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Once he finished the soup, Dacha stood and handed him a pen and some of the papers. “For beginning your report. The afternoon will be long without something to do.”

Merrik grimaced but took the papers. He might as well get his report done.

The afternoon dragged on, long and boring. He finished the report, stepped away several times to check in with the squadron, and pretended to read the book his dacha pressed in his hands at one point.

As afternoon faded into evening, Merrik braced himself, though he didn’t get up yet. He should return to his squadron before it became too dark to fly his aeroplane back to the temporary airfield.

But he didn’t want to leave her. His duty was to his squadron, but his heart was with her.

Voices came from below a moment before bootsteps—far louder than those of the whisper-quiet elves—tromped up the stairs. A knock came on the open door to the room, and Lije stuck his head in. “May we come in?”

“Yes.” Merrik waved him in.

Lije was followed by Stickyfingers, both of them carrying a canvas bag while Sticky held Merrik’s staff.

Stickyfingers halted just inside the room. “Is she all right?”

“She will be.” If he said it out loud enough, perhaps he would fully believe it. Everyone from his dacha to the healers had reassured him as much. But the reassurances didn’t untangle the knot in his gut every time he looked at her.

Lije extended the bag he carried to Merrik. “We brought you a spare change of clothes.”

“And your resting leg and staff if you want them.” Stickyfingers held out the other items.

Even if he’d wanted it, his wheelchair had been damaged beyond his and Mak’s ability to fix in all the repeated moves between temporary airfields. He would need the Warrior Foundation to repair it or issue a new one when he returned, whenever that was.

“Linshi.” Merrik eyed both bags. “But you did not have to come all this way. I was just about to fly back to the airfield.”

Lije shook his head, took a step closer, and waggled the bag. “No, you’re not. Aylia says you are to stay here tonight. She has the squadron well in hand.”

“I do not recall Aylia being promoted to captain of the squadron.” Merrik let a wry tone edge his voice as he took the bag, his smile tipping lopsidedly.

“Yeah, well, she is second-in-command by seniority.” Stickyfingers shrugged and set his bag gently on the floor beside Merrik before he leaned the staff against the wall.

“The squadron will be fine tonight.” Lije crossed his arms and grinned. “We can handle any trouble, if the Mongavarians decide to make any after the whupping they got today.”

“That’s right.” Stickyfingers gave a firm nod. “Mak is giving your aeroplane a lookover right now, so it will be good to go tomorrow morning.”

“Linshi.” Merrik shouldn’t let them talk him into shirking his duty and staying here. But it was either that or leave Adry’s side, and he couldn’t bring himself to do that.

Once they had left, Dacha waved a hand to Merrik. “Take a moment to wash up and change.”

Merrik nodded and stood, grabbing both bags as he did so. Dacha had already showered and changed that afternoon, washing away the grime of battle. But Merrik hadn’t yet.

He quickly washed, changed into the clean clothes, and strapped the resting leg to his knee.

When he returned to the bedchamber, he found Adry awake, her eyes still half-closed, as she talked quietly with his dacha.

At Merrik’s approach, Dacha stood. “I will fetch the healer.”

Merrik sank into the seat beside the bed. “You’re awake.”

“Mostly.” Adry gave him a small, sleepy smile. “Please tell me I didn’t sing while under the influence of the healing magic and morphine like Fieran did?”

“Nope. No singing.” Even he’d heard the story of that part of Fieran’s recovery. Merrik took her hand, giving her fingers a gentle squeeze. “I am disappointed. I was looking forward to hearing you sing about how much you love me.”

She tilted her head more toward him, her smile widening even if her eyes still remained only half-open. “You don’t need me to sing that. I will just say it. I love you.”

“I love you too.” He squeezed her fingers again to punctuate his words. “You gave me quite the scare.”