Chapter 17
There was something inherently wrong with being simultaneously hungry and nauseous. Kalyani had been elated when Varum disappeared into his room, leaving her to face the awkward discomfort alone.
She sipped the…she didn’t even know what it was.
Soup? Tea? Whatever it was, it was something her stomach could handle, and that was all that mattered.
She didn’t acknowledge the passage of time, just the rise and fall of the nausea that kept coming like waves crashing onto the beach.
It was only in those brief moments of respite that she became aware of the other aches in her body—like her knees from sitting cross-legged in the chair.
A few times, she had contemplated standing to walk to the sofa, but she wasn’t sure she could make it. Why chance a losing battle? It was bad enough that she was feeling so poorly again. So, she remained in the chair.
The ache in her knees was eventually overshadowed by her feet going numb, followed by a twinge in her lower back. Yet through it all, she forced herself to sip the liquid, expecting that her stomach would finally settle.
She lifted the cup to her lips for another drink, only to find it empty.
Kalyani stared into it, hoping that more would miraculously appear, but fate wasn’t on her side that night.
No matter how hard she stared, hoping for more of the liquid, the cup remained empty.
She slowly looked over her shoulder to the cabinet, where Varum had pulled out the tin.
It was only a few steps away. First, though, she needed to heat some water.
Her stomach was feeling pretty good, which meant it was the perfect time to stand.
She didn’t rush anything, however. Kalyani took her time getting to her feet and crossing to the sink.
She filled the kettle and set it to heat.
Then, she went to the cabinet to get another sachet of whatever it was she had been drinking.
Just as she opened the door, a wave of intense queasiness assailed her.
She gripped the door in one hand and the edge of the cabinet in the other until the worst of it passed.
“I just might be getting better,” she murmured with a grin.
She grabbed the tin and opened it, but it wasn’t the soothing scent from before.
This was something strong and bitter. She immediately replaced the lid, but the damage had already been done.
Her stomach roiled violently. Kalyani hastily replaced the tin and turned to the sink, just as everything came up.
Sweat soaked her skin, and her legs shook so badly she had to grip the edges of the sink to stay upright.
Then, suddenly, her hair was pulled away from her face, and a cold cloth pressed against her forehead.
She tried to straighten once her stomach had emptied, but before she could, Varum lifted her into his arms.
“Stop,” she told him when she saw that he was headed toward his room.
“You need the bed.”
Her head dropped onto his shoulder despite her best efforts to keep it up. “Sofa is fine.”
There was no reply as he laid her out on the side nearest to the bathroom. He then placed the cold, damp cloth on her forehead once more, covered her, and strode out. Kalyani rolled onto her side. Another wave of nausea hit her as she listened to Varum moving about the kitchen.
She must have dozed because when next she opened her eyes, there was nothing but silence.
“Stay still,” Varum said when she turned her head. He gently wiped her heated face as he urged, “Go back to sleep.”
She let herself be soothed by his voice and the cool cloth as she succumbed to exhaustion.
Kalyani opened her eyes to find herself on her side again.
There was no queasiness this time, but she was afraid to move in case it returned.
The soft sounds coming from outside the bedroom got her to gradually roll onto her back.
A shadow filled the door, and her gaze landed on Nirav.
To her surprise, she felt a thread of disappointment that it wasn’t Varum.
“You’re finally awake,” Nirav said with a relieved smile. He moved to the foot of the bed. “How are you feeling?”
“Weak. But better,” she admitted.
He nodded thoughtfully. “Varum sent for me this morning. He was called away and didn’t want to leave you alone in case your condition worsened.”
She rolled over and managed to push herself up with her arm. The older elf was immediately by her side.
“Easy, easy,” he cautioned.
With his help, she got herself propped up against the headboard. That little effort left her winded and her limbs shaking.
A frown creased his forehead as he regarded her.
“I looked through some material last night. I think it’s the serynth leaf that caused the issue.
While there is no record of it ever being tested on humans, there have been cases where it affected elves with queasiness—just not at the magnitude you felt. ”
“Is there a way to make it stop?”
“Removing the leaf was the first step. It takes some time for the remnants of the medicine to leave the body. I believe that’s what is causing the issue. The elves who experienced such nausea were given a mixture to drink.”
The thought of putting anything in her stomach made her grimace. “Please, tell me there’s another way.”
“I suspected you might feel that way after Varum told me how sick you were last night. My next suggestion is ashal moss. It’s one of the ingredients for the brewed concoction, but it is also used alone as an anti-nausea tonic.
I’ve crushed some. If you’ll allow, I’ll spread it over the inside of your wrists. ”
It sounded much better than drinking anything. “What will it do?” she asked.
“The moss is found on the underbellies of large shells. It releases vapors that will ease and quiet your stomach. It’s a gentle, safe remedy that has been used by my people for generations.”
Kalyani nodded. If she wanted to return home, she needed to be healthy. As it was, she was so weak she could barely lift her arm, and that meant she couldn’t leave until she built up her strength again.
Nirav returned within moments. He held a palm-sized orange shell as he approached her.
She held out her arms, wrists up. He dipped his fingers into the shell, and when he lifted his hands, they were covered with a silvery green substance.
The first contact was cold and somewhat slimy, but within moments, she started to feel better.
She closed her eyes and waited for Nirav to finish.
“There now,” he said and lowered her hand to her stomach.
She looked up at him as he stepped back. “Thank you.”
He flashed a smile. “Rest. I’ll return later to look in on you.”
“Do you have somewhere you need to be? If so, please go. I’ll be fine.”
“My days of moving in political circles are over, and I’m happy about that. I’m quite enjoying having you to care for. It’s been a long time since I’ve had someone to look after.”
It suddenly dawned on her that Nirav was a way for her to learn more about Varum. All she had to do was ask the right questions. “I don’t want to sleep right now. Will you sit with me for a bit?”
“I’d be delighted,” he beamed. “Let me put this away. I’ll be right back.”
True to his word, he returned with some water and bread that he placed on the table next to her. “For when you’re feeling up to it.”
She waited until he was settled in the chair before asking, “How long have you known Varum?”
“Since the day he was given to his parents.” Nirav chuckled and shook his head. “My, that was some years ago now.”
“You were close to his parents then?”
Nirav nodded. “Very close. His mum was so excited to finally have a child.”
“His father wasn’t?”
Nirav twisted his lips and glanced to the side. “His political career and wife were the important things. If she wanted something, he gave it to her.”
“But he didn’t want children.”
“He didn’t have a thought about it, one way or another.”
Kalyani brushed back a curl that had fallen into her eyes. The way he said the words made her realize he wouldn’t elaborate. “What of your family?”
“I married once. Sadly, it didn’t work out. I then turned my attention to the city. That’s where it would’ve remained had I not taken in Varum.”
“Did something happen to his family?”
“That is not my story to tell,” he stated gently.
She dipped her head. “Of course. I understand. I shouldn’t have pried.”
“It’s natural. You want to know about Varum as much as he wants to know about you.”
“All he wants is what I know about the Masters.”
Nirav’s smile widened. “Is that what you think?”
“Trust me, that’s all he wants.”
“Let me tell you something about him that you don’t know,” Nirav said as he leaned forward, bracing his arms on his knees. “He has never, not once, broken a single rule or order given to him by his family, me, or this city. Has never pushed boundaries. Never even toed the line. Until you.”
Kalyani wasn’t sure what to do with that. How did one respond to such a statement? Thank you seemed wrong. I’m sorry might be better, but it wasn’t as if she had done anything. In the end, she opted to remain silent.
Nirav sighed as he sat back, his hands sliding along his thighs. “What do you see when you look at him?”
“A cold, unyielding elf.”
“Why cold?”
She frowned, considering the question. “He keeps his emotions in check. Never displays them.”
“Never?” Nirav asked with the quirk of a brow.
Since Nirav knew Varum better than she did, she decided not to answer that. “I understand why he brought me here, and I realize that he wants to keep the Masters away from his people, but I want to go home.”
“He gave his word. He’ll keep it. Of that, you can be certain.”
Kalyani glanced to the side at the glass of water. It looked inviting, but she wasn’t quite up to testing things out yet. “Did anything I divulged help?”
“In matters such as these, the more knowledge gained—however inconsequential someone might believe it is—is power. It also helps to know that there are those standing against the Masters.”
“I told Varum to come back with me so he can talk to my friends.”
Nirav shook his head, the sadness he felt written all over his face. “He won’t. Not because he doesn’t want to gather more information, but because it isn’t our way.”
“You went to the surface. You walked among us.”
“Because I had no choice. A Sea Elf is sent to the Conclave every five years to serve as a representative. I spent years away from my people, longing for the day I could return.” He looked away as he paused. “When I came home, it was to suspicion and distrust.”
Kalyani saw the sorrow in his eyes and was angry on his behalf. “You did what you had to do. Surely, everyone knew that.”
His smile was back in place, though not as bright as before. “Things are never so cut and dried as we would like. My time spent on land changed me. There is no way someone can spend that much time away and not be altered in some way. But that was long ago.”
Maybe in years, but she knew Nirav still felt the sting of his people’s reaction to him.
“I shared that,” he continued, “to help you understand the lengths a Sea Elf will go to not be on land.”
She glanced down at her hands folded over her stomach. “Dark Elves come up from the Below. Shouldn’t it be as simple for your race?”
“As you’ve seen firsthand, our world is vastly different from others.”
There was a hidden meaning there. Kalyani was sure of it, but she couldn’t figure out what it might be.
“I don’t know much about the rest of our realm.
I’ve never ventured farther than my village.
I can’t tell you what it’s like to walk the streets of Rannora or even Belanore.
I grew up far from all of that. I have seen Sea Elves from shore.
It was just a glimpse, mind you, but I’ve seen them. ”
“How often?” he asked, his gaze intense as he stared.
She shrugged. “Here and there.”
“Where exactly is your village?”
Kalyani hesitated, though she wasn’t sure why. She was willing to bring Varum to her home. What was the difference between that and telling Nirav where it was?
“Did any of the Sea Elves come out of the water?” he asked.
“Not that I saw.”
Nirav turned his head away, his brow furrowed. “I wonder if those were the same elves that Varum followed. They could be meeting the Masters. I need to find Varum.”
Kalyani could do nothing as he rose and stalked out of the room and through the front door.