providence (chance) Asger being at proximity and therefore responding to her sharp outcry swiftly, he had promptly terminated the culprit, as well, timely extracted the poison from her arm. As it was, the identification of the viper had been the key component (essential factor) in her effective treatment and ultimate survival. A second strike from such a viper would have brought about her instantaneous demise. No amount of effort would then have delivered her from the jaws of death.

 

01- TEKUOB AND THE TWINS - jp

Even so, despite Asger’s untiring and competent care, she had remained in a comatose state for a week; her internal organs all the while undergoing one crisis after another, this being the resulting consequence, the painfully nasty side effects of this venom! With sudden reversals in her condition her erratic palpitations of heart, her battered, bruised and swollen body, unexpected elevations (rises) and drops in body’s temperature, discoloration of skin tone, all-in-all her deteriorating condition, despite the rendition of five potent (effective) treatments, had given Asger Thuxur Marrog Zhon more than once a serious fright.

Lord Asger also knew that in all the documented medical cases (in medical journals), few if any, had ever recovered fully from the effects of this dreaded viper’s venom; and the few that had survived for a time, had eventually been driven insane by the future resurgent, hazarding ramifications. With this inevitability weighing heavily on Asger’s mind, he had nevertheless concentrated on the present situation at hand and, with vigilant care did all humanly possible and more, to deliver Tekuob from the imminent danger and to prolong her life.

 

Eventually, by degrees, after weeks of meticulous tending, she had beaten the worst odds and regained the use of her limbs and the full faculty of her senses. Once the destructive cycle had been averted (forestalled), her body had to still overcome the complications, the expected side-effects from the ingested, and (in its own right) highly toxic, antidote. With slow, painful road to recovery well under way, Teukuob, though still indisposed, last few days had even begun showing gradual but definite signs of improvement in her overall condition.

Lord Asger, shouldering the full burden of worry, kept her ominous future-health- prognosis - that at any time and without probable cause she could suffer a relapse resulting in her painful end- from Tekuob, so as not to impede (encumber) her recovery.

  

                                                                             ~

  

Now at about this juncture in time, Fiery Comet’s sudden arrival at nightfall in a stormy weather without a rider, compounded Lord Asger’s trepidation; he had secretly anticipated in absence of any news from Nevetsecnuac this dreaded outcome for some time now and, Fiery Comet’s present disheveled (shabby, scruffy) condition confirmed some of his worst fears!

 

03- LORD ASGER MARROG ZHON (154)  JP

Lord Asger Thuxur Marrog Zhon, not wishing to hamper Tekuob’s fragile convalescence, decidedly, for the time being at least, strove to keep this bad portent, from her. He swiftly confined the horse to the stable and fed him fodder; then later that night, as soon as he could get away, he tended to the mount’s other needs, such as cleaning him (wiping the sweat off his body) and tending to his multitude of cuts, bruises, and wounds.

Asger’s efforts bearing fruit, in no time at all Fiery Comet’s wellbeing, at least in part, was restored; only, his indomitable spirit lacked the usual fiery zeal, for he had sensed and shared the depth and breadth of Lord Asger’s silent inconsolable grief and inwardly shed tears!

Also understanding Lord Asger’s desire for secrecy, in ready compliance, he kept the noise level down to a minimum (like his neighing or stomping) even those times when he was let outside to roam free in the dense forest.

  

                                                                                      ~

  

For five days now, continuous strong gale winds and pelting rain have wreaked havoc at everything outside. The cabin’s sturdy walls and roof, though withstanding the enormous, environmental pressures had, nevertheless, incessantly shook from the violent outbursts and relentless assaults from beasts and nature. But regardless of prevalent danger Asger had always perfunctorily risen just before dawn each and every day, as he’d done for over two decades, to tend to morning chores- in this case, caring for Fiery Comet, investigating and securing the perimeter before he washed up and returned back to the cabin with an adequate supply (stack) of firewood and bucket of water.

Subsequently, Lord Asger Zhon had been busy kindling the embers in the fireplace when, despite the deafening noise outside, his keen ears picked up (detected) Fiery Comet’s alarm-raising (alarming) whinnies and urgent stomping in the stable.

 

04- LORD ASGER THUXUR MARROG ZHON (150) JP

 

“What now?” Asger’s brows knitted in deep concern.

 

Expecting a likely breach (intrusion) into the stable from a carnivorous beast, a desperate foraging animal or a fowl in search of food and warmth, Lord Asger rose to his feet and after making certain that neither Tekuob nor the children were awakened, or in any way disturbed by all that commotion outside, as Tekuob was still convalescing, he opened the door to, in due haste rush outside.

He barely missed running into a disarrayed stranger brandishing none other than Asger’s own ancestral sword, the very one he had entrusted to Prince Nevetsecnuac. Before Asger’s accost (inquiry)however, the stranger with a disheveled hair, who was clad in torn and bloody garments, his face and body bearing numerous lacerations, cuts and bruises, with eyes glazed, head swooning, had suddenly dropped the sword and was about to collapse backward when, Lord Asger agilely grabbed hold of both the sword and the stranger spontaneously, before both had had a chance to hit the ground. (No small feat, as Asger had only one arm!)  

The stranger in the grip of a terrible fever, in his semi-conscious state mumbling deliriously, was at once hauled over the shoulder and quickly (got) carried into Asger’s room. Gently placed onto the bed, Asger proceeded with his quick diagnosis of the stranger’s condition; determining (seeing) that his state was not lethal, Asger armed with a staff departed the room in haste to resolve the other, more pressing concern (issue). When his subsequent brief investigation in the barn (woodshed) assured Asger that Fiery Comet was in no real danger, he laid aside his bamboo stick and stroked the steed mane to help calm him down. He next provided the steed with a bucket of water and silage (fodder, hay). As the stallion (horse) was still on edge, Asger tried talking to him to quiet him down. “Now, now… it is all right boy, patience I know, has never been one of your strong points but the storm will soon abate, and you can roam free at outside for as long as you wish. As for the stranger, frankly, in his condition he poses no threat to anyone! And besides, Nevetsecnuac would not have entrusted the sword to a foe. This is the most encouraging sign we have had in a long time. In any case, he obviously brings word from Nevetsecnuac.” Asger had mumbled this last part more for his benefit; he needed to hang on to that slightest of hope.

 

05- FIERY COMET IN BARNJP

Asger’s placating words having finally the desired effect, the mount’s persistent irritation, his repeated stomping, and neighing slowed, then altogether ceased.  “Good boy,” Asger presently rewarded the steed with four crab apples (wild apples). He then picked up the freshly filled bucket of water and headed towards the barn door.

“I must be off now, I will tend to your other needs soon after I have checked on the stranger, all right? Now behave yourself, lest you wake up Tekuob and the children!” Asger half-turned his head, just as he headed out the stable door, part serious and part jesting, admonished Fiery Comet.

Bracing against the violent, thrashing (blinding) winds and hail, Asger then quickly retraced his steps back to the cabin and seeing that all was quiet inside, proceeded to nurse the stranger back to health: In swift succession all his wounds were cleaned; deep lacerations properly tended to and bandaged; his garments were changed (into) with more appropriate ones and the old wear put aside to be later mended and cleaned. The stranger’s unconscious state had made it easier for Asger to complete these tasks swiftly; since the patient’s pulse and his vitals were quite steady and almost normal, Asger applied another cold compress over his’s slightly feverish forehead and administered to him orally the right dose of medicine, one that would help speed his recovery (healing process) and restore him to good health. Asger, having done all that he could, he left the patient snuggled in the safety of a warm quilt to sleep it off, as it would be the natural side-effect of the administered potion, and then, quietly exited the room to see his other responsibilities. Fortunately, there were still two more hours before daybreak and before Tekuob and the children awoke.

In keeping with his word, Asger went back to the barn (outbuilding, shed) to tend to Fiery Comet’s further needs; afterwards, he fetched more firewood and water and then returned to the main cabin. Preparations for breakfast were well under way (completed), feeling ill-at ease about the stranger’s (precarious) condition. He momentarily peered into the room to check in on the patient’s expected progress. When he did, the most unexpected sight greeted Asger!

 

06- THE STRANGER  - JP (1 (3)

The stranger far from sleeping it off soundly, his face free from prior lacerations and bruises and showing no signs at all of his past ordeals, was sitting bolt upright on the bed, though in a dazed state; subsequently, he lowered his gaze and then remained perfectly still!

“Remarkable,” Asger murmured, approaching the bedside. He knew that the patient should have been dead to the world for at least six more hours; for it was physically impossible for a mortal being, however, strong in stamina, to override the potent effects of the drug he had administered to him. Stroking his beard he, moreover, pondered for a moment on the stranger’s extraordinary appearance. Unless? The answers quickly came to mind. Right, he had this medicine in his possession for at least fifteen years. Though adequately stored, it still could have lost some measure of its potency (expired); meanwhile, he had quickly dismissed the other, viable, negative thought that had also crept into his mind.

As the patient did not respond to his general, polite inquiries, Asger apathetically (indifferently) picked up the cold compass lying on the floor and discarded it into the trash. He then reached for the patient’s wrist and listened carefully to the rhythm of his pulse. It was close enough to normal; the few irregularities were no cause for alarm. The liver, kidney, and lungs functioned fine. As for the slight arrhythmia of the heart (irregular heartbeat pattern, palpitations), that too, was an expected consequence of the drug… Hmm, but the stranger’s skin coloration was slightly (bit) off!

Asger’s mind was preoccupied with the successive treatment he might be using to address that peculiarity, when just then the stranger’s lowered head suddenly jerked up. His keen, probing (inquisitive, quizzical), cold eyes for a solid minute (burrowing into) were affixed on Asger; then, he scathingly (derisively) snorted and looked away. In that moment he had appeared surprisingly alert and in full command of his faculties. But when he was accosted (questioned) by Asger and he was about to respond, abruptly just then a dark curtain, a visible shadow swept across his face. His eyes dimmed, his contrite (penitent), noble and principled expression in face transforming, for a fleeting moment it became hard, vein, contemptuous, vile and seething; subsequently, his burrowing gaze softened and then shifted to that of a dumbfounded and blank (void, empty) stare!

Before Asger could positively determine the cause of stranger’s vacillating disposition

(erratic mood swings), his expression had yet again altered, this time to sheer exasperation- as if a mystically enforced catatonic disorder overriding his will, had again held him in its mercy. Try as he might, his jaws being locked as if in a vice-grip despite his intense desire at the core of his being to reply, thwarted him nevertheless from responding to any of Asger’s concerned enquiries (probes). Asger had moreover discerned those tearing pupils, the desperate cry of alarm, a heed of warning!

 

 

(END OF SECTION 3)                                                                                           ~

 

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