Chapter 4
Elodie
Ortak doesn’t look back once while he tugs his son out of the tent, although Gannen glances back at me the entire time until they disappear from my sight. Sage sighs.
“I’m sure it was nothing personal,” she says. “The Krijese struggle with being social. Well, the adults anyway. It’s not something they’re used to, although I know a few of them try.”
I draw my gaze away from the door flap and turn to the other human, trying to hide the hurt I’m feeling, even if I don’t know why. It’s not like I even know Ortak. Yeah, maybe he saved my life, but he’s still a veritable stranger. “It’s fine. He doesn’t owe me anything.”
A brief uncomfortable silence falls. Sage finally clears her throat. “I brought you some broth. I’m not sure how long you were stuck in that hole, but given the condition you were in, I’d say at least a couple days.”
I gape at her. “A couple days?”
“I can’t tell for certain, but I do know you’re an extremely lucky woman that Ortak and Gannen found you when they did.”
Well, shit.
Sage offers me the bowl. Whatever’s inside smells delicious. Remembering how I almost dropped the cup of water earlier, I cringe. “Um, I’m not sure I can hold onto that for very long.”
“I’m happy to assist you.”
My stomach aches for it, but the thought of being spoon-fed like a baby is a little humiliating. It was bad enough having Ortak help me drink. I don’t think I could handle it if he was still here and having to feed me as well.
“Hey,” Sage says gently. “It’s okay to need some help until you’re stronger. You’ve been through an ordeal.”
I sag in acceptance, because she’s right. “Thank you.”
“Of course.”
Despite the continued embarrassment, I let Sage feed me until I can’t swallow any more and my stomach is full. From the looks of it, I barely managed to choke down half of it.“That was delicious. Thank you again.”
“You’re welcome.” She sets the bowl on the neighboring platform. “Zander sent word to the human settlement that you’re here and recovering, in case you had family back there who were worried.”
I shake my head. “There’s no one. Just me.”
“Alice was grateful for the news.”
At least someone was. “Yeah, she’s sort of a friend, I suppose.”
Sage drags over a stump and settles onto it. “Do you remember what happened?”
“No.” I wish people would stop asking me that.
“What is the last thing you remember?”
I close my eyes and try to think. All it does is make my brain hurt. I look at Sage. “I don’t know, but I’m getting a headache.”
She stands and lays her hand on my arm. “It’s not important right now. Why don’t you try and get some rest. It’s the best thing you can do.”
A part of me wants to argue that I’ve slept enough, except the fatigue has been growing since before Ortak and Gannen left.
I’d forced myself to not doze while they were here.
I nod in acceptance and shut my eyes. Hopefully when I wake up, the brain fuzziness will start clearing up and my memories will slowly return.
Consciousness creeps in and a foggy sense of awareness runs through me that I’m lying down on a hard surface.
An earthy, medicinal odor fills the air along with the faint scent of smoke and cooked meat.
I open my eyes. An arched hide roof blocks my view of the sky, but streams of light filter in through narrow cracks.
My body aches—especially my leg—but not nearly as bad as it did yesterday.
At least, I assume it was yesterday and that I haven’t lost more days.
God, I still can’t believe I might have been in that hole for two days.
Briefly, I try to recall the last time I was in the human settlement or why I left.
I lie there for a few minutes until puzzle pieces fit together.
I remember it was early in the morning. Long before most of the other residents rise.
The sun hadn’t crested the horizon yet. In fact, both moons were still visible in the sky.
I know I’d been talking to Alice and afterward I went into my tent to put my shoes on.
I threw back the last swallow of cold coffee and chucked the mug onto my sleeping pallet, wincing at the harsh clunk sound and praying I hadn’t broken it.
Everything after that is a murky mess. It’s like there’s a sieve inside my brain filtering stuff out.
“Fuck.”
“You are awake,” a masculine, and unfamiliar, voice announces.
I jerk my head and standing a short distance away is a slender—but still muscular—lavender alien with his golden hair plaited in some intricate design.
Although the longer I look at him, the more I realize his hair is streaked with nearly white shades and portions of his skin is a faded gray, like he’s a bit on the older side.
“Apologies. I did not mean to startle you.” He bows his head. “I am Kyler, one of the Tavikhi healers. Sage will be here after she has seen to her mate and kit. Can I get you anything? Something to eat or drink? Anything for pain?”
The tension I didn’t realize I’d been holding loosens and I draw in a breath, which brings my focus to how dry my mouth is. I try to swallow, but it’s not easy. “Water, please.”
“Of course.” Kyler fills a small cup with water from a barrel and brings it to me.
To my relief, I’m able to hold it with both hands and drink without spilling any or dropping it. Once it’s empty, I pass it back. “Thanks.”
“How is your leg feeling? And your head?”
“They’re both a little achey, but otherwise okay.” I glance around. “What time is it?”
Kyler glances toward the door. “Only one moon still hangs low in the sky and the sun has crested the horizon. The morning meal recently passed, but the fire still burns low, and food remains if you wish for something to eat.”
I don’t know exactly what that means, but it gives me a general idea. “Is…um, is Ortak still here?”
He shakes his head. “He and Gannen left before the morning meal.”
“Ah, oh, okay.” I shouldn’t be surprised neither of them said goodbye. Doesn’t mean my feelings aren’t a little hurt. Like last night, they just…left.
Shake it off, El.
A sudden and uncomfortable urge hits. I dart a glance toward the entrance and say a short prayer that Sage walks through any second. She doesn’t. Apparently I am going to experience every humiliation known to man. I cough softly and then curse myself for doing so. Fuck. I don’t have a choice.
“Excuse me, Kyler?” Where’s the giant hole Ortak found me in? Maybe it will swallow me whole again.
“Do you need something?”
I try not to look at his kind face; at the same time I can feel mine burning up with fire. “Yeah, I, uh…god this is mortifying. I need to…”
“Ohh, yes. Come, let me help you up,” he says. “It is not safe to walk on your leg, so you will need to hop. I will make sure you do not fall.”
Crap. Hopping means bouncing and bouncing means gravity.
After I get back to the human settlement, I am never returning to the Tavikhi village again.
There’s no way I’ll be able to set foot in here after this.
Kyler is gentle in sitting me up and draping my arm over his shoulders.
He bears most of my weight as we make our way to a curtained off area of the larger tent.
Behind it are two raised platforms similar to the ones out in the main area as well as a type of wooden box with a round hole in the center.
Resting on the surface of the box is a stack of folded pieces of leather, a basin of water, and a bowl of the berries that lather like soap.
On the ground next to it is a small woven basket.
We pivot and Kyler lowers me to the box.
“I will step outside,” he says, without looking at me. “Toss the cloths in the basket when you are finished, and call out when you are ready.”
Then, he’s gone, and I’m left in peace. We barely traveled fifty feet, yet I’m winded.
My leg throbs, too. I glance down at the weird cast thing.
I poke and prod to determine how hearty and sturdy it is.
It’s definitely more than a basic splint.
Not quite as solid and rigid as a real cast, but it feels secure enough to keep the broken bone in place.
It’s not my first broken leg, but it’s definitely the first one that’s been doctored by primitive medicine. Christ, if my parents could see me now.
Quickly, I take care of my personal business and use the water and berries to cleanse my hands. I drop the used leather scraps into the basket and try my best not to be completely self-conscious of the fact I had to perform a normal bodily function. There is nothing to be embarrassed about.
“Kyler, I’m finished.”
Several moments later, he cautiously sticks his head around the curtain with his eyes closed. “You said you are finished, yes?”
“Yeah.”
He opens his eyes and he helps me back to my bed.
No sooner am I situated with the blanket over me than Sage comes in.
As much as I wish it had been her helping me, I’m not sure we would have made it there and back.
Of course, she may be stronger than she looks, but it’s probably better that it was Kyler.
“Sorry I’m late.”
I wave her off. “It’s fine. You were taking care of your family.”
Sage’s whole face lights up. “My mate and daughter. She recently turned one, although I suppose I should say this is her second warm season since calendars are a bit different here.”
A sharp pain gets lodged in my chest at the thought of a baby, but I’m not sure why. “What’s her name?”
“Makahla,” she says, her smile not dimming in the least. “We wanted something that spoke to both her human and Tavikhi heritage.”
“It’s beautiful.”
Kyler clears his throat and shifts uncomfortably. “If you do not need me, I will take my leave.”
Sage’s happiness dims and in its place is sympathy. “Thank you for checking in on Elodie for me.”
“Of course.” He nods and then quickly exits the tent.
The female healer sighs. “Ugh, I hate he’s upset.”
“What’s wrong?” Kyler had been perfectly pleasant and friendly up until a few minutes ago.
“It was the baby talk. He and Zara have been trying to get pregnant for over three years without any luck,” she tells me.
“He blames himself even though there’s no way for anyone to know why it hasn’t happened for them yet.
They’re both happy for those of us with kits, but it’s also a reminder of what they’re missing. ”
“Oh, man, that’s awful.”
“Yeah.” There’s a brief silence before Sage shakes it off. “Anyway, how are you feeling today? I brought you some kokkra with the tiniest bit of shurup nectar in case you’re hungry.”
She sets it on my lap.
“Thank you. I am getting a little hungry. I’m also better now that I’ve peed, I think. My leg’s a little achey, but I suppose that’s from hopping to and from the toilet.” I laugh lightly. “I probably could use some water and maybe a small bit of pain medicine to take the edge off.”
“Coming right up.” She fills up two cups with water, adds a pinch of some powder in one of them, and brings them over to me.
I drink down the pain medicine first and give her back the empty cup. The other, I set near my hip and pick up the bowl of kokkra. It trembles in my hands, but slowly they steady.
“I heard Ortak and Gannen returned home already.” I try to sound casual, but I’m not sure how well I succeed given the way Sage looks at me. It’s too close to pitying.
“Before the morning meal, from my understanding.”
“No doubt Ortak needed to get home to his wife. I’m sure she was worried.” My focus is intent on the oatmeal-like food in the bowl I keep staring into.
“He’s not mated,” Sage points out.
“Oh.”
Thankfully, she doesn’t say anything else about it and soon, our topics of conversation turn elsewhere, but it’s awkward.
I finish eating and the pain medicine has made me sleepy, which I would normally hate.
However, in this case I’m grateful. Sage graciously leaves me alone when I mention I’d like to take a nap.
At least if I’m asleep I don’t have to keep thinking about Ortak or his son.