I smiled. “Fine. Marcus is right, sleep will help.” I yawned and shifted around, trying to get comfortable.
He looked at me intensely. “You could have been killed. If I hadn’t heard the noise and headed over, he would have killed you.” Something in his face closed off. “If you had died, the peace would have broken. ”
Alarmed, I tried to force my eyes open. “The peace is more important than any one person.”
Keir took a few of the pillows, and moved them to support my arm. “Don’t fight it. Close your eyes.”
I looked up through half lidded eyes, unable to resist the pull of the drug. He seemed so tired, so worn. He kissed me softly. “Sleep.”
“If you will.”
He shook his head. “No.” But he eased onto the bed, setting his sword close at hand and gathering me in with the other. “Sleep.”
Exhaustion pulled at me, but I resisted a moment more. “Keir. Don’t do anything…” 1 couldn’t think of the word.
“Rash?” Keir asked softly.
“Stupid.” I yawned, and heard his chuckle as I floated off.
I awoke to the dark tent and the sound of rhythmic steps. It took a moment to orient myself. Everything seemed slightly fuzzy, which was one of the effects of lotus. It was tempting to drift back into the warmth and the darkness, but the sound of the pacing drew me out of the covers.
Keir was pacing back and forth. I yawned and watched him move in those black leathers. I frowned when I realized that he hadn’t gotten any sleep. “Keir? What are you doing?”
“Keeping watch. You are under my protection. You have been hurt. It will never happen again.”
My eyes widened at that and the fuzziness receded slightly. I managed to get up on my good arm and stare at him. “Keir, there is an entire army out there. They can…”
“It wasn’t good enough, was it.” He paused and looked at me. “It will be tonight. I put the entire army on alert, with double watches.”
I groaned, closed my eyes and let my head sink back on the pillows. No one was getting any sleep tonight.
Keir came to my side. “Are you well? Should I call Gils?” I studied him, and the lines of worry on his face.
“Keir,” I spoke very firmly. “Take them off the alert.”
His frown deepened. “You must be…”
Enough. I interrupted. “I’m safe. I’m here with you.” I curled myself down into the bed. Keir hesitated, then moved to the flap and went out. I lay in a kind of stupor, imagining an entire army of warriors muttering about having to protect the Warlord’s prize. With double watches, yet. I yawned, closed my eyes and drifted.
At some point Keir came in and stood by me. I reached out from under the covers, taking his hand. It was cold, and I could feel the tension in his muscles. I yawned and tugged. He looked at me oddly, but allowed himself to be pulled under the covers. I moved over, letting him have the warm spot. Through the haze, I could feel his body was easing a bit. I moved closer, putting my head on his chest. The black leather warmed slowly under my cheek.
We lay there for a moment, warming each other. I yawned again, and my jaw cracked. He chuckled and stroked my hair. “You should go back to sleep.”
I raised my head and tried to focus, but it was a losing battle.
Keir’s chest rumbled with another laugh. “I think you will be sleeping late tomorrow, Warprize.”
Tomorrow. I dropped my head back down. “What is a pattern dance?”
“Eh?”
I raised my all too heavy head. “What is a pattern dance?”
“A group dance. Many men and women dancing in a pattern that they weave with their bodies.” I felt Keir shrug. “It’s hard to explain. You have to see it to understand.”
“See it tomorrow.” For some reason I felt happy about the prospect.
Keir’s hand stilled. “I canceled the dance.”
I tried to lift my head again, but only succeeded in rolling off Keir’s chest to lay by his side. I managed to focus on his eyes. “They’ll hate me.”
He turned onto his side to face me. “They won’t blame you.”
I lost the focus, and his face blurred. The next yawn made my eyes water, and my jaw cracked again. I said something, but it came out all fuzzy. Like my vision.
Keir sighed, and shifted, moving out from under the covers. He tucked me in, letting none of the cooler air touch me. “I’ll take care of it. Sleep.”
I drifted off, wondering what I had said.
* * *
The evil taste in my mouth woke me first. Another of the effects of lotus. The irony of suffering the same effects that my own patients complained about was not lost on me. I would have to remember that the next time I dosed someone with it. It wouldn’t stop me from giving it to them, but I’d try to be more sympathetic.
The bed was empty, and I could tell that it was fairly late in the day. My stomach was reminding me that I had missed at least two meals. I stretched under the blanket, being careful not to include the arm. The worst of it was my neck, stiff and sore. The arm hurt as well, and I really didn’t want to move.
The tent flap from the main room opened, and Keir stuck his head in. “You’re awake.”
I nodded as I moved to sit on the edge of the bed, feeling heavy and dull. I still had my trous on, but my shirt had been removed. My breast band had dried blood on it, and I made a face.
Keir pressed his lips together as he studied my throat. I grimaced, imagining that the bruising was at its worst now. “I’ll get Marcus for hot food, and kavage. We’ll send for Gils.”
“I want a bath.”
Keir cocked his head. I repeated my request. He frowned. “Marcus can bring warm…”
“No.” I gripped his arm with my good hand and tried to pull myself up. Keir helped me without even thinking about it. “I want a bath now. I stink. I don’t care what the water is like.”
Keir blinked. I stood there for a moment, getting my balance and waited to see if I would be dizzy or nauseous. Yet another effect of the drug.
Keir frowned. “Gils needs to check—”
“Gils can check it after I have bathed.”
“Gils said—”
“Who is the healer here?” I took a step.
His lips quirked. “Master Healer, if I remember right.”
I smiled. “The Master wants a bath.”
He smiled. “Then Master, you shall have one.” He wrapped his arm around my waist as we walked together to the privy. Thank the Goddess for his people’s attitude toward cleanliness. I was grateful that he didn’t question my need to be clean any further.
Once inside, Keir placed one of the wooden blocks on the washing platform, and I sat to strip off my trous and breast band. They were both soiled, but not harmed. As long as I moved slowly, the pain was no more than a dull ache. Keir put water within my reach, then handed me soap and a cloth. I got a whiff of the soap and held it to my nose. It smelled like vanilla. I looked at him, but he wore an innocent expression on his face.
Marcus called from the other room, and Keir moved about, taking a bucket of hot coals for the brazier, and more water. I washed out my breast band as the room warmed. I lathered up the soap and started on my face and neck, enjoying the scent of home. The arm wasn’t a problem, as long as I didn’t try to raise it, or use that hand over much. I hummed quietly to myself as I washed. The tepid water felt wonderful on my skin, and I was careful to keep the wound dry as I worked.
Keir came back in and settled in the corner, where the shadows were deepest. I glanced over quickly, but could only make out his eyes, gleaming in the darkness. I blushed slightly, bit my lip, but kept going. It felt uncomfortable to be watched so, but it was also somehow satisfying, to know that I was the object of his interest. My feelings confused me, so I concentrated on getting clean. When I reached my groin, I sensed a slight movement in the corner, but I moved on quickly to legs and feet and toes.
Keir did move forward at that point, bringing another bucket of water over to me. It had been closer to the brazier, which meant the water was slightly warmer. I used a bowl to rinse with, for fear of getting the wound wet. Once done, I wrapped up in the towels that he gave me. I decided against washing my hair. I was tired and felt a trembling that indicated I needed to eat. Instead, I grabbed a comb and tried to stand.