Khan, Ssarak, & Leith :Part 1
Khan tried to relax, his hand kneading the armrest, as he pondered what to do next. It wasn’t easy due to his currently crippled state and difficulty in doing something. For the moment, he sat in silence when abruptly another Esyire, a student by the name of Ssarak Dyreackthanose, sat in front of him and spoke of Ovak. Khan’s eyebrow went up before he let out a soft groan. The archmage in his cleverness had suggested the students to aid them in keeping an eye out for trouble, his mind going back to when Baulder came into the room and made a note to move the vial yet again.
It was getting terrible that vial saw more of the school than he did on a daily basis the headmaster thought bitterly. He scooted his chair closer to the table with much effort and rested his elbows upon the surface, his eyes narrowed on Ssarak’s figure. His fingers intertwined with each other while his palms touched closely, then spoke.
“Sadly I can’t understand why Ovak would ask you to speak with me, through I would appreciate if you fill me. It might be important after all.” Ssarak looked around at the crowd around them briefly. Certainly, the dining hall was filled with people, though the general noise made it difficult to pick out specific conversations. Even so, he had to keep in mind that they were in a public place, and anyone could be listening.
”Well, I believe he is concerned for you. A matter related to your medicine, according to Uicle.”Looking to the crowd once more, Ssarak’s body language made it clear that he was aware that Khan’s health was a sensitive matter in terms of diplomacy with the other nations. He was, after all, the Headmaster, so Ssarak understood that he might want to at least appear healthy to the diplomats. Ssarak elected to send a telepathic message to Khan, though as the Headmaster was not a psychomancer, he would not be able to hear a response unless Khan allowed him to read his surface thoughts through his wards.
”I understand you may not wish to speak of this topic openly within earshot of any dignitaries.”Khan’s body tensed at the mention of his medication as well as Uicle, which meant he was going to get his tail torn later, then exhaled to forcibly relax. He leaned backwards into the chair once more and righted himself, his hand placed on the rests again when he let his wards down. It was actually much harder than it seemed since his wards served two purposes: to keep his demons’ voices at bay and to prevent nosy psychomancers from invading his mind without permission. After sealing the worse of his demons away, Khan lifted the ward’s wall, allowing Ssarak’s message through easily then slammed back down immediately. Some things were best left in the dark and while he knew Ssarak wouldn’t purposely assault his mind, the headmaster didn’t like the risk that someone else might learn of Kudd’s left behind gift. Rathel had made it possible for Uicle to learn and that was bad enough.
“Yes, that is a matter best left for another time or at least another place.” With those words hanging, Khan gave one last look in Ovak’s direction considered his options. Part of him want to prolong this conversation, the easiest, unless the student was stubborn, and most possible at this moment. Another was to face the truth which to admit he preferred not to take his medication because it reminded him of his brother’s illness and how he had failed Riddic so long ago, his incident with Kudd finally driving his twin into suicide. A fact he could never forgive himself for.
His eyes returned to look at Ssarak, noting a very pale white human making his way toward the table, then decided to change the subject.
“Since I spotted you near the officials, I assume you at least talked to the Scorched Lands Esyires? It seems, if my information was correct, there’s two of them this year.””I apologize if I’m interrupting anything, but a wine stain told me you needed something to eat,” Leith said as he approached the table. He held two plates of food in his right hand while he held a chalice of wine in his left. He set one of the plates in front of Khan and the other plate in front of himself as he sat down. He smiled at Ssarak
”If I knew you were going to be here, I’d have grabbed you a plate.” Ssarak had intended to answer Khan’s question, but Leith’s arrival distracted him from the conversation.
”Greetings, Leith.” Ssarak commented. It was interesting that he said a “wine stain” told him to bring Khan a plate of food. It sounded ridiculous, like a simple joke, and yet, it caused Ssarak to think. He had, after all, been told of Khan’s condition through a spontaneously appearing floating quill.
”Would this ‘wine stain’ happen to be from a man named Ovak?” He asked Leith telepathically, reading his mind for his response.
Leith glanced at Ssarak when he asked if the wine stain was from Ovak. He took a sip from the cup he brought with him.
”Yes, actually, it was. I take it that since you’re asking, you were sent by him too?” He replied in his mind back to Ssarak.
Ssarak made sure to give no sort of visual reaction to Leith’s answer as he responded himself.
”Yes. Ovak says that Khan’s health is deteriorating, and Uicle seems to believe it is because he is not taking his medicine. I believe Ovak wishes for me to persuade him to take it.”Khan looked rather surprised at first which turned into a gentle expression, his arms moved to beside the plate. Inside, he knew who had sent the wine stain and why. It wasn’t a shock nothing could be hidden from Ovak which made Khan pause to consider how much the archmage actually knew and how, a fact none of the teachers, including Satori, had ever discovered. Then again, Ovak was a human that lived far longer than he should’ve and at some point things were bound to no longer surprise him. At least, Khan hoped so.
His middle made a rumbling sounds and drew a slightly sheepish look on the usually stern looking Esyire as he raised a fork designed for his thicker and much larger hands. He began to slip in a chunk of ham from the piece sliced away then forced himself to chew slowly, a matter much more difficult than most would consider on a daily basis. Trying to set a steady pace, the headmaster ate his meal while pausing only long enough to spill his drink, addressing Leith when he finished.
“I can’t actually recall when I last ate really. Been rather busy with paperwork and other projects to keep track. Through it feels like days since I have, thank you…?” Khan trailed off for either one of them to answer his question.
Leith made a face of mock horror.
”How could you not recall eating? That’s almost as bad as not recalling when you last slept.” He chuckled as he said the last part, knowing that he had had days where he could not remember when he had last fell asleep.
”It’s Leith, and no worries. Helping people is what I try to do.” He looked down at his plate and took a couple of bites of food.
”Do you need a hand with that?” he mentally asked Ssarak.
“Perhaps, if I can get him to agree to speak with us about it.” Ssarak answered to Leith mentally.
“You say you have not eaten…” Ssarak began, his expression showing obvious concern. Given that they had just been talking about Khan’s deteriorating health, the knowledge that he had not been eating was even more worrying. He gave another glance to the crowd and, after a few moments, decided that the topic was too important to abandon.
”I know you said that the conversation would be best saved for a different time or place…so perhaps a different place would be the most suitable option? Ovak’s letter seemed quite concerned for you.” He suggested. Obviously, Ssarak could not force the Headmaster to go anywhere, but he hoped that the fact that he was acting at Ovak’s request would be enough to get him to agree.
Khan inhaled and admitted his guilt, knowing how it would sound. His emotions weren’t helped by seeing the worry lacing the student’s face as he looked away, unable to keep contact anymore.
“Yes, it’s strange. I just can’t recall it and I’ve tried. It’s like there’s a void in my memory that I can’t place. I know how it sounds but it’s nothing to be concern about. I make sure I’m at least hydrated and I’ve been pretty occupied with work, it’s perfectly normal.” Deep inside, the headmaster knew he was lying both to the students and himself. Nothing about the situation was normal and even more, it seemed like Ovak’s prescription created by Lucilia had deteriorated his condition worse than before he took it. A fact that partly worried him. He was about to object, using the fact that Uicle wasn’t here, when the blasted suit of armor marched right through the door. He looked furious in his body language as he spotted Ovak, being kept by Meirin,then made a beeline over. His feet aiming to catch up with Lucilia and Grey, who had a head start. It didn’t take Ovak’s gift of foresight to see trouble brewing on the horizon shortly. Even less to tell him there was no point to delay the upcoming conversation between himself and Ssarak, possibly even Leith, if the wine stain was true.
“I suppose this can’t be avoided, can it? For a later date?’ Khan’s voice almost sounded pleading in his request.
It was strange to Ssarak that Khan seemed to possess such resistance to this topic. He did not know the details of what was wrong with the Headmaster, but since he was healthy before the demon attack, Ssarak could only assume that it was something related to that event. He understood that Khan likely did not enjoy discussing the weaknesses of his body, but that did not explain why he would not take his medicine. Even if it had some kind of terrible taste or side effects, Khan was the Headmaster of the College, and an intelligent being. Certainly he would be able to bear through such difficulties?
”Well, you certainly know the archmage better than I. For him to ask us to speak to you on the day of the opening feast, do you believe he believes the matter to be time-sensitive?” Ssarak responded.
Inward Khan only wondered who it was time-sensitive for, him or Ovak. The Headmaster inhaling softly as he sat back into his chair and gently pushed it away from the table, flinching at the slight screech, and reached for his cane. His muscles bunched up when he attempted to stand on his own, his facial expression struggling to remain firmly calm but underneath, his one knee cried out in torture. His knuckles were pure white while he forced himself upright to his feet and was breathing heavily. At one point, Khan half expected his body to fall right back downward into the chair but held his ground stubbornly. He wouldn’t allow himself to crumble.
In a heavy, weary tone, he spoke to the two student.
“Alright, my office is likely the best place but it’s a bit of a walk. So you might want to keep close should my leg give out.” Nodding to Khan, Ssarak stood from his seat and walked around the table over to him. It was good that the Headmaster was agreeing to address the issue. Ssarak had no doubt that they could convince him to take his medicine this time, but Ssarak still wondered why it was an issue to begin with. Just by the way he had difficulty moving, it seemed obvious that one dose would not cure whatever ailed him. Unless he intended to hound him to take every single dose, he would need to be persuaded to take it regularly.
Wordlessly, Ssarak looked to Leith as Khan started to head in the direction of the exit. He did not know if Ovak had intended for Leith to speak to the Headmaster as well, but since he was present, he could perhaps be of assistance as well. He moved his head slightly in the direction of the door, as if to invite him to follow.
Leith followed the lead of Ssarak and Khan and stood up as well. He was concerned about how much effort it looked like it took for Khan to stand up. He walked beside Ssarak as they made their way to Khan’s office. He had wanted to talk to Uicle about his discussion with the diplomat, but from the way that he was approaching Meirin and the man that was accompanying her, it looked like he had enough time to talk with Khan.
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