Valhala
Chapter 17
Howie and Athos
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*Knock! Knock!*
Howie cracked open an eye and took a look around. The sun was just barely beginning to peak above the horizon. "Goway" he muttered and buried his head in the pillow.
*Knock! Knock!*
"Come on now Howie! Tis a candlemark till proper sunup; time to break your fast and get to work" a cheerful voice called from the door.
Howie groaned into his pillow. How the hell could Athos sound so fucking cheerful this early in the morning? "I'm up, I'm up" he called sitting up to rub the sleep from his eyes. He looked over at Breeze, who was still sleeping with her head tucked her wing. "Wakey *yawn* wakey Breezy honey" Howie called to his Goshawk.
'You wake...I sleep'
"Not fair, if I have to get up so do you" he protested walking over to her and caressing her back.
'Leave alone...sleeping'
"Fine" he muttered walking over to the door and opening it to find Athos waiting for him with a grin. How the hell does he manage to look so damn sexy this early as well? he asked himself. "Why are we getting up at this hour?" he asked stretching himself up as far as he'd go.
"Because today we start thee's training. Come, let's go see what Aletha has cooked this fine morn" he said linking his arm with Howie's and half dragging him down the hell.
"How can you be so cheerful?" Howie asked yawning again. Although at the moment he was pretty content himself what with Athos holding on to him like that.
"Tis a fine morning Howie" he replied. And being in thee's presence is enough to make anyone cheerful he thought happily.
After breakfast Athos took Howie to the healer's ward of the palace. As they walked through Howie was hit with a hailstorm of emotions, from pain and suffering to shamefulness and fret. He put his hand to his head and moaned softly. "Athos" he whispered.
Athos looked over at Howie, his face full of concern and then with shame "Stupid me" he muttered to himself. He looked at Howie and concentration for a moment and Howie felt the emotions blot out a bit, to the point where they weren't overwhelming. "Better lad?" he asked.
Howie smiled "Much, but what did you do exactly?" he asked.
"Oh, I shielded you. You can still pick up on emotions but they won't be slamming thee in the face."
"Thanks Athos. So where do we start?" he said looking around.
"Come, we'll work on the physical aspect of healing first, then the mental" he said taking Howie over to one of the men lying on the pallets along the wall. "This is Lukie. He broke his wrist when Lothos threw him off his back" Athos said chuckling slightly.
"It's not funny Athos" Lukie said pouting.
"It wouldn't be if you didn't deserve it. You called Lothos a 'hay-brained, four footed mashhead' and you wonder why you got thrown off" Athos replied shaking his head. Howie stifled a chuckle.
"He called me a two-footed freak" Lukie replied.
"Well you are" Athos shot back. "Anyway, Howie is my trainee and he's gonna heal your wrist."
Howie stepped up to him and gently took Lukie's wrist in his hand "Athos"
"Just concentrate on the break of the bones. See them in your mind and wrap your energies around them. See them fusing together in your mind and push the energies into him."
Howie nodded and did just that, closing his eyes in concentration and humming softly. A glow passed from his hands to Lukie's wrist and encompassed it for a few moments then faded. Howie opened his eyes "Done" he said with a smile.
Lukie grinned back "Cool. It feels fine. You did good for a trainee" he said winking at Howie and grasping his hand.
Howie could feel the blush on his cheeks and gently pulled out of Lukie's grasp "Thanks Lukie. Athos, what's next?" he asked turning to his trainer. Is it just me or did Athos look jealous for a moment. He shook off the thought, which only made him blush harder and waited for a reply.
"Come on Howie let's go over to the burn unit. I'll show you how to do superficial burns now" he said taking a hold of Howie's hand and gently leading him across the ward.
"Ok..." he was cut off when screaming pierced his *inner* ears and he was slammed full on with a deep feeling of pain, physical as well as mental. Try as he might to get a grip on these emotions they were just coming in too fast for him to respond. Athos looked over at him just as Howie was sagging to the floor, his face a mask of concentration and pain. Athos linked with him quickly and threw a stronger shield around Howie, enough that he could relax and be coherent. "It's Kevin, he and Jakara are in trouble" he whispered as he regained his footing. "We've got to go, now!" he said pulling away from Athos and taking off towards the stone courtyard where Jakara and Kevin were having their lesson.
"Right behind you Howie" Athos said taking off as well.
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