A few moments later, they washed at the basin. Once clean, Elias went over to his trunk. He knelt and searched. Finally, he took out a glass pot and opened it.
The faint scent of a mix of fragrant herbs filled the air. Gerard could not name the specific herbs. But the smell of the salve was so familiar to him. It seemed their healers had given them the same salve to use for their old scars.
Elias sat on a stool before the wash basin and slathered the salve over the scars that covered his leg. Gerard had smelt the salve on Elias before. But he’d never actually seen him apply it.
“You’re not too tired to do that?” Gerard asked.
“I am,” Elias sighed. “But since I didn’t get around to doing it yesterday, I should do it now. If I don’t, I’ll notice it tomorrow. The skin will be tighter and dryer.” His nose scrunched up.
There was no hesitation in his movements. He did not flinch or avoid looking at the scars. He just smoothed the salve into the skin as if it was no big deal whatsoever. As if his scars were nothing unpleasant to look at. Nothing to be ashamed of.
Gerard stood unmoving, watching him.
“Feel free to take some if you want.” Elias nodded at his pot of salve. Then he glanced up at Gerard. His movements stilled. “What’s wrong?”
Gerard did not know what his face must have shown to elicit such a response. “I … Seeing you …” He cleared his throat. “You are just far more comfortable with your scars than I have ever been with mine.” He let out a broken laugh, but it quickly died on his lips.
Elias gave him a sad smile. “I can cover mine. I imagine that makes it a lot easier to deal with.”
Gerard sat on the stool beside Elias and dipped his fingers into the pot. He stared down at the cream on his fingers.
“I’m not so sure.” He met Elias’s gaze. “There is something … defiant about you. I imagine if someone gave you grief over your scars, you’d not take their shit for a second. You’d tell them to fuck off. I’ve never been like that. When people said things about my scars, I wasn’t defiant. Just hurt.”
Gerard touched his fingers to his chest, smoothing the salve into the skin. He grimaced. He tried to keep his movements fluid and casual, like he was not doing something he despised. “It’s ridiculous. I’m meant to be thedragon warrior! Yet the words of others affect me so deeply.”
Elias leaned forward. “I’m sorry, Gerard.”
Gerard met his gaze. “I don’t blame you. How could I? I mean, I was planning to kill you when you hit me with your lightning strike. If you hadn’t attacked, Iwouldhave killed you. And I would not have felt guilty about it.”
Elias laughed. “I know. Still, I am sorry all the same. I don’t like that I was the cause of your pain.” Then he lifted his fingers over the pot of salve. He dipped his fingers in. “May I?” He gestured to Gerard’s chest.
Gerard’s lips twitched. “I’ve never let anyone else do that. Not even the healer.”
“I don’t have to,” Elias said softly. “I’m just finished with mine. So I’m happy to help you. But no pressure.”
Gerard studied Elias’s face. After a second, he nodded.
Chapter
Sixty-Nine
Gerard placed both his hands on his knees. Elias smoothed the salve over Gerard’s torso. His fingers felt softer than Gerard’s own. He didn’t rush, like Gerard always did.
Elias didn’t speak for several moments. Then he asked, “Is the pressure okay?”
Gerard nodded, fingernails digging into his knees. Despite everything, he still expected Elias to wrinkle his nose, or curl his lip, or for something cruel to fall from his mouth.
But Elias just smoothed the cream into his skin, like he’d done with his own leg. As if this was no big deal.
“Turn around so I can get your back,” Elias said when he’d finished with Gerard’s torso and throat.
Gerard turned. He had to admit, reaching the scars on his back had always been difficult.
“At least the smell is pleasant,” Elias said. “Not like some other salves. They used one on my leg when the wounds were still fresh. It reeked! I’m glad that was only temporary.”
Gerard smiled. “I might have been given that same salve too.” The smell had been revolting. But at least the wound had healed.
“There. Finished with your back.”
