frøm rîçhëš to ràgs {crystal only <3}

[~echo~]

Wren looked down again. "I... I'll do anything. Name it. I just need to help him."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

The man narrowed his eyes. "A favor," he said finally. "I have six months to collect a favor from you. No questions asked."

[~echo~]

Wren felt nervousness gather in her stomach, but she nodded. "Yes, anything. Just help us."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

The man shrugged and then nodded. "Very well. I do hope you at least brought me a horse?"

[~echo~]

Wren nodded and rushed over to the third horse which had been tethered to her horse's saddle. She untethered it, and led it towards him. "Here. Do you have any supplies you need to bring?"

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Let me grab my satchel," he said. He disappeared inside the house and returned a few seconds later with a bag over his shoulder. He stepped out of the house and closed the door behind him. Now outside, the other two got their first good look at him. He wasn't an old man, maybe 35, but he had a haggard look of someone much older. His brown hair was dull and messy, and yet his green eyes had an undeniable gleam to them.

[~echo~]

Wren took only a second to look at him before rushing to mount her horse. "Come, it's this way."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aldric followed her and swiftly mounted his own horse. The healer, on the other hand, approached the horse with a wary look in his eyes. As he got closer, the horse snorted and stamped its hoof, causing him to freeze.

[~echo~]

Wren watched impatiently as he piddled around the horse. "Please sir... haven't you ever ridden a horse before?"

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Of course I have," he snapped. "Just... not for a long time." He continued forward, edging around the horse's head to get to its side. After a few failed attempts, he clumsily pulled himself up into the saddle.

[~echo~]

Wren sent a meaningful look at Aldric, then clicked to her horse and set off at a steady canter. "If we continue at this pace, we can make it back a little after nightfall."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aldric led his horse to the other man's side and grabbed the reins. "We'll be here all day if I let you figure out on your own how to steer," he said. The healer glared at him but didn't protest as Aldric clicked the horses into motion.

[~echo~]

Wren gave a tight smile over her shoulder but continued, expecting Aldric to be able to help him.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aldric ended up leading the man's horse the whole way back, while the healer sat sullenly in the saddle, his hands gripping the horse's mane.

[~echo~]

Wren led the way into the city, towards the beautiful castle on top of the hill. She hoped they weren't too late. "Quickly!" she shouted to the two behind her, and had her horse begin galloping as fast as it could.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

It was difficult for Aldric to keep up, leading the other horse, but they managed to reach the castle a minute after Wren. The soldier jumped to the ground and then hauled the man from the saddle, ignoring his angry protests.

[~echo~]

Wren looked back to them and motioned for them to hurry up. "Come on. We have to get there soon!"

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aldric started to drag the man toward Rylan's room, but the healer jerked away. "I can walk on my own, thank you." He stalked ahead of the soldier, following Wren.

[~echo~]

Wren led the way swiftly, worrying about what had happened while they had been gone. "Come on, we're almost there.." She burst into Rylan's room. "We're here, we got the healer."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

The woman by his bed looked up when they entered. "He's been in and out of consciousness," she told them. "I don't think he has much time left."

The healer swept past Wren and walked to the lord's bed. "Someone get me a chair," he grunted.