“Eleri, there you are!” Myla exclaimed with false cheer. “We were wondering why you were so late.” She paused to examine the mess walking through her immaculate doorway. “Has something happened?”
Eleri glanced at Minio. He had been there. He knew what happened, and there was no doubt in her mind he had already told his sister. She wasn’t sure if this was some sort of test, but it placed an odd weight on her chest. “Didn’t Minio tell you about the ravik attack on our way back from Indras?” she asked.
“Well, of course he did, but he’s so sparse with the details. I was hoping you could fill in some gaps. It must have been such a traumatic experience. Are you sure you want to keep working at the clinic? There’s no need for you to push yourself. I’m sure you can find other ways to contribute in Laurus.” Myla’s wingtip brushed against her brother in an unreadable gesture.
Minio took the cue to jump into the conversation. “It is dangerous for someone so fragile to be working in such a demanding career. There’s a reason most healers are from hardier stock.” He glanced back at his sister as if waiting for her approval. Myla’s smile widened.
The door was still open behind her, so Eleri paused for a moment to close it and gather her thoughts. She instantly regretted the closed-in feeling that followed, but if she didn’t have this conversation, nothing was going to change. And as much as she loathed the effort involved, she was ready for things to start changing. “I appreciate your concern. But I think this afternoon just showed me how important my work is. I spoke with Aglao, and they said I could come live at the clinic. I won’t need to impose on your hospitality any longer.”
The room was silent for a long moment, long enough for perspiration to begin prickling the back of Eleri’s neck until finally Myla’s wings snapped open and shut in a crackling blast.
“Why would you want to do that?”
“Now Myla,” Pyo chimed in, finally looking up from the plate of food he’d been poking at, “Eleri was never meant to stay here long term. I’m sure you’ve enjoyed her company, but it was just until she could find her own footing here in Laurus.”
“Was I asking you?” Myla rounded on her mate, silencing him with a single glare before returning her attention to Eleri and Minio. “Have we not provided a good home for you? Minio and I will be devastated if you leave. Minio especially.” She nudged her brother again with a clawed wingtip and he nodded in unimpressed agreement.
“My sister’s quite right. Working on the farm won’t be the same without you.”
“So, you’ll continue to stay with us of course.” Her tone was expectant, and Eleri wanted to melt into the floor rather than continue to push the issue. But if she caved like she always did, everything she’d clawed back for herself would be meaningless.
“I’ve really appreciated you letting me stay here, but it’s time for me to move into the clinic apartment.”
“You’re making a mistake.” Myla’s voice was flat as she looked to Minio for support. Her brother glanced away, clearly uncomfortable with being further dragged into the conversation. “Aren’t you going to say anything?” she finally asked him.
“It sounds like she’s made her decision, Myla,” Pyo spoke in Eleri’s defense before Minio had a chance to add his own rejoinder, but it did little to diffuse the obvious fury percolatingon the other side of the table.
“I’ll get my things and be on my way.” She walked past the table and hurried to the small spare room before she lost her nerve entirely. In the background, she heard Myla’s whisper screeching at both Pyo and Minio. Eleri grabbed her meager belongings and shoved them haphazardly into her decrepit suitcase before anyone could physically get in her way.
Myla gawked at her on the way out as if she expected her to come to her senses and return to the spare room if she just looked at her hard enough. She emerged into the heat and was surprised to see Pyo had followed her out.
“You’ll have to forgive my mate. She has… certain ideas about the way things should be. Moving here from Brasnia Prime has been hard on her.”
“I’m sorry for any trouble I caused.” Eleri paused to shove a wad of clothing deeper into the suitcase so she could zip it properly. She half expected Myla to come blazing out of the house after her, but so far the door remained closed.
Myo bowed his head to her. “No trouble at all. I’m glad you’ve found a place here, and we certainly can use a good healer. I’m sure your talents will be better used there than on my farm.” He too started to glance at the door. “I had better get back inside, and you probably don’t want to be standing out here in the suns for too long.”
“Thank you, Pyo.” Eleri bowed her head at him, returning the gesture. She waited until he was back inside before beginning her trek to the clinic. It was worse with a suitcase as the stubborn wheels stuck in the dust and snagged against the paving stones of the road, but she was grateful it was still holding together. When she reached the welcome coolness of the clinic, the tightness in her chest finally released.
CHAPTER 11
S’samph
S’samph woke in pain. Not the blinding sear of pain he’d experienced when he’d been blasted by the raviks, but a dull ache throbbing up his arm. He opened his eyes to discover a blurred figure milling around the room. Blinking harder, he found himself in the clinic. At first, he didn’t recognize the figure without her standard IA jumpsuit, but soon Eleri came into focus.
“Oh! You’re awake.” Eleri came over to his bedside, offering a bowl filled with hydropods. "Don't take too many at once. The medication we gave you might make you nauseous.”
“What happened?” His voice was raspy with grit and thirst. Eleri once again offered the bowl of hydropods. He wanted an answer from her, but he took them into his mouth one at a time. Life in the deserts of Latilla had taught him the risks of overhydrating after a period of drought. The first pod burst against his tongue, succeeding in making his mouth sticky rather than hydrated.
Eleri withdrew the bowl before he could take another. “You tell me. I found you on the side of the road with a big chunk taken out of your shoulder.”
“There were raviks on the road.” He reached for another pod, and Eleri took two out of the bowl and handed them to him.
“Raviks?” Eleri shook her head. “You were the only one there.”
S’samph shook his head, trying to push past the drug-induced fog making it hard to think properly. “Told them to leave. Didn’t want them causing trouble for anyone else.” The chemicals made it hard to remember all the details, but he was sure they were gone before he blacked out near his bike. He scanned the room again to make sure he was correct in assuming he was back in Laurus before asking his next question. “How did I get back here?”
Eleri laughed, but the pitch was higher than he’d heard before. He didn’t understand the subtextuntil she responded with words.
