I shut up the ambulance and brought the medical uniforms inside, placing them close to where Lualhati slept so that she would see them immediately upon waking.
I paused simply to observe her then. She was curled on her side, entirely encased in blankets she’d wrapped possessively around herself. Her damp hair was drying in frilly, kinky waves. Her face looked so small. Something in me felt almost bruised by that fact.
I will always be there to protect her.
I lay down beside her then. This was the first time we would sleep side by side, without a wall between us. I could not say I’d ever cherished much in my life until now. But I cherished this, her. The chance to hear her breathing without my ears hunting for it. Without even realizing I was doing it, I let my own breathing fall into the same rhythm as hers.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Lualhati.
When I next opened my eyes, dawn was warming the windows. Voices outside caught on my ears. Xennet and Dorn.
Making sure Lualhati’s nakedness was adequately covered by her blankets, I quickly dressed and then went out to meet them. They’d arrived with their shuldu.
And more, apparently.
Each of their shuldu was strapped with bulging packs.
“Are you two going somewhere?” I asked. It looked as if they were packed for a very long journey.
“Only to the hospital to help get that roof on!” Xennet said.
“So what’s all this, then?” I slashed my tail towards their burdened shuldu.
“Rivven called us last night and told us what happened,” Dorn said, dismounting. “Told us that your station and everything inside got burned. All her things. And yours.”
“So we have brought some of our own things here today! As gifts!” Xennet said, leaping down off his own mount. “I’ve got blankets here, Warden. Good, thick ones,” he said, pulling open one pack to show me. “Some kitchen items. And a couple of my very best knives!”
“I’ve got an extra hat for her,” Dorn said. “Stayed up to make it last night. And some other stuff. A set of the jambillibongs. I had to guess at her measurements. Hope they turned out alright.”
“I’ve got boots!” Xennet said, grasping a pair and waving them about. “The ones you made me when I was young! They’re in good shape, as I outgrew them so fast.”
“I remember,” I said gruffly. “I remember how fast you grew.”
And look at him now. Look at them both.
I’d told Lualhati last night that she was the only person I loved.
But maybe that was not quite right.
Maybe she was the only woman I loved.
“Oh, empire help us. What’s happening to him?” Dorn asked in alarm.
“What do you –ah!Warden! What ails you?” Xennet leaped about like a panicked shuldu, gripping his belt.
“Nothing. Nothing at all ails me, Xennet.”
“But youreyes!”
I blinked, realizing they’d gone bright white.
“I have never seen them so!” Xennet cried. “Tell me that you are not dying, Warden!”
“I am not dying,” I replied crisply. The absurdity of Xennet’s question helped me to quell the swell of emotion that had almost proved too much. “Thank you for all these items, you two. I will compensate your credit accounts accordingly.”
