Chapter Twenty-Five
Warm sunlight was on his face. The scent of herbs and a faint hint of smoke lingered in the air. He knew even before he was fully awake that this meant he was in the healer's house. He could hear the wooden wind chimes clattering in the breeze outside, warding off any evil spirits that may do harm to the patients. His head was lying on a soft pillow, a warm blanket was tucked up to his chest. He shifted his sore muscles and then stopped himself. Someone was holding his hand.
Vexx opened his eyes and brought himself fully into the waking world. He stared up at the thatched ceiling for a time, unsure if he should move. The room was silent. Carefully he turned his head.
Sitting on the floor was Gly. His eyes were closed, his head resting on the edge of the bed upon his folded arm. He looked a mess from the battle, bruised and bandaged. Vexx imagined that he looked no better off himself. Gly's hand was lightly wrapped about Vexx's shield hand as he slept. Vexx blinked sharply at this and tried to sit up a little. The pain in his back warned him to not move. He lay still.
A movement caught his attention. Kiri was standing in the doorway, leaning her shoulder upon the door frame, just the same as she had been the night before. She and Vexx looked at each other in silence for a time, each trying to read what the other was thinking, but to no avail. Kiri finally whispered, "He hasn't left your side," she nodded to Gly. "Not for a moment. I told him he'll hurt himself sleeping like that, but… he's stubborn." She pressed her lips together tightly and cast her gaze on the floor.
Vexx looked away as well, returning his eyes to the ceiling. He expected that she would leave now. No doubt she was just here to make sure that Gly was doing alright. After all, someone had to look after that fool. She seemed a perfect candidate.
Much to Vexx's surprise, Kiri instead moved to his bedside. Kneeling on the opposite side of the bed from Gly, she fixed Vexx with a stern look that made him fear he was in for the lecture of his life. He knew he owed her an apology. The warrior flinched back as Kiri's hand moved toward his face. She paid it no mind as she pushed his ragged hair back away from his cheeks.
She whispered to him sternly, "Don't you ever do that again." Vexx wanted to tell her that he never meant to attack her, that is had been a mistake on his part. Her firm gaze from before melted away, and Vexx realized that the whole reason it had been there to begin with was to dam back the tears that she knew were coming. Biting her lip, Kiri took hold of his sword hand. "Don't you ever scare me like that again. You're not allowed to die, do you hear me?"
Suddenly this conversation had shot off in a totally different direction and Vexx felt lost in the wake of her words. He nodded once for lack of anything else he could think to do. With a quiet sob, Kiri rested her forehead on the back of his War Talon.
The warrior's gaze returned to the ceiling. He'd found himself with someone holding each of his hands. Holding his hands. It had been so long since he knew such a feeling. He could feel Kiri's tears fall onto his wrist. He closed his eyes and joined her in her weeping, silent as ever.