Ugh, Brandth lay there, exhausted, blind, his mouth tasting like he’d licked a funk toad, wondering which of the Gods he had offended recently. Perhaps all of them, considering his situation.
The only thing that could make matters worse would be… his stomach rumbled again. He didn’t blame it, but nor did he like the idea of having a second taste of that vile liquid as it exited his body. Determinedly Brandth attempted to quell his guts. Nope, his guts refused to be quelled. This was happening, his head spinning in a painful throbbing manner. His stomach heaving.
Now those fingers had a firm pinch on his lips.
“Oh, no you don’t.”
The tide rose but had nowhere to go but back down once more, leaving a second coating on Brandth’s tongue and throat. “Ugh. Ah, cruddy hell.”
“Sip this.”
Water once more, cool, refreshing. Brandth tried not to gulp it.
A firm hand tapping his shoulder. “Just remain still. It will pass, and your stomach will settle soon.”
“I beg to differ. If I’d had a choice between a quick death and that vile concoction, I would have cheerfully chosen door number one.”
“Heavens, you do put on a production, don’t you? It’s a wonder you do not make your living on the stage.” That lyrical voice tinged with nothing but exasperation.
“And you are a heinous, uptight, harridan of a woman.” Brandth accused. “I expect everyone says so.”
“Yes, they probably do. But no one has been brave enough to say it to my face before.” Tone as dry as the desert now.
Brandth reached up, yanking away the cloth covering his forehead, determinedly trying to pry his eyelids apart. Ow, he’d only managed a glimmer but the light in the room seared in to his already throbbing skull, causing the pain to escalate so that it felt like someone was actively stabbing him. “Cruddy hell, why does the light hurt so very much?”
His hand promptly slapped away, the cloth replaced surprisingly gently, covering his forehead and now his eyes. “You hit your head when you fell. It can make you a little sensitive to things such as light and sound for a while. Just relax and don’t try to force things. Give the medicine a chance to work.”
Brandth chose to comply, what choice did he have? After a few minutes he was pleased that the stabbing in his head had retreated to a dull distant throb, his stomach was calm and the ache in his leg had all but disappeared. “Where am I? What happened? How badly am I injured? And where’s Talac?”
“You’re in the Lair infirmary. During the chaos of today’s hunt, you were thrown from your horse-”
“That idiot Elliot and his cronies doing their silly jig.” The memories snapped back into place. “And that momma boar tearing through them. I remember now.”
“That’s a good sign. You were thrown from your horse, hitting your head, and breaking your leg.”
Damn, a person could still die of a broken leg, or be left with a serious impairment if the healers were poor practitioners. “And my diagnosis?”
“You’ll mend and be exactly as you were.”
Something about that voice had Brandth believing her reassurances. “And Talac, the Captain of my Guard? I would have thought he’d be close by. He wasn’t hurt, was he?”
“Not at all. He has other duties to perform.”
“What could be more important than sitting by my sickbed, fetching me blankets, fresh water, and a chamber pot when I am in need?”
“Acting as best man at the wedding of Master Kinnith and Gretani.”
“Talac? Best man? At a wedding? Where there’s singing, dancing, and people having fun? Now that is a surprise. Oh, well, I suppose in his absence you’ll do.”
“I’ll do what?”
“Fetch me things. See to my comfort.”
“I have better things to do than hover by your bedside acting as your personal slave.”
“Personal slave. That has a lovely ring to it.” Brandth was feeling better by the minute. Although he had no desire to move and jostle his lower limb. Or remove the blindfold and be stabbed in the eyes by the light. But he found himself enjoying needling his bossy nursemaid perhaps more than he should.
“There are bandages to fold. Elixirs to mix. Other patients I need to check on. And another million other little things that need to be done.”
