Chapter 26
Liselle woke in a comfortable bed. Her head ached and her body felt drained. She moaned as she sat up. Her eyes opened, but she closed them right away when light seared through her skull.
“Lady Liselle!” Vevin exclaimed, jumping onto the bed next to her. The volume of his voice rammed through her head, making her wince.
“Shh, shh, shh, Vevin. My head hurts,” she pleaded piteously.
Vevin dropped his voice to a whisper. “I’m sorry. I’m just happy to see you awake.” He ran fingers gently through her hair to sooth the pain.
“Mmm.” She leaned into his touch. She liked it when he did that. Vevin always slept next to her. When it was quiet, he would run fingers through her hair, humming until she was asleep. Liselle realized it wasn’t normal behavior, but she had come to crave the touch. She enjoyed the smell of his skin too.
“How long have I been unconscious?” She kept her eyes closed.
He kissed her cheek before whispering, “For two days now. Tathan was afraid that you might have burned out your mind but he wouldn’t admit it to anyone.”
The kiss felt wonderful and she secretly hoped he would do it again. “My mind is whole. It just hurts a lot right now.” Liselle wondered if dragons and humans were allowed to be attracted to each other. “I was careful even though I shouldn’t have used that much power. The plants wanted me to, and they helped me while making sure I was safe.” She remembered that she was only half-human. The other half was flower. As odd as that seemed, it felt natural to her.
“The plants were worried about you too, Lady Liselle. They leaned toward you as I carried you back.” He continued to brush her hair back and even gave her the other kiss on the cheek she wanted.
She wondered if dragons and flowers were allowed to be attracted to each other and couldn’t help letting a giggle escape at the mental picture.
“What’s so funny, Lady Liselle?” Vevin stopped running his fingers through her hair for a moment.
“Nothing, Vevin. I just had a funny thought about flowers.” She snuggled closer to him in hopes that he would start again. She still wasn’t brave enough to open her eyes. “Where are we now?”
He resumed playing with her hair. “We’re back in our room at Garrrn Dwelling. Tathan and Sir Danth have gone back to fight sstejj. They protect workers who are putting up gates at the other tunnels so they can claim that cavern.”
“You stayed with me?”
“Yes, Lady Liselle,” Vevin whispered. “I couldn’t bear to leave your side while you were hurt.” He kissed her earlobe gently, sending goose bumps throughout her body.
“I’m glad you stayed, Vevin. I feel safer when you’re near.” Liselle wondered what he looked like when he was a dragon. She knew he was a purple dragon and purple was her favorite color. She especially liked purple flowers . . . and dragons.
“I didn’t keep you safe in the cavern.”
Liselle opened her eyes just a bit. The light wasn’t as bright as it had been. They were sensitive due to her headache. She focused on Vevin and saw the angry set of his jaw and his refusal to look her in the eye. “Vevin dearest.” She reached up to run a hand along his angular jaw. “You mustn’t be upset with yourself. I did what I felt to be right. I’m allowed to take chances and experience danger too, you know.”
He looked her in the eyes as though to argue that she was not, in fact, allowed to take chances.
She loved his eyes. There were so many shades of silver swirling in them all the time and he expressed so much with them.
His jaw began to relax as she continued to caress it. “I don’t want you to take chances. I want you to be safe,” he said guiltily.
“I know, dearest Vevin. But I am not your treasure to tuck away safe in your lair and you must always understand that.” Her tone was firm.
He didn’t answer at first, but then relented with a nod. “Yes, Lady Liselle.” Vevin ran fingers through her hair some more. “You are strong, magical and nice. That’s what I like so much about you. You’re very pretty too.”
Liselle smiled happily and curled closer to him. “Thank you, Vevin. I like you too.”
They stayed like that for a while. Vevin ran his fingers through her hair and would occasionally lean down and kiss her cheek. Liselle closed her eyes and purred.
She gradually became aware of a severe hunger in her belly. “Vevin?”
“Yes, Lady Liselle?”
“Can I have food, please? I’m really hungry.” She opened her eyes and looked up at him pitifully.
“Of course, Lady Liselle.” He went over to a table and picked up a tray. “There’s cold food here for you: some of their breads, cheese and water to drink.” The tray had legs that he opened before setting it over her lap. “I’ll get hot food for you now.” He stood and did a small eager dance before dashing out the door.
Liselle ate the food in front of her without tasting it. Mostly, she thought of what had happened back in the cavern. The spell had been too powerful, nearly killing her. She had given the plants too much control.
Underground plants were different from the ones above. There wasn’t as much love and sunshine in them. It seemed silly, but that was the best way Liselle could describe it. They had a greater drive to survive and flourish. It seemed that way with all the creatures in the caverns. She would have to remember to be wary of the power they sent.
The sstejj were another creature that seemed to have an insatiable desire, but theirs was to destroy, specifically Rojuun. The plants had let her feel the hunger the sstejj had for Rojuun and it made her shiver.
Vevin came through the door with a tray of warm food in his hands. Liselle looked down, surprised to see that she had finished all of the food and water already. The growl of her stomach told her she was still hungry.
“Master Hurrrn Garrrn told me that you would be very hungry when you awoke.” Vevin jerked his head to the Rojuun entering behind him. This meju was taller than any of the others Liselle had seen. There were lines in his face similar to what one would find in an older human. He wore brown robes with violet swirls. The Rojuun glided gracefully across the room to her bed.
“Now then, Liselle human,” he said in gentle, relaxing tones. “I will examine you to ensure that you are well.” Hurrrn sat on the bed next to her, opposite of Vevin. He had a calming smile and his dark amber pupils widened in a way that was comforting. Liselle saw that all of his qualities of voice and physical gestures made him a soothing healer.
“Please understand that I am not completely familiar with human anatomy and energies. However, we are similar in many ways.” He reached out a hand, touching her leg through the blankets. It was a calming touch, much as Liselle had used with Marrraa when mending her broken arm. Liselle allowed herself to relax in response. She trusted this Rojuun even knowing he had magic to amplify that trust.
“I also know that you used a great deal of magic all at once. Marrraa Garrrn believes that you may have burned yourself out on it. This is something I am familiar with and would like to discover whether or not this is the case.”
Liselle nodded as she snuck a bite of food from the tray that Vevin brought. The breaded drumstick tasted wonderful.
“Very good. Now, it’s my understanding you can do magic.” Hurrrn frowned. “Marrraa told me that you did a healing spell and then a spell with blue fire immediately after that.” He waggled his finger at Liselle. “That is much more energy than a young woman should channel! I’m not sure I believe all of what she told me, but that’s not important right now.” He crossed all four arms, waiting to see how she would respond.
Liselle took another bite and stared at the healer while chewing. She didn’t have any desire to talk to him about her magic. Plus, her mouth was busy with tasty food.
“Hmm. Well, I suppose we should just see if you’re still capable of doing any magic.” The healer too
k a candle out of a pocket in his robe, setting it on the tray next to Liselle’s meal. “Now, I want you to try to light this candle. Let me know immediately if you experience physical or spiritual pain. Is that understood?”
“Yes Healer Hurrrn,” mumbled Liselle around a mouthful of food.
“Very well, please light the flame.” He gestured to the candle.
Liselle considered as she finished chewing. The Rojuun healer probably wanted a proper flame. She thought back to the normal fire spell Tathan had taught her. Liselle whispered the words quietly, gesturing with greasy fingers. The flame grew easily, if a bit large. She still didn’t have it down. “Lighting small fires isn’t my strong point.” She grabbed another bite of food.
“I see. Marrraa said you make a blue flame. Can you show me that?”
Liselle extinguished the candle with a flip of her hand. Still chewing on the drumstick of whatever creature they were feeding her, she waved her hand again toward the side of the bed. A small, dancing flame appeared in midair. Then she made another and another. The three flames began to dance around in circles, bouncing up and down in the air.
Suddenly, she felt very dizzy and tired. Her head hurt again, though not as sharply. Liselle waved away the flames and rested her head against the pillow, setting the drumstick back on the tray.
“Hmm, there is no permanent damage, my dear human.” The healer patted her arm. “But I see you are still exhausted. Do not cast any spells for a few days. Wait a week or two before doing anything significant.” He waggled his finger at her again. “You will be fine, but it is obvious that you channeled too much energy through your body. It needs time to recover.” Hurrrn Garrrn stood up, straightening his robes. “It was a delight to meet you, Liselle Human. I will tell Marrraa not to let you join battle for two weeks at least. From what I understand, you’ve already done a great deed, so don’t worry about fulfilling your contract.” He waggled the finger once more.
Liselle had a strange urge to bite it, but was too tired.
As the healer walked out of the room, Vevin took the tray and put it back on the table. Liselle smiled at him weakly as he came back over to the bed, silver eyes swirling with concern. “You are to do as the healer says, Lady Liselle.” He sat down down to run fingers through her hair once more.
“Yes, dearest Vevin. I’ll behave.” Liselle looked up and smiled at him. She was glad that he was here instead of Tathan or Sir Danth. She slid back down under the covers, getting comfortable as he tucked her back in.
Vevin leaned down and kissed her gently on the lips.
It was a shock she thoroughly enjoyed. Her first kiss.
He pulled up, smiling at her and she smiled back. She rolled over onto her side and began to nod off.
Liselle felt him lie down behind her and wrap his arm around her. He kissed her cheek and earlobe for a moment then lay still. She didn’t mind at all, falling asleep with a smile on her face.
Rojuun Page 43