(no subject)

[thewidewideworld]

From here.

The room is comfortingly neutral, warmly lit but without overt decoration. A couple of padded benches and a small bathroom, should they need it.

"Will this suit our need?" Sinric asks softly.

Comments

[manofbusiness]

"They can be hard to achieve without some degree of calm going in, but I knew an old Chinaman who had once been a sailor. He taught me a little."

[thewidewideworld]

"Will you show me what he taught you? That I might better remember my own training."

[manofbusiness]

"Gladly", he says with a nod. "You had better make yourself comfortable again."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric nods and returns to his bench, moving a little steadier now than before.

[manofbusiness]

Childermass watches with understated approval, drawing his legs up to sit with them crossed.

"Close your eyes, and concentrate on your breathing. Do not try to control it. Just count."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric closes his eyes and breathes, just letting himself sink into his body. He'd forgotten this but the calm of it brings the muscle memory of it back.

He relaxes, the next of gold against his skin pulsing with each breath, just viable.

[manofbusiness]

"Relax your shoulders", he continues, "and allow your arms and hands to hang as they will. You should feel nothing from them."

[thewidewideworld]

He obeys, letting the weight that has held his shoulders high and his neck stooped slowly ease away.

[manofbusiness]

"You may open your eyes at any time you wish, but do not look at anything. I have always found it easier to keep them closed. Your back ought to be straight, but not tensed."

[thewidewideworld]

He nods minutely and straightens his back a little with each breath. His body is still weak and the wounds around his throat and wrists show up as vivid lines of colour where they peek out of his clothes.

[manofbusiness]

"If any stray thoughts come to you, let them come and go. Do not hold on to them. Your only focus should be the breaths in and out of your nose."

[thewidewideworld]

He nods, trying not to show a flash of irritation that his own weakness is so transparent.

[manofbusiness]

To be fair to Sinric, not much gets past Childermass.

"When such thoughts come, start your count of breaths over. When you can reach ten uninterrupted, you may count the breath in and out as one, not two."

[thewidewideworld]

He nods again and counts, trying not to let the thoughts and visions snag him. Once or twice, he fails, the pain of it showing on his face as he forces himself to focus past it.

[manofbusiness]

"Good", Childermass says levelly. "Whether the thoughts come from within you or as images from beyond, make the counting your prime focus, and trust your golden net to catch the worst of them."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric lifts his hands to rest on his knees, palms up as he breathes again, relief showing as he gains greater control.

[manofbusiness]

"The time will come when you can reach into the Pattern and pluck out what you wish to see", he says, speaking from experience. "Perhaps a channel might help you, as it did me, and then it will very rarely come upon you unwanted."

[thewidewideworld]

He nods, hopefully but not pinning too much on such hopes. The stain is starting to get to him and there's a slight tremble in his fingertips.

[manofbusiness]

"Time to stop", Childermass decides. "Endurance does not come immediately."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric frowns and breathes out slowly, forcing himself not to shake as he unfolds his legs.

"Thank you." His voice has a little of that tremble to it also. "You've been very kind to me."

[manofbusiness]

"Consider it paying a debt to those long dead." He studies Sinric. "Stretch your legs and arms, and your back if you wish."

[thewidewideworld]

He blinks, trying not to let the long dead behind those words surface too near him.

He gets up and stretches, his dancer's grace diminished by the pain and weakness in his body.

[manofbusiness]

"Have you seen a doctor since I fetched you in?" Childermass asks. "Or is it only that you need more rest?"

[thewidewideworld]

"One dear to me here is a doctor. He has seen to my wounds and advised me on foods to eat to regain my strength. What I have lost through lack of care, I can only regain with care and time."

[manofbusiness]

He nods.

"True enough. I trust you will follow his advice."