Soon, Jax arrived with a detachment of city guards. They had already been instructed to arrest the eight half-orcs, along with a few other rowdy patrons, to make sure it didn't look like a targeted ambush. However, they could only capture seven of them alive, for the eighth was already dead. The guards arrested fifteen people in total and marched them toward the barracks. The tavern was closed for the night.
Fawnia and Zara helped Lorian up slowly, "My Lord, can you walk? Are you feeling any better?"
Lorian let out a pained groan, "I don't know. I'm sorry for the trouble, but please... just help me get back to the palace."
Grisel and his daughter, along with the four retainers, bowed low, their faces were full of guilt, "Please do not apologize, My Lord. It was our duty to protect you, and we failed. We deserve punishment."
Lorian managed a painful smile, "Fine. You are hereby punished to carry me back to my room. As for your other punishment... I will inform you of that in the coming days."
The group's expressions darkened, unsure of what he meant, but they obeyed. Lorian walked out, his weight resting heavily on the shoulders of Kaelen and Jax.
The path back to home appeared unusually long, it was creepily silent. And as it was late night, the road was lonely anyway. Each of the five people seemed to be lost in their own thoughts. However, when they finally reached the palace premises private, the awkward silence suddenly broke into chaos. The palace guards, seeing their Lord injured, started panicking. Ripple of the panic reached the inside before the five. Maids rushed to inform Lady Seraphina, and soon the entire palace was buzzing with news of Lorian's accident.
Erasmus Vane, the Master Physician, was summoned immediately. The old physician hurried to the Lord's chamber, still shaking off the remains of sleep, followed closely by a deeply worried Queen Mother.
Lorian seemed to be in deep pain. He winced and twisted every time Erasmus Vane touched his back. The old physician rubbed his white beard, looking deep in thought, as if a serious problem was weighing on his mind.
"Is everything alright with my son, Master Vane?" Seraphina asked, her voice was heavy with concern, "Will he be alright?"
The physician carefully ran his fingers over Lorian's back before turning to her.
"There is one bit of good news, My Lady; I don't believe the bone is completely broken. If it had snapped, the Prince would have passed out from the pain long before he reached this bed. But," he paused, his expression turning serious, "the situation is still very dangerous. I suspect there are several hairline cracks spreading across the bone like a shattered window."
He adjusted his spectacles and continued, "I will prepare some strong tonics to dull the pain and help the bone heal, but medicine can only do so much. He needs complete rest. For the next month, he is not to leave this bed. No walking, no riding, and certainly no 'business' outside the palace. The more he stays perfectly still, the faster the bone can knit itself back together. If he tries to move too soon, those cracks will open wider. He could end up with a permanent limp that no amount of gold can fix. I trust you will make sure he listens, Your Highness? We all know the Prince's mind moves much faster than his feet."
Lorian felt a spark of excitement at that last line, but he kept his face neutral and made a mental note to talk to the old man later.
Lady Seraphina pressed on, "Master Vane, what if we contact the Temple of Meni and ask for their best healer?"
Lorian quickly cut in, "We know how the Priests of Meni work. They don't give their 'grace' for free. They trade in favors and 'pious donations'. I'd rather lie in bed for a month than have the High Priest breathing down my neck for a seat on the Trade Council. I'll take Vane's bitter tonics instead."
Vane nodded in agreement, "Also, Your Highness, the trauma is near the spine. Magical healing at this stage could cause the nerves to bind incorrectly. It requires a slow, natural mending- not a Priest's hammer. One wrong surge of light and our Lord may be walking with a limp for the rest of his life. I would suggest not taking that risk."
Seraphina saw the logic in their words and sighed, nodding her consent. Master Vane bowed to Lorian. "Then, My Lord, please allow me to leave. I will return tomorrow morning with your medicine. I believe you have much to discuss with your family."
Lorian smiled weakly, "Thank you, Master Physician. The Thorne family is grateful for your service. Go and rest."
The physician left, taking the worried staff with him. Only Kaelen, Elara, Jax, Zara, and Seraphina remained.
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
The following morning, the whole palace was buzzing with a strange excitement. The Gilded Hall had been prepared for the first General Assembly under Lorian's leadership. He had called the meeting himself, and merchants, guild leaders, and high-ranking officials from all over Veridia had come to see how the new Lord would lead the city in the future.
However, as the appointed time for the court's proceedings drew closer and there was still no sign of the Lord's appearance; people started getting confused. Worried murmur slowly became restless loud buzzing. A wave of disappointment surge and swept across the Gilded Hall as word spread that the Lord was badly hurt and was instructed not to move. While the courtiers stood in the grand hall debating whether they should postpone the meeting, a royal messenger arrived amidst them, with an urgent message from the Inner Chambers. He conveyed the Lord's instruction- tthe meeting would not be canceled or postponed to a later date. It would simply be moved to the Prince's Private Apartments.
The crowd followed the order without protest, mostly out of curiosity to see what would happen next. With this move, the power center of Veridia shifted from the cold, public opulence of the Gilded Hall to the quiet shadows of the palace's private wing.
In the Antechamber- the large sitting room just outside the bedroom- the bulk of the crowd gathered. Lesser officials and guild masters stood shoulder-to-shoulder, whispering in hushed tones while glancing through the double doors. Inside the Bedchamber, the city's most powerful lords formed a semi-circle around the massive bed. Lorian's retainers, the Queen Mother, and the High Physician stood close by.
The room smelled of bitter herbs and expensive incense. Lorian was sitting up on his bed; his back was resting against a mountain of soft white pillows. He was looking pale and exhausted. As the final guests arrived, a heavy silence fell over the room.
Lorian slowly turned his head toward the crowd, scanning their face thoroughly. Then he started addressing in a voice which was raspy, yet carried a commanding authority,
"My Lords, Ladies, and Masters of the Guilds," Lorian began, offering a quick, tired smile, "I had intended for us to meet in the Gilded Hall. But as you can see, my original plan has been... interrupted."
A few sympathetic nods rippled through the crowd.
"Master Vane has strictly ordered me to take total rest. He speaks of hairline cracks and the danger of movement," Lorian continued, his gaze still drifting across the faces of the men in the room, "But Veridia does not stop moving just because its Lord is confined to a bed. The business of our docks, the safety of our roads, and the shadows that threaten our peace wait for no physician's command. I have summoned you here, to my private quarters, because I refuse to let a broken back stand in the way of our duty. We shall proceed."