I put an arm around Tiernan’s lower back, and we walk over to the couch together. He’s favoring his right leg where his pants are slashed open. Thank the gods that he didn’t get hit with any arrows. “Do you think Alys will be alright?” I ask as he sinks into the couch cushions.
“I hope so,” he says. I get down onto my knees and begin to unlace his boots. He reaches out to grasp my arms and shakes his head. “You don’t have to do that.”
I smile at him. “I want to. You’ve helped mebathe—the least I can do is help you remove your shoes.”
He returns my smile, and I take a moment to admire the light in his eyes before I turn my attention back to the task at hand. I unlace his boots and pull them off his feet before peeling his socks off and setting them aside.
“Take your armor off,” I sign gently.
He doesn’t argue, sitting up with a wince. He’s slow and clumsy, fumbling with the buckles and laces of his leather vest. I lean over to help him. It’s a slow process, but eventually we get both his armor and his tunic off. His fair skin is marred with black and blue bruises, the warm undertone faded. His lower abdomen is bloody, the stab wound still raw. My stomach roils, and he takes my hand, bringing it to his own cheek before gently kissing my fingertips. “Don’t worry about the wound,” he says. “Sit with me.” He pats the spot on the couch beside him.
I sit and he turns slightly so that he’s fully facing me. “That shadow shield was brilliant.”
I smile sheepishly. “Too bad I have no clue how I summoned it.”
“You’ll learn. But I hope you can see now that shadow wielding doesn’t just bring death…. You saved my ass out there.”
By sheer luck. Could I truly become good enough at wielding to be useful… purposely? For a few moments, I entertain the notion. Though I have to keep drawing my focus away from his chest, his muscles rippling with each intake of breath.
“My eyes are up here, beautiful,” he teases. “I’m trying to give a wise, motivational speech about your incredible powers.”
My cheeks burn as a little laugh escapes me. “Oh, hush,” I say. A trail of dried blood is tangled in the silver strands of his hair, his lip is split, and I’m almost certain he’ll have a black eye tomorrow. “You’re such a bloody mess.”
He smirks and winces. “It’s not that bad.”
“No, I mean you areliterallya bloody mess. Let me at least help you clean up before the Healer gets here.”
I scoot to the edge of the couch to stand, but he grabs my hand. “Durvla, for Lierwen’s sake, relax for a moment. I’m alright, and I’m certain the Healer has seen plenty of bloody messes.”
My chest tightens and my throat swells, and as much as I try to convince myself to move past the emotions, the tears begin to flow. Tiernan sits up with urgency, a grimace on his face. “Durvla, what is it?”
“I thought I was going to lose you for a moment back there.”
He smirks. “You can’t get rid of me that easily.”
“Thank the gods.” I chuckle and wipe tears from my cheeks.
He tilts his head side to side, as if stretching his neck. The scars there grab my attention. “When I walked into your dream back in Paramount… Was it… just a nightmare or…”
His body stiffens, a fleeting look of deep pain crossing his face before that familiar mask covers it all. My stomach sinks a little. “A memory,” he says. He’s even paler, if possible. His fingers brush against the scars on his neck. “A story for another time.”
I nod and snuggle up beside him, resting my head on his shoulder. We remain like that until the Healer comes to tend to Tiernan’s wounds. She brings clothing, mentioning which outfits are intended for each of us. I gratefully take the pair of light grey trousers and olive green tunic intended for me and set off to find the bathing room. It’s just outside the sitting room, and it’s small but has everything we’ll need.
I fill the tub with a strange lever system, and to my surprise, the water is warm. Magic, I suppose, as I strip my filthy clothing off andeagerly get into the water. When I no longer reek like a barn, I hang my towel and washcloth to dry, clean my teeth, and rinse my mouth before gathering my dirty clothing and heading off to find the bedrooms.
Passing one bedroom, I spot Chiyo lying in the middle of the bed, sprawled out, fast asleep. I hold in my laughter and proceed to the other bedrooms…
Bedroom.
For a moment, I stand in the middle of the corridor, glancing between the doors.
Two bedrooms only.
Somehow, I’d expected there to be three from the casual way Ava mentioned that there werea few rooms.As I step into the unoccupied room, a magelight turns on, gently illuminating a large bed, a dresser, and a sizeable window covered by dark blue drapes. I drop my filthy clothing into a wicker basket near the door and saunter over to the window. Drawing back the curtains doesn’t reveal much—it’s too dark outside to make out any details, but it’s peaceful here.
I pull the curtains closed again and make my way over to the bed. It’s inviting, and I climb right in.
My intention is to relax for a moment, but the next thing I know, it’s pitch dark. Moonlight peeks through the very corner of the window where the drapes aren’t fully drawn.
