(no subject)

[athelstanthescribe]

Despite his friends' best efforts, Athelstan is looking a little sorry for himself when he comes down the stairs this morning. He heads for the Bar, already carrying one of Olivier's herb drinks, and receives a folded cloth soaked with cold water to apply to his head.

Comments

[guppy_sandhu]

Guppy peers at him with the cloth on his head.

"You okay?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"No", he says, unusually grumpily. "My head is going to explode."

[guppy_sandhu]

"Did they hurt you?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"Not directly. I've never drunk so much."

[guppy_sandhu]

"Ah. Do you want some painkiller medication?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"Olivier made me one of his brews. They're very good."

[guppy_sandhu]

"Fair enough. Did you have any luck escaping?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"I have little hope of that, at the moment. I can't fight, and I'm a long way from home."

[guppy_sandhu]

"I'm sorry." Guppy says. "Have you eaten?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"Something last night. Sonya and Olivier said it would be good to do."

[guppy_sandhu]

"Would you like some breakfast?"

[athelstanthescribe]

He considers this seriously, trying to decide if he can face food.

"What would you recommend?"

[guppy_sandhu]

"Toast? Something bland?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"Yes. Toast, yes", he decides. "Thank you."

[guppy_sandhu]

Guppy gets him some toast and orders a pot of tea.

"At least you can still get into here." he says. "That's something."

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan nods. "It's a great blessing, or I fear I would be lost."

[guppy_sandhu]

"At very least we can try and keep you reasonably fed."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Oh, they don't starve me", he assures him.

[guppy_sandhu]

"That's good. Are they working you hard?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"No harder than I'm capable of. Mostly it's domestic duties, some work on the farm."

Peasant stock, and monks worked hard too.

[guppy_sandhu]

"Why did they need to take you as a slave in the first place?" Guppy asks.

[athelstanthescribe]

"I doubt they needed to. We were just another commodity. But I... I speak their language. It may have made the difference."

[guppy_sandhu]

"Ah, I see." Guppy nods. "I'm sorry you were treated like a commodity. Did they take you a long way?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"A few days' sailing. I've travelled as far before but that was - different."

[guppy_sandhu]

"Do you know where they've taken you?"