Looking for a Sole to Steal

Writers: Chelle, Paula
Date Posted: 19th February 2017

Characters: Chupsin, Keayd
Description: Keayd comes to see the healer for a remedy.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 10, day 9 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: Genna, Chaysea

Keayd limped painfully on his way to the Hold's infirmary. He had been
spending too much time on his feet lately, being busy with his craft
and teaching. As a result, his clubfoot was now aching. He couldn't
remember when it was last this sore. He hoped Chupsin had something to
offer for it.

Pulling the ends of the cloth together, he worked to tie it properly
so that the poultice was ready to be used. Chupsin then started to
toss the herbs into the next one. Hearing Keayd's approach thanks to
his unique gait, he wiped his hands together then turned around. "Is
this a pleasure or business visit?" Reading the pain in his face, he
thought he could guess.

"Business, I'm afraid," Key replied. "I've put too much load on my poor feet."

Frowning, the healer gestured for Keayd to sit. A common complaint,
this happened from time to time. He began to gather a few things but
early on he shoved a pot of numbweed into the vintner's hands to coat
his feet to ease the pain. "You've really got to stop doing that. Or
get better shoes made."

"I know," Key sighed. "Do you know how much custom made shoes cost? Or
how hard they are to get? Chaysea used to take care that I got new
pairs in time. The current headwoman," Key made a grimace and shook
his head.

At the mention of his sister, Chupsin's lip twitched ever so
imperceptibly. "Well you're a journeyman now. I'm sure you could
manage something with a cobbler. Give them enough wine in trade and
I'm sure some sort of a deal could be struck." He grabbed a few more
things and then walked forward.

Bringing a stool up under the vintner's feet to elevate them, he
pulled off the shoes and socks and examined the issue at hand. There
was redness where it had been rubbed. First he washed the misshapen
foot with a mild astringent. Then he rubbed the numbweed all over.
The second foot got the same treatment. "Actually instead of custom
shoes, maybe custom soles would work. With more support to make it
level, you might walk a bit straighter and hurt less."

"Custom soles? I never heard of them," Key replied. "I would like to
try them." He let out a sigh of relief when the numbweed took an
effect.

"Yeah they make them to bring the feet level. Sort of like a
particularly shaped cushion. Takes alot of doing. You have to be
properly measured and see one of those special cobblers. Runners use
them alot. I'll have to think where the nearest one is at the moment."
He wondered why he hadn't thought of it earlier. Then again, he'd
only seen them pop up at gathers from time to time in the last few
turns. It had been a well kept runnercraft secret apparently.

"Right, so I'm still stuck with the one we have here and I don't think
he's heard of such soles," Key replied with some sarcasm.

"Ah but you forget. I have a niece with a gold dragon now. Surely that
has to count for something? If I can find out where the closest
cobbler of that sort might be perhaps we can arrange for you to take
a visit hm?" Besides, he liked seeing Genna and he didn't ask much of
his niece. Keayd had been a friend for a long time so asking on his
behalf wasn't awkward. "Maybe if we can get one set of soles made the
fellow here can look at them and copy them then?" The healer's mind
was spinning as he finished rubbing the second foot. Then he placed
steamed cloths over each of them.

"I did forget that. Must be wonderful to have a dragonrider in family.
How is she doing?" Key replied.

"Indeed. She seemed fine the last time she was here. I get to go up
to the hatchings when I can. Of course it's far different from the
life she would have had here. No husband and children for her to
raise." His tone was carefully neutral. Anyone who knew Chupsin well
enough though would see the frown that gave away his regret that he
hadn't ended up with the family life he'd planned on either. "She's
in love with her queen, though, and rightfully so. Lissath is a
marvelous creature." Moving around, he went to wash his hands at the
nearby basin.

Keayd would have just been happy if his little sister had been
Searched and Impressed. "Well, no dragonriders in my family," he said
with a shrug. "Thanks for the help, Chupsin."

"Anytime. See you tomorrow even, usual time and place?" It was an old
habit that was hard to break and probably one of the few things
Chupsin did that didn't make any sense. Most would wonder why the
overconfident healer spent time with the vintner, but it had been a
longstanding companionship despite the turns.

"I'll be there," Key promised with a small grin.

Last updated on the March 2nd 2017

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Looking for a Sole to Steal