“Any other would be bleeding at my feet for the insult,” Loual said. “But he is weaponless, and fat, and oddly angry.” Loual looked up at Simus, his brow furrowed. “What is my life to him?”
“The same as mine,” Simus said simply. “That is his truth.”
“You should have seen him charge toward a wyvern,” Mirro said.
“What?” Loual asked, staring up at his Third, looking even more confused.
Mirro knelt beside him, eager to tell the tale. Simus excused himself with a nod, and followed Hanstau to where Wild Winds lay.
Wild Winds stretchedout under his blanket, working out the stiffness in his muscles. He drew in a sweet breath, feeling the ache in his ribs as his chest expanded. He let the air out slowly, thanking the elements for the pain. A wet cloth covered his eyes, and he relished the damp, cool darkness.
He had little memory of the attack, other than pain.
Footsteps approached, and he heard the Xyian healer, Hanstau, say something in a voice too soft for him to hear.
A warm presence knelt at his side. “Master,” came a soft, calm voice. Wild Winds smiled at the familiar sound.
“Snowfall,” he said, taking care not to move his head. “How goes it with you? That feeling, that dread? For me it has faded. For you?”
“Faded as well.” Snowfall’s voice was soft. “More important, how goes it with you?”
“Alive.” Wild Winds drew another deep, satisfying, painful breath. “Bruised and sore, and alive.”
“He is well,” Hanstau said haltingly. “He—” The man proceeded to rattle off something in Xyian, then paused. Wild Winds could just imagine that Snowfall had lifted her eyebrow at Hanstau.
“His head,” Hanstau said.
Someone was peeling back the wet cloth. Wild Winds winced at the light, and then blinked his eyes open.
“Your eyes,” said the two Snowfalls of his doubled vision crouched beside him, their lips moving together.
“Head blow.” Wild Winds said, and nodded, only to regret it as a wave of nausea washed over him.
“Sickness.” She frowned. “Is your sight affected?”
“Yes.” Wild Winds smiled at her concern. “But I am not the first to suffer this, nor the last. It will pass.”
“With time,” Snowfall reminded him.
Cadr came running up, breathing hard, to stand next to Hanstau. He said something in Xyian, clearly scolding the healer.
“Hanstau was yelling at Loual,” Snowfall said quietly. “Cadr is explaining the risks.”
Hanstau folded his arms over his chest, and looked stubborn. “He wants to get better,” Hanstau said. “He will listen.”
“You have not answered my question,” Wild Winds said. He focused on Snowfall’s serene face, which could hide so much. “Are you well? You were not in the Council tent.”
“I was with my Warlord,” Snowfall said.
Wild Winds squinted, studying her face. Was that a blush on her cheek?
“We were attacked,” she continued. “But he killed the beast.”
“With your help,” Simus said as he walked up and knelt at her side.
Wild Winds squinted at the man. “Simus of the Hawk, I thank you for my life.”
“I am honored to have assisted you, Eldest Elder.” Simus bowed his head. “And I am sorry to see that you are injured.”
