Soft voices drifted through the open window, disturbing the sleeper on the low bed. Stretching out, from the tips of her toes to the ends of her fingers, Aly languorously opened her eyes. The sunlight streaming through the window disconcerted her and she sat up quickly. The sudden movement made her head spin. Raising a hand to her forehead Aly closed her eyes again.
A chuckle made her open them in shock.
"Taybur? What? I mean…. Oh darn…" embarrassed at her sudden inability to speak properly she lowered her eyes to the patterned blanket covering her knees. Furtively checking on her level of modesty Aly breathed a sigh of relief. Someone had tucked her in still wearing her sarong.
Taybur laughed again. "You always were cute when you didn't know what was going on."
Noticing her glare at him his grin broadened. "No need to look at me like that honey. You can't exactly order me out. I did bring you home after all. And we need to talk."
He had brought her home?
Aly quickly skimmed over the days events. She'd left the palace after an argument with Dove: she couldn't remember what it was about. After leaving the palace grounds she remembered running aimlessly, finding herself at the small marker that was her memorial to…. Nawat. Memory flooded back and made tears well in her eyes.
A tear teetered on her cheek, sliding down to fall off her chin. It was caught by Tayburs hand as he lifted Aly's head to look her in the eye.
"Honey…. Why won't you cry?"
Aly stared at him. She was crying, wasn't she?
Guessing the reason for her silence Taybur grinned comfortingly at her. "I mean a proper cry… a cry that seems to burst from inside you but cleanses the wound."
Continuing to stare at him, Aly's mind went haywire. Couldn't he see that she hurting inside? Wasn't that enough for him? She couldn't cry, not like that, she was Dunai… and Dunai didn't show weakness, didn't show pain. She had to be strong. Dove needed her. The rebellion may be over but the work had just begun. Dunai didn't have time for tears. But how it hurt: keeping it all locked up.
Her shoulders started to shake and the tears spilled over. Sobs wracked her body and she shock uncontrollably until firm arms gathered her up and held her close.
"Oh Taybur… it hurts.. it hurts so much."
He made low, soothing noises, stroking her hair with one hand.
"Why did he leave me? Why did her die? Hadn't I done enough Kyprioth… without having to lose my heart?" the words were punctuated with ineffectual blows to Taybur's chest.
He held her, letting her sob her anger and pain and sorrow into his shirt. As her body slowly stopped shaking her gave her one last pat on the head and moved back. Wide-eyed she looked up at him and wonder flitted across her face.
"Why.. I do feel better!"
He laughed at her astonishment. "Course you do honey. 'Course you do."
Blowing her nose Aly stood up and walked towards the door. Pausing with one hand on the doorway she looked back.
"Taybur?" He glanced up at her.
"Thankyou."