Disclaimer: Once again, I own nothing but Tahir. He's mine, so I've at least got something, I feel so much better.
Kel pushed back her hair so she could better see the book in her lap. Tahir had been almost calm since she and Neal had pinned him down. His wrists were still strapped down. Small as he was, he was still strong. He had been asleep for some time now. Hopefully he would wake up long enough for her to have a real conversation with him. Tahir's shaggy dark hair covered part of his face and he shifted slightly in the restraints.
Kel wasn't happy about having to tie him down, but he hadn't left them any choice. During his ranting last night he would have hurt either them or himself in his attempts to escape Miar whoever that was. Luckily the ward had remained empty throughout the night, partially due to Neal's efforts, and the fact that Tahir disturbed most of the nurses more than they wanted to admit. They preferred to avoid the apparently dangerous.
Kel leaned over Tahir pushing his hair out of his face again and finally giving up on the book. Reading about the traditions of the northern people of Tortall wasn't enough to distract her from the current problem. She closed the book with a sigh. Tahir stirred and his eyes snapped open as he felt the restraints.
"Wait," Kel touched his shoulder as he began to struggle.
Blazing green eyes locked onto hers, "Where am I?" He grated each word through clenched teeth.
Kel managed a lopsided smile, "In the palace. I brought you here." Tahir looked around at the gleaming walls and floor of the ward.
"Why? They don't exactly let people in here right out of prison." He smiled darkly. "Not that I remember getting here."
"You met up with some acquaintances of yours who decided to beat you up." Kel informed him. He frowned and looked at the restraints on his arms.
"Why did you bother with me? I'm not that much better off here."
Kel frowned at him, "I bothered because you needed help and your arms are tied down because you were delusional last night and you tried to attack us." She couldn't help but be slightly annoyed with her new charge.
"But I'm not delusional now…" He pulled at the restraints in an attempt to gesture.
"I suppose you can't go anywhere…" Kel reluctantly loosed the straps pinning his wrists. As she did so Tahir twisted and pulled away, launching himself to the side. He made it a few steps before Kel caught him as he collapsed. "I told you; with all the magic that's been done on you lately you should be careful."
He responded with a few words Kel had heard only once in her life and that was from the practice yards. She just raised her eyebrows until he stopped and sat back down on the bed. Kel looked him up and down.
"Also, if you're going to be wandering about the palace you might want to wait until we find some clothes for you." Tahir noticed for the first time that he was wearing only a robe from the ward. He blushed slightly; Kel hid a smile. Maybe he was human after all. "I'll get you one if you don't mind waiting." Tahir looked uneasy. He rubbed his left palm nervously.
She stood up to leave, but stopped when he called out, "Wait!" Tahir staggered to his feet. Kel frowned.
"Where do you think you're going? You can barely stand." He proved her point as he had to catch the wall to keep himself upright.
He glared right back at her, "You're the reason I'm here and I'm not going to let you out of my sight until I know what's going on." He finished grumbling, "Not to mention they'd probably throw me out when they saw me alone. Nobles get tired of their games quick enough." The last was under his breath, but Kel heard him and responded as she gave him her arm to lean on.
"With all the things you were shouting last night I sincerely doubt any of the nurses will come anywhere near you." She was rewarded with another slight blush as they made their way down the hall. A few pages came them some odd looks, but it was the land's only other Lady Knight and Alana had already given them a reputation for being eccentric so no one commented on the strange picture they made. Tahir with his tracery of scars and markings and unkempt hair wearing a robe from the ward leaning on a knight's arm while walking through the darkened halls.
Kel was the first to break the silence, "Why were you in jail?"
Tahir smiled though somewhat bitterly, "What do you think? The same as most of those in there, I did what I could to survive."
"There are legal ways of managing that though." Kel couldn't understand how he could do something wrong such as stealing. It wasn't that she was naïve. She knew poor died everyday in the streets, but even so…
He looked her in the eye again and gave a short laugh, "Of course there are, but they don't work very well. Sometimes there's no other option. Not that you would know, being a noble." Kel bristled and would have turned this into the fistfight that usually resulted from insults like this, but she couldn't justify hitting someone who currently looked very fragile. Tahir must have seen what went through her head because he gave a genuine laugh this time. Kel had to admit that he looked much better when he smiled, not like so wild or despairing.
"Some day I'll take you up on the fight Lady Knight. We thieves aren't without our talents." Kel's eyes widened as he held up her belt knife. She had never even felt it's leaving. As she opened her mouth to demand it back he already held it out to her, hilt first. "Not yet though, but there are things they don't teach…"
He cut off with a grimace of pain. He leaned against the wall pressing his palms down against it as if to suppress something. Light leaked out from beneath them, glowing with a sickly reddish color, like dried blood. Tahir squeezed his eyes shut as he body went rigid. When he opened them again it was like looking into eyes of someone very different, and very dangerous. Kel felt a chill run down her back. She faintly heard a dry raspy voice in language she had never heard before as the thief went limp.
He managed to catch himself against the wall and Kel helped him to a bench a short ways own the hall. "Maybe you should go back to bed."
Tahir smiled faintly, "Wait, it will pass. Sleep doesn't help much, as you've noticed. I suppose you also noticed these?" He touched his palm gingerly. Kel nodded. "Did you hear him?" Kel nodded again. "Kel, meet Miar. I hope he never has the pleasure of meeting you. He-" The thief cut off with a grimace again.
"What is it? He what?"
Tahir frowned and spoke, choosing his words carefully, "I can't tell much about him, he hold's more of me." He put his hands to his temples and opened his eyes, "Maybe you should ask someone else. He didn't explain much." He got to his feet, albeit somewhat shakily and smiled again. "If we could find me some clothes I would appreciate it."
Kel could see that he wasn't going to say anything more, but it worried her, in fact it worried her a lot. People always said eyes were the window to the soul and what Kel had seen frightened her, more than she had been in some time.
They didn't talk much until they reached the storehouse. Most people in the castle went down to the market for clothes and things such as that, but they did have some on hand for new servants and for emergencies. In a castle such as this you never knew what was going to happen.
The matronly woman sitting in the room looked them up and down, clearly not approving. "What can I do for you madam and…sir?" She added the last reluctantly and made it sure Tahir knew it. The thief took no notice though as he was still rubbing his hands absently.
Kel ignored her statement, "We need some clothes for him." She nodded at Tahir who was still looking about the room. The woman grimaced and reached behind her with a sigh. She handed Kel a somewhat ragged set of clothes. She shook them out and held them up before handing them back to the woman.
"We need some clothes that fit." She harrumphed before reaching behind her again. After extended haggling and a substantial pile of rejected clothing had accumulated they came to an agreement with a serviceable tunic and leggings as well as a jacket. The woman nodded with respect as Kel handed Tahir his new clothes. He smiled and raised his eyebrows as Kel thanked the woman and they pushed open the door.
"It's been a while since I've seen bargaining that good."
"She just didn't want to give it to someone as well decorated as you." They laughed, almost forgetting about the attack he had had earlier. Kel couldn't help but notice again how much better he looked. As they reached the ward Neal called out.
"Kel, I need to talk to you!" He skidded to a halt in front of them. He looked from one to the other and Tahir frowned, pushing past Kel and into the word supporting himself against the wall. Neal shrugged and turned back towards Kel.
"It's about the Binding. Numiar found something."
Sorry about being slow. December is a very busy month, even though that's no excuse… Anyway, I think someone asked why Tahir is short, as for that if you're living on the streets you aren't going to have much of a chance to live normally so he turned out short.