In Another Era

Chapter 6: Medication

Chapter 6: Medication

"We should find you a physician as quickly as possible," Archie said as he inspected Kenric's wound again.

"I'm fine," Kenric grunted. "I'll have the doctors at the castle look at it once we are back."

"I do not think you should ride for long in this state, sire." Archie frowned. "Is there any village nearby where we might find a physician?"

"There is one we can reach before the sun sets but I am okay, Archie. You need to stop worrying about me." On cue, as soon as Kenric said that, he felt a sharp pain in his head, making him wince. It did not go unnoticed by the stable boy.

"You clearly are not," Archie said. "When you told me to accompany you then you made taking care of you my duty. The king will have my head if he gets to know I did not do anything and everything to make sure you are well."

"Fine," Kenric muttered. Archie was right. His brother would, indeed, be very angry that Kenric fought all those bandits without backup, and that he got injured doing so. He did not want the king to misdirect his anger toward Archie at any cost, which was the most probable outcome.

"Which direction is the village in?" Archie grinned in satisfaction as he asked.

The journey to the village was not long, and they could see them nearing it well before sunset. Kenric had been riding with Archie on the same horse, the man had insisted on doing so just in case Kenric was to fall unconscious unexpectedly. Kenric did not complain, if anything he was internally glad for the wound now. If it took being injured to get close to Archie then...it was just a small price to pay.

Once they were almost at the village, Archie got off Nyx and climbed on his own horse. It was likely that no one would recognize Kenric as the prince, but they would easily know a knight when they saw one. Archie paused as he looked at the unknown village warily, before taking out the small dagger he had hidden in his shoe. Kenric raised a brow at that but said nothing until he saw Archie press the dagger against his arm.

"Archie! What do you think you are doing?" Kenric was about to get off his horse to stop the madness that had seemed to come over Archie as he cut his forearm, only slightly wincing as he did so.

"I would rather the villagers think that I'm the injured one than you," Archie said between heavy breaths as he took out a piece of cloth from his bag, tying it around his arm with some difficulty.

"You are insane." Kenric stared at the man with wide eyes.

It made sense that Archie didn't want strangers to know there was an injured knight in their midst, especially if someone was to recognize Kenric as the prince. But the last thing Kenric wanted was for Archie to get hurt.

"Just doing what is wise, sire," Archie paused. "It is just a small cut, do not worry. I will be okay, it does not even hurt."

Kenric wanted to go to Archie and give him a piece of his mind for harming himself, but what was done was done. It was not like he could go back in time to stop the stable boy, so he sighed in discontent but did not continue the topic further.

The two started riding again as they finally reached the village.

The villagers looked at the two with apprehension as they rode through the small town. It was clear that they had recognized Kenric was a knight, which was why they cleared the way and said nothing. They only stared. As the two men did not know where to go, they finally stopped as Archie got off his horse.

He held his injured arm, his expression pained and Kenric could not tell whether it was because he was actually hurting or if he was just acting. If it was the latter, then he was extremely believable. Kenric bit the inside of his cheek, saying nothing as Archie approached a stranger.