Chapter 26
Bash nodded a greeting. "Is she here?" he came straight to the point and moved forward.
But Greer blocked his way. "Don't go one step further!" she said threatening. "At first, tell me what are you doing here?" She looked at him frowning. "What happened to you at all?"
"I crossed the ravine." he explained his condition. "I wanted to walk around the barricades. I got stuck on some branches." He sighed impatiently. "Can I see Kenna and Daniel now?"
Greer shook her head. "Not yet. But they are here and both are well, to answer your question. But in your condition I won't let you see them." She frowned disapprovingly. "What is that?" She walked around him. "There is blood everywhere! Are you injured?" she asked concerned.
Bash cursed quietly. "Just an old stab wound." he replied.
"Old?" Greer raised an eyebrow. "This doesn't look old to me. It's fresh blood. Come with me!" she grabbed his arm. "I cannot allow you to see Kenna. She will get a shock when she sees all the blood! I need to look at it first."
Reluctantly, Bash followed Greer in one of the guest chambers.
"Take off your shirt, that I can see the wound!" she ordered.
Bash hesitated.
"Don't behave like a little girl! I've seen a naked man before."
Bash tugged his shirt over his head and was surprised to find blood sticking on it. Nostradamus was right, he thought bitterly. One week was not enough to heal the wound.
"Lie down on the bed! I'll bring a basin and bandages. I'll be back soon."
When she opened the door to her chamber, where she wanted to get her things, Kenna awaited her already.
"Have you interrogated him?" she asked curiously.
Greer nodded hesitantly. If she would tell Kenna that the intruder was Bash, she would require to see him immediately, she thought. She decided not to tell her yet. "He is in one of the guest chambers. He's injured." she said at last.
"Serves him right, if he has the nerve to knock the watchman unconscious!"
Greer had to suppress a smile. If Kenna only knew. "I'm going back to him, and you can go to your chamber."
Kenna nodded. "Are we in danger now? Is he infected?"
Greer hesitated with her answer. Of course, she couldn't be sure, but Bash hadn't looked sick. His skin had felt cool, and she hadn't seen any bumps or black skin discoloration. "I don't think so." she replied.
"Where have you been so long?" Bash asked annoyed, as Greer entered the guest chamber with the basin and bandages, twenty minutes later.
"I had a little talk with Kenna." she answered shortly.
Bash jerked upwards. "She knows I'm here?"
"No, she doesn't. I thought you should tell her, after I have made you a little more presentable." She rolled her eyes. "And now hold still! It might hurt when I start to clean the wound."
Half an hour later, Bash was not only cleaned, he also had a new shirt and pants. They were from a customer, but it didn't bother him because they were freshly washed. He stepped to Greer. "Am I presentable enough by your standards?" he asked in a slightly mocking tone.
Greer nodded. "Simply perfect. And now go! I told Kenna to go to her chamber. You can find her there. Go along the corridor. It's the third door on the left."
Bash nodded. "Thank you!"
Greer saw him smiling as he left the room to meet Kenna.
Kenna had fallen asleep in her chair and had neither heard the knock on the door, nor had she noticed that someone had entered the room. Only when she felt a gentle touch on her arm, she woke up and still believed to dream, when she saw who bent over her.
"Bash!? Are you really here or am I still dreaming?" she muttered in disbelief.
Quickly, he raised her up out of the chair and looked deeply into her eyes. "Is this proof enough, that you are not dreaming?" He cupped her face in his hands and brushed her lips lightly with his own.
Kenna was too surprised to react at first. But as his kiss became deeper and more passionate, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back, her passion matching his.
It was Bash who broke the kiss first and looked at her. "I'm so glad that I found you!" he said, breathing heavily.
"You're really here!" Kenna exclaimed as she grasped both his hands.
He nodded smiling. "Did you think, I would let you go so easily?"
"How did you find me?" Kenna asked curiously. „I hadn't written in my letter where I would go."
"Nostradamus." Bash answered shortly. "He had a vision of you, Lola and Greer. He told me that you were in the brothel."
Kenna smiled. "So, you are here thanks to Nostradamus?" She stepped into his embrace again. "I'm so happy that you are here! I thought you would never forgive me for leaving you."
Bash stroked her cheek gently. "There is nothing to forgive. I'm just glad I have you back... you and Daniel." he added. He took a deep breath. "Are you ready?"
She looked at him frowning. "Ready for what?"
"What do you think?" He raised an eyebrow. "I'm here to take you home... back to the Castle."