XVIII

What Ekimu had dreaded to happen happened. As strength left him, he stumbled backwards, almost falling. Luckily he caught himself before actually falling, but it didn't make the situation any better.

Taking his mask for him, Makuta looked closely at Ekimu's face. He looked shocked, but there seemed to be a hint of something else. "That doesn't look good at all," he murmured. "How could I have hit you so hard while half-asleep?"

Ekimu shrugged. "It must have been a really bad dream. And there are marks on the other side, too, but they're not as serious."

"Both sides? What did I even do?"

"I don't know. You may have… may have clawed me somehow. Something like that." Ekimu's eyes flickered. "Could I have my mask back now?"

Makuta blinked. "Already? You haven't had it off for more than a minute!"

"I am hurt."

"Ridiculous. That was days ago."

"Yesterday."

"Since when do you catalog your injuries?" Makuta joked. But his tone became serious when he continued. "Then again, it would make sense if you did. You wouldn't lose count."

Without warning Ekimu's legs gave out from under him, and he fell to the ground like a tin toy. He'd stayed maskless far too long. "Makuta, whuh… What are you talking about?" he said, breaths quickening. "Give my mask back!"

"You wouldn't have lost count of the times you were hurt and wronged," Makuta continued with a look of contempt. "You wouldn't know a single time you were forgotten, ignored, rejected. Until now." He knelt down, and Ekimu could feel a cold hand lift his head. Makuta smiled right in front of his face. "You don't like it, do you?"

With a sudden jerk, Makuta let go of Ekimu, who fell helplessly to the ground. "Well, then," Makuta said, "perhaps you should stop treating your brother in such a way." He dropped Ekimu's mask to the floor, too far away to reach. "Apologize, and I'll give it back."

Another wave of weakness set in. Ekimu himself could scarcely move his lips as he whispered, "I'm sorry."

Makuta's eyes widened exaggeratedly. "What was that? You'll need to speak more loudly, Ekimu. I can't seem to hear you."

Consciousness was becoming unbearable. The strain of keeping his eyes open made them almost sting, and he didn't want to think of the force it would take to be any louder than a raindrop hitting glass. But somehow, somehow, Ekimu found the strength to take a deep breath—and apologize again, but at a normal talking level. He couldn't take it if it were any louder.

But it did the trick. Makuta looked actively surprised. "That's new. Well, that was all I needed to hear—I forgive you. I'm a man of my word—here you are. I apologize for what I did."

Man of his word, my mask, Ekimu swore in his head as he was handed the mask. After putting it on, he stood and glared at Makuta.

"What, you aren't going to forgive me?" said Makuta, staring back innocently. "I forgave all you've done to me, and when I apologize for the one thing I did you won't as much as say, 'It's okay'?"

Ekimu took in a sharp breath as if he would shout, but exhaled slowly. "You know, you're probably right."

"Probably?"

"No—I mean you are right, I guess. This arguing has just been pointless. And, well… you did forgive whatever I did, so…" As he spoke, there was still a flicker of doubt in his mind. Makuta had lied to Lelaka, and Ekimu knew she wouldn't change her mind after a simple discussion. It would take weeks for him to convince her he wasn't a petty playboy. The question was how she had believed Makuta so easily…

But Makuta did apologize. At this point, Ekimu was just being unreasonable—he thought so, at least. After a slow sigh, he finally spoke. "I forgive you, Makuta."

Makuta smiled. "Thank you, my brother. I'm glad you understand."