“No, it’s still in the nurse station, it’ll get picked up in a few minutes?—”
I said, “I am famished.”
“I will see if I can find you something.”
She left.
I swungm’feet tae the floor again and the movement sent spasms of pain through m’body. I looked down tae see the buckle on the front of m’belt was undone. I tried tae fasten it with one arm, the ache stealin’ the breath from m’lungs.
I gritted m’teeth as I pulled the bag of m’belongings tae m’good shoulder, threw m’cloak over m’other, and shoved m’feet in m’boots, my heels crushin’ down the back.
All of this was takin’ too long a time.
The man sharin’ the chamber asked, “Where you going?”
I grunted, “Home.”
He said, “I don’t think you get to leave yet.”
I held ontae the front of m’kilt and lumbered tae the door. “They canna stop me.” I added, “Tis probable they canna stop me.”
I watched for a moment from the shadows, peerin’ intae the intense light.
I needed tae run, but m’kilt would fall tae the floor, m’boots would fall from m’feet, and I wanted m’sword.
I could see the glint of light upon its hilt on a table across a wide empty hall. There was only one person sittin’ near it.
A woman with her back tae me. Another person neared in the passage, so I slipped intae the shadows, and got m’belt buckled, securin’ m’kilt, grittin’ my teeth against the pain. I got the cloak twisted so it was secure. Then I leaned down and pulled the back of m’boots on.
I would need tae run.
The man behind me sayin’, “You’re going to get in trouble.”
I took a deep breath, ridin’ the waves of pain. “Nae… for what?”
“I don’t know.”
“Aye, they canna hold me.” I rested my shoulder against the door, waves of anguish rollin’ through me and forced out, “I am well, tis time tae go.”
I watched until the passage was clear, then I counted three, muttered under m’breath m’clan’s war cry, ‘Cruachan!’ and rushed from the room.
It took ten steps tae cross the passage, and made it tae m’sword and dirk. I was tryin' tae be stealthy, quiet and careful in spite of the pain. I reached tae gather them in m'hand, but the woman turned and exclaimed in shock, “No, who said you can touch that!”
I yanked m’sword and dirk free and began tae run.
I ran down a long passage, through doors intae another, lamentin’ that I might be lost in a maze, but then at the end of the passage there was a glimpse of green grass and sky.
Nae one made chase, but many people leered as I raced by.
I made it tae the door and shoved through, m’eyes stingin’ from the sun. I hastened down the steps and raced across a wide field tae the woods — twas a long way, my breaths staggerin’, m’heart pounding in m’chest. With every thud of m’feet pain shot up my shoulder, causin’ me tae gasp for air. Noise roared in my ears.
I madeit tae the woods and kept running until I felt certain nae one could find me while I rested and figured out how tae work the vessel.
I dropped tae my knees behind a boulder but in the descent knocked m’breath from my lungs with the pain.Och nae.I collapsed tae my side and blew out puffs of air gripping my elbow tryin’ tae keep the pain from draggin’ me away from theconscious livin’ world, but that was the last thing I remembered for a long time.
When I wokem’shoulder was throbbin’ with pain, but I had been injured before. It took a few moments for it all tae calm enough tae pull the vessel from the wrappings on m’chest.
I laid it beside me on the boulder and then tried tae calm m’self, the pain was unbearable. My breaths were bullish — och, how my shoulder ached. I had tae pray and override it, but more concernin’ was that I was verra hungry. The ache of it causin’ my middle tae scream louder than my shoulder… almost.
