Sage does as well. “Deeka help us. Please don’t fall and break your other leg.”
“Hush.” I make another lap around. “I’ll need to head to the evening meal and tell Rojtar thank you. You both have no idea how excited I am to be able to get around on my own.”
“I’m glad. Still, be careful. Take breaks when you need to.”
“Of course.”
Sage studies me. “Should I assume you’re going to start testing your limits now?”
I gasp in fake shock and palm my chest. “How dare you to assume.”
She snorts. “I’ll take that as a yes, then.”
“Lord, yes. You and Kyler have been amazing, and I appreciate you both for helping me get around the past few days. But it’s made me feel awkward having to rely on either of you. God, especially when I’ve needed help making it to the toilet.” I was one humiliating experience away from crawling under the furs and never coming back out.
“Helping the injured is literally our job description.” Sage fists her hips.
“I know, I know. But it still bothered me to be reliant on someone else. I’ve been independent for far too long.”
She bobs her head up and down. “I understand completely.”
“Alright.” I smack my hands against the bars of the crutches. “I’m going to head down to the river. London told me about the benches that are along the bank of it. With being cooped up in here, I’ve missed the water. Every day back in the settlement I’d follow the river for a few miles enjoying the scenery and the fresh air. I’m desperate to be outside.”
“Well then go and enjoy it. The sun is shining and it’s a beautiful day.”
I grin at her. “Thanks, I think I’ll do just that.”
Sage waves me off, and I carefully make my way out of the tent. I have a much easier time getting over the threshold today than I did yesterday. Which is a good thing since Ortak isn’t here to catch me and stop me from falling on my face. The second I make it outside, I stop and tilt my head back so I can soak up the glorious heat from the sun. I haven’t felt enough of it on my face since getting hauled out of that trap.
The memory of what I was doing that caused me to fall is still missing. As is the reason why I’d been out there in the first place. I’m certain in all the times I walked the mountain paths, I was never that far away from the settlement. Granted, I don’t know exactly where Ortak and Gannen found me so maybe I’m wrong. For now, I’ve stopped worrying about it. I’ll either remember or I won’t.
At last, I open my eyes and slowly make my way toward the river. There’s a too steep incline this close to the healer’s tent for me to manage safely, but the land levels out a little farther away. Along the way, I pass Tavikhi and humans alike. Most everyone waves or acknowledges me in some way minus a couple of human guys, which doesn’t bother me in the least.
I spot the benches up ahead as well as a few bobbing heads in the river. Summer’s arrived, but we just barely got through winter. The water can’t be that warm yet. The closer I get the more I can make out the people swimming. Two of them are Tavikhi and by the looks of it, they’re kids. The other two are definitely human. Also children, although the boy looks to be in his late teens. I swear I can hear the humans’ teeth chattering from here.
One of the Tavikhi sees me and waves wildly while popping up out of the water. Recognition hits.
“Greetings, Elodie,” Talek calls out, not appearing surprised in the slightest by the fact I’m here or that I arrived with the help of a pair of crutches. Maybe I’m wrong, but I suspect nothing happens in the village without the young Tavikhi knowing all about it.
I reach the first bench and take a seat, keeping my broken leg stretched out in front of me. “Greetings. Are you all enjoying your swim?”
This close, I’m able to place the other three. Bazel is the second Tavikhi and the two humans are Cecily and Carter. From all I’ve heard, I shouldn’t be surprised to see Talek and Cecily here together. The way Sage talks, the two of them are the best of friends and attached at the hip. It’s rare to see one without the other.
“It’s colder than shit out here,” Cecily yells.
From this distance her lips look almost blue. I can’t help but laugh. “Then why are you in there?”
She thumbs toward Talek and Bazel. “Because these two idiots are. I’m just proving to them I can do anything they can.”
With a raised brow, I turn toward Carter, who, considering he’s a few years older than the rest of them, must have a better excuse. He just shrugs.
“I’m here strictly for the entertaining show.”
“You all are ridiculous.” I shake my head. “None of you better start to drown either, because I have a bum leg and won’t be able to save you.”
Of course, I’m only kidding. I’d jump into the river in a heartbeat if I thought any of them were actually at risk of drowning. One of the best things I can say about being from the upper tier was having so many opportunities at my finger tips, including learning how to swim. All the medals I earned were proof of that.
I catch Talek studying Cecily. Almost as if he can sense she’s reached her tolerance level for the cold water, he moves toward the shore. The other three are right behind him.
