Watching the prince storm off Roland collapsed onto the bed they had provided for him. The pain of the rib was starting to hurt worse. “I don’t think its just dislocated.” His voice quivered as he tried to remember what it could be. He had felt this pain before but it had been when he was with his knight master the first year he was a Squire.
/ / /
“if you’re going to whine all the way to the border I will send you back with the first pack wagon telling your father that I was wrong in taking you as my squire.” Sir Randen looked back at the young man he had taken as his Squire. It was not that the young prince was spoiled but he had not known the pain of lose that most of the other squires had. Most of the others had lost more than one family member to the Elves.
“I am sorry sir but my side hurts more than usual. Weapons master Keyven most have hurt me more than I thought.” The young man’s voice rasped out as he fought back tears. It would be unbecoming of the crown prince to cry in front of his knight master. “If we could just rest a bit I think I could go on.”
“Do you think that you could stop and rest as the elves are fallowing behind you as you lead your man to better ground to fight? Do you think they would say ‘no take your time we can use the rest to.’?” He looked back just in time to see his squire start to wobble in the saddle. “Tough it out boy, we can’t have a weak prince.”
Roland had passed out, he remembered that and the village healer they had been lucky to find the next day. His ribs on his left side had been broken and one had worked its way almost into his chest.
/ / /
“oh gods no.” slowly he pushed himself up and wobbled over to the door. He was not going to pass out this time, he would make it to that healer. “damm that stupid prince.” He muttered as he wobbled into the hall. As he fell on his side he tried to bite back a yelp of pain.