Chapter 2 #5
"That is quite an injury," observed Rodil.
They gestured to my hand. I glanced and saw that I'd split my knuckles again, my tendons swollen.
I hadn't even noticed. I often didn't notice; I always had to give myself a careful once-over before leaving Radiant Ward and returning to Verdant.
I didn't particularly want to answer questions about things like livid bruises and scabbed-over cuts and why, exactly, I was paying for the privilege of being decorated in that way.
"It's nothing," I said, frowning. "I have a subdermal knitter at my apartment."
Rodil made a soft sound. "A knitter cannot address strain to the tendons. It only reduces swelling, which is protective. Are you often using a subdermal knitter to cope with your injuries?"
I shrugged. "I'm training at a nearby gym." It wasn't an answer.
Rodil, it seemed, caught that. A small smile twitched their lips and they inclined their head.
"If you wish, I would be happy to offer my services.
I am a physician. Or – I was for many years on Bronze Moon Station.
I could help you treat your injuries in a way that will not result in further harm – which, I must say, using a subdermal knitter in the wrong situations will do. "
Maybe that explained their nice clothes: physicians had status. That had to be true with crecheless abaya too. And it could be good to know a doctor. It could be good to have someone help patch me up who actually knew what they were doing. But – "Why?"
A trill escaped Rodil's throat as we emerged from the Graves and into more familiar avenues.
Ahead of us, Elethenn had his head down as he continued to lead us back toward the square.
"You are the treasure of Creche Thiel," Rodil said.
"If you are pleased with my care, perhaps you will mention my name to your sinnenthi when he is ready to accept petitioners.
It is – unheard of for a creche to welcome skoshas.
Your Araxis will have many petitioners, I am certain. "
So they wanted a good word? I looked at Elethenn's tight shoulders.
"Wait, is that what you want too, Elethenn?
Is that why you always make extra food for me?
" Because he did give me more buns and dumplings than I paid for, and sometimes wouldn't let me pay at all if he thought I looked particularly hungry – although that just meant I'd sneakily pay him more the next time.
Next to me, Rodil made a soft sound, almost like they'd choked on something. "No," said Elethenn firmly, and then we were back in the square outside of my apartment, and he didn't seem remotely inclined to expand.
"I'd be happy to have your help," I said to Rodil carefully. "But I can't make any promises about Creche Thiel."
"Of course I understand," they said happily.
"And I'm going to pay you," I added, firm. "Just like I pay Elethenn for dumplings, and my language tutor for her time. I have my own credits now. I want to be sure everyone is paid what they're owed. I don't want special treatment just because I'm a member of Creche Thiel."
"Yes, this is sensible," said Rodil, still smiling. "Although there are many abaya who would be happy to do you favours, Sashen of Creche Thiel, because you are a treasure."
I didn't know what to do with that. I didn't like the idea of being treated differently, of being given things, just because I was Creche Thiel's virra.
Just because I… belonged to Araxis. Given that my place at his side wasn't even guaranteed – wasn't necessarily something I wanted or would choose to keep in a year's time – it felt even worse.
I wanted to be just Sashen down here, but it was starting to become clear that I might not be able to be just Sashen anywhere.
At least Tam would still beat the shit out of me, and all he asked was to be paid for the pleasure.
"Alright, well. I'm up here. You can come along, if you want.
I'll make tea." And then I took off toward my apartment, clattering up the familiar metal stairs to the second level walkway, tapping my wrist against the panel and letting us into the familiar space.
A message chimed at the panel by the door, notifying me of a package that was waiting at a nearby transit hub.
Probably whatever it was Val had sent me.
I added the notification to my wristband – I could stop in and grab it on the way back to Verdant Ward – and shot her a quick message to say I’d gotten back to my apartment, before I put the kettle on and prepped a tray with a teapot and three cups.
Rodil walked in after me, looking around the spartan space.
I was sure that, if they'd had eyebrows, they would have been raised.
"This is – yours?" they asked, sounding confused.
"Yeah," I said breezily. "Anyway, let me grab my kit."
Elethenn had also come, although he hovered just inside of the door, looking incredibly uncomfortable. He said something quick in abayan – I was pretty sure it was something along the lines of this is not appropriate – before Rodil responded, just as rapidly. I caught the word for doctor, at least.
While the water boiled, I headed back to the hygiene room and grabbed the subdermal knitter and my paltry first aid kid – I had some painkillers now at least – and set them on the wobbly table.
"My coach really fucked up my shoulder," I admitted with a wince as I rolled it.
"Is it – Would it make you uncomfortable if I took off some layers so you could take a look? "
Elethenn had gone silver, standing at the door. Rodil, however, only looked amused. "Not at all. I am a physician. Are you comfortable with that?"
I laughed, unable to stop myself. Was I comfortable with taking off three whole layers of clothes?
"Yeah," I said, dry. "I'll probably manage.
" I sat down and peeled off my sweater, then my jumpsuit and my underlayer, until I was down to bare skin.
Rodil stood, walking around the back of the chair; they warned me before they touched me with their cool, professional hands, gently poking and prodding and muttering under their breath in abayan.
The kettle sounded behind me and I went to stand, but Elethenn leapt into action. "I can finish making tea," he insisted, seemingly grateful for a task.
"Hm, I will address the bruising," said Rodil after some further examination.
"If I send you a list of supplies, will you be able to get the items I request?
I can treat some of the deeper tissue injuries in a way that prevents further strain.
Although – it would be best if you allowed yourself time to recover.
" They reached for the knitter and started running it over the bruising on my shoulder that I hadn't been able to reach myself.
I winced at the pressure and the blossom of heat. "I don't have that much time," I said, voice tight as Rodil pressed the knitter harder into the bruise. Maybe that was why I hadn't healed as well as I'd expected: I wasn't firm enough with myself. "I can't afford to take time off."
"Hm." That sound was rife with disapproval, and it was that more than anything else that made me feel at ease with Rodil.
"I can get anything you think I should have, though," I rushed to add.
"Just – here." I tapped at my wristband and flicked my ping information to them, their own – an old, beat-up model – chiming as the data arrived.
"Message me and I'll take care of it. And it's okay if I let you know when I'll be training so you can help – uh, clean me up? "
"Yes, that is fine," said Rodil.
Behind us, Elethenn was standing very still as he stared at the teapot.
"I must ask," said Rodil as they sat down in a chair across from me, taking my hands and poking and prodding every knuckle and tendon, "did you intend to remove your caldathess? Or was it done in error?"
The tray with tea clattered down on the table, Elethenn shooting Rodil a look I could only describe as disapproving. Rodil, for their part, ignored him entirely.
I briefly debated saying nothing so I could pretend I wasn't ignorant, but I wanted to know so I erred on the side of sounding like an idiot. "What's that?"
Rodil's fingers stilled. They leaned back, folding their hands in their lap while Elethenn poured three cups of tea, handing one to me, then to Rodil, before taking his own to go look out the murky window to the square outside.
"I think," said Rodil carefully, "that is a question you will want to broach with your sinnenthi."
It wasn't the first time I'd been referred to Araxis when I had a question. It happened regularly with Inmadra too, and it was just as irritating now as it was when she did it. Then again, I'd agreed to play the part of a deferential virra; this was what it looked like.
"Sure," I said, fingers tapping against the smooth surface of the cup.
"You may put your clothes back on," they suggested gently, so I did.
"Who was that speaker anyway?" I asked after an awkward silence in which we all just studiously drank tea and didn't address the elephant in the room – which was, apparently, something about Araxis that I couldn't follow.
"They are the head of the Unbound," said Elethenn, speaking for the first time in a long while, the skin around his eyes tight. I waited for him to add more, but nothing was forthcoming, so apparently that was meant to suffice for an explanation. More things I didn't know.
"And they are…" I prompted, expectant. At least that was information I might send on to Val and Perseus.