"It's not that bad," he hedged.
He winced when he took in a deep breath, and f
"Not that bad?" she echoed acerbically.
"I've cracked ribs before. It's nothing."
"Humph." She shot him a glare even as she wet her rag to sponge his wounds. His chameleon persona was making her dizzy. "There's a bathing room in the back. You may wish to clean your face before the night is over."
"Thank you, healer," he said softly. "You'll have nothing to fear from me any longer."
Chapter 3
Wounds cleaned and bandaged, Teveres washed his face before falling into a deep sleep back on the bed. He said precious little else to her, his apologetic eyes occasionally catching with hers before lulling into awkwardness. Aia waited until he was safely unconscious before she would allow herself to follow suit.
Whether her comfort with his presence represented foolhardiness, boredom, or truth, she did not know. She could not shake the feeling that there was something familiar about him. She was drawn to him, like she had met him before. It wasn't just his physical appearance - though it was certainly not displeasing - but rather the energy he brought to the room. She was compelled to give him the benefit of any doubt. The fact that she could not read him only intrigued her.
It was near midday when she woke. Teveres was still asleep, already looking better for the running water and a nights' rest. Aia decided to treat him just as she would any patient who stayed with her. She set about collecting eggs from the chella nests and prepared a full breakfast.
Heller had been replaced by another male Justice who stood at attention when she passed by. Shoulder-length black hair shrouded a face with sharp features. He was more a statue than a man. After years of avoiding the government establishment, the Justices set off a defensive posture in her.
"The prisoner is awake?" Devian asked, the picture of straightforwardness.
"Yes," Aia said hesitantly. She saw no need to offer extraneous information to the authorities even if she was working for the governor's office.
"And?"
"It's under control."
Devian gave her an incredulous look which she shrugged off quickly. "The governess and governor are traveling today. You will need to... entertain... the prisoner a bit longer. A day or two at least."
"I think I can handle that," Aia replied, sarcasm laced on her tongue. If Devian was miffed, she didn't show it. She gave a hand signal to the male Justice and retreated into the tent.
By the time Teveres sat up in bed Aia was already at the table with her tea, toasted breadol., fruit and eggs. He did a poor job of editing the hunger in his face.
"'Morning," she greeted.
He stretched, wincing when the stretch reached his ribs. Long, lean muscles bulged under his clothes. It looked like he had become much stronger since they were originally sewn. "Skies, how long was I out?"
"A while." She gestured to the chair opposite hers, "There's more than enough for two."
Color flooded his cheeks, his skin the glowing honey color that she imagined the night before. "I trust that you're being compensated for your troubles."
"As much as I trust any deal with the government. Never mind the troubles. If you don't eat something I'll have to shoot you with more medicine, and I don't usually keep that many needles on hand. They're expensive. Besides, there's too much for me here."
Teveres spared her a shadow of a smile. He didn't look inclined to continue arguing with a free meal.
"Thank you." He said, standing slowly to join her at the table.
"You're not used to taking from others, are you?"
He was quiet a moment, savoring the first bite. Aia sipped her tea and waited. "I prefer to provide for myself."
"I can understand that." She was unsure of how much reliable information she could extract without access to her abilities, but the looming prize of a good job kept her interested. Aia did not want to press him for too many details too quickly. He was not a man with a pleasant story to tell.
Aia studied his face in the sunlight. The shadows of night made him look harrowed; in daylight, she could see that he was indeed handsome underneath the dirt. He carried himself like a nobleman would. All those of the higher classes had a certain politeness about them which showed in everything they did.
"How did you come to Nivenea?" she asked.
Teveres made a concerted effort to focus on the orange he was peeling instead of her. "I assume that they explained the situation when you took me in." He glanced around her home, "I will say that I didn't expect to wake up here."
"You're here on a favor to the governor. I told you, he trusts you."
For the first time, he laughed. If it weren't tinged with sorrow it might have been a pleasant sound. "I'm sorry to hear that."
The darkness that rolled through his soul's stream of consciousness was so profound that it assaulted her senses. "What do you mean?"
"The truth is going to disappoint him." Gathering both their dishes, he went to the sink to wash them, his back turned to her; a show of fledgling trust.
"Are you saying you did it? You killed those people?"
When he finished, he lepanished, aned back against the counter casually. His voice was without inflection. "It doesn't matter."
"It matters to me."
He smirked the smirk of a game master. Though she was tempted to pull information from him, the still-present dull ache behind her eyes gave her pause. I wish I knew what the hell you're thinking.
"I know that it's your job to care for other people," he finally said. "You probably care about people even when it's not your job. You are under the impression that the governor trusts me? Then you should trust me, too: I'm not worth saving."
Aia opened and closed her mouth soundlessly. His gaze flickered to the floor as he moved to sit down.
"Are they coming for me?" he asked.
"In a day or two, I think."
"And do you know what they plan to do with me?"
"I... think that all depends."
"On what?"
"On what I tell them."
Behind his eyes she saw the answers come together. He rubbed his temples. "No wonder you're so full of questions."
"It's fine. Here," She handed him a jar of herbal compound. "This will speed the healing of the bones and bruises."
Momentarily disoriented, Teveres gripped the jar in disbelief. He turned it over in his hands as if he expected it to retaliate.
"It works better after a bath. The tub isn't much, but it can run half-warm if you coax the kelspar just right," Aia prodded.
"If I die tomorrow then all of this is a waste."
"Only if you die before the governor pays me."
He laughed again, this time without bitterness. It was the sound of an innocent young boy long since lost, one that made Aia's face flush.
"Make a deal with me," he ventured.
"What kind of deal?"
"If I do as you ask, you will answer some questions for me as well."
Puzzled, she shrugged. "Sure... I guess."
With a tip of his head, he rose from the table. She watched him disappear into the bathing room.
She sighed. Her enigmatic house guest created more questions than he gave answers, and she was still determined to find out whatever she could on behalf of the governor and governess. She would have to try to read him again, if she could, and she hated that it would upset him. She
To distract herself, Aia began the mechanical task of mixing the dried herbs that Delia requested. Teveres had not yet emerged when Devian opened the door. In her shadow was Delia, looking as apprehensive as Aia had ever seen her. Aia suppressed a laugh.
"You know this girl?" Devian demanded.
"Of course I do! Come in, Delia." Aia waved for Devian to shut the door.
Delia stayed by the doorway. "Why are the Justices here?"
"Protection for one of my patients," Aia explained calmly. "Don't worry about it. Sit down. I ha
ve what you requested, but I'd rather you didn't use it."
"You give all the other girls-"
"The other girls aren't you, Delia." Aia tossed the bag of herbs from one hand to the other, "They're twice your age, for one, and they've been doing this a long, long time. Of course I've encouraged them to find something else. Maybe a few years that might have mattered to them… it's just too late for them. They refuse to imagine a life with their knees closed."
"And you think it's not too late for me." Delia sounded far from optimistic.
"Here," Aia drew a piece of paper from her pocket with an address on it and placed it on the table.
"I don't understand."
"Jiya is an old friend of mine from Seldat. She weaves the tapestries that hang in the governor's halls. I would like you to go speak with her sometime, when you have a day to spend."
"Why?"
"Jiya is looking for an apprentice. The pay isn't quite what you would make whoring, but the work is good. In a year or so you could have your own clients. She's very talented, much like you."
Delia shook her head, "It was just a stupid dress."
"It wasn't just the stupid dress. I've watched you grow up, just like I watched Jiya grow up. You have…" She paused, debating her choice of words, "You have her resonance."
Delia seemed to understand what she meant, even if she couldn't sense resonance herself. She brightened just a little, though her eyes continued to slide towards the herbs. "I… I would like to have them anyway. The herbs, I mean."
Aia tossed the bag across the table. "It's not a sin to have them. I think everyone should keep them around. I just don't want to see what happened to those girls happen to you. Once you get into that pattern it's hard to get out."
Filling the pause in their conversation, Teveres stjus, Teverepped out of the bathing room looking like a new man. His entire demeanor was beginning to show through - an air of calm control. The black dye had washed out of his hair, replaced by his much more natural brown-blonde color. The wounds on his chest were beginning to close; his shirt was wadded up in his hands, showcasing an impressive physique.
Delia was openly gaping at him, her face a brilliant shade of red. "Delia, this is my new acquaintance-"
"Tevin," Teveres interjected, reaching to shake Delia's hand. "Pardon my state of undress, miss. I've been traveling."
Delia giggled, met by Teveres's laugh. The bath combined with the smile made him look much younger.
"Pleased to meet you," Delia squeaked. Laughable prostitute she'd make with her ogling eyes.
"And you as well," said Teveres. "Clothesline outside?"
Aia nodded. As he walked out the door, she caught a glimpse of a tattoo on his shoulder blade that she missed when tending to him the night before - two green circles overlapping, one smaller than the other. The mark of clergy.
"Where did you find him?" Delia wore a typical 15-year-old girl's giddy grin.
"It's not what you're thinking, sugar. He sleeps on the sickbed same as everyone else."
"Why is he hurt?"
As she watched him through the window over Delia's shoulder she saw him petting Chloe, Devian supervising him with a bar of kelspar in hand. There was softness to him when he interacted with the animal. Much like the carefree laugh from earlier, it revealed a compelling part of him that was buried under sorrow.
"I still haven't figured that out," Aia replied absently.
"How long will he be here?"
"I haven't figured that out, either."
"I have to go. Father will have some more wood for you soon I think." Delia smiled, eyes tracking Teveres.
Aia waved her off, "No rush. Stay safe, alright?"
Delia bounded out the door with a nod.
* * *
Teveres relished the taste of fresh air, inviting the cool breeze that caressed his skin to fill his body. He was truly clean - he scrubbed the weeks of travel off until the sponge left streaks of blood behind. His aching muscles and throbbing ribs were beginning to mend, a tribute to Aia's care. Even while he contemplated his impending execution he felt better than he had in weeks.
With Devh="+0">Witian as his constant companion, he tossed his shirt on the line behind the garage. The other pair of pants and two shirts from his bag were already clean and dry on the line. It was some kind of cosmic joke that he was looking at all the clothes he owned, when not two months ago he had been forced to clean out his rather extensive wardrobe. That life, and all the worthless possessions that went with it, was far away.
"Did you do this?" Teveres asked the guard.
"Yes," Devian replied.
"That's extremely kind. Thank you."
Devian shrugged, boredom glazed over in her eyes. Teveres could hardly blame her. The assignment to stand outside a healer's house to make sure her patient wasn't a crazed killer had to be one of the least interesting jobs.
Teveres selected the dark green knit sweater his sister Pellen had made, light enough for the mild weather in Nivenea. In the time he sent traveling to Nivenea he worked to develop a callous against memories of his sister attached to the sweater. He still had to concentrate to force away the images of her bloodied face pressed against the brick fireplace.
Fortunately, Aia kept a horse outside her little cottage. Since he was very young he raised horses on his father's plantation back in Ilvan. He always loved the simplicity of animals, the way they hid nothing and lacked the capacity for malicious intent. The horse was one connection to his past that didn't cause him agony, memories and images which soothed him.
He spoke softly to her, large brown eyes watching him without judgment. He ran his fingers over her velvety, dark nose, an untainted smile on his lips. Though his every movement was marred by the dull ache in his side from the Justice's beating, he felt remiss not putting himself to use. Finding supplies in the garage, he set about tending to his savior's horse. The monotony of common chores pleased him.
Aia watched him from her window while she worked. She had a palpable intensity about her. After several minutes of careful observation, her attention wandered to other things. She trusted him with her equine companion.
Teveres found himself drawn to the healer by force of magnetism. Her resonance rang in harmony with his own, so closely that if he were to manipulate her he might accidentally harm himself in the process. Though he had acted rashly the night before, he would not dream of hurting her. She was a gift by virtue of her existence. He knew without a doubt that she was, like him, Deldri.
His father always said he would meet another Deldri one day. After 25 years of living with the secret of his power, Teveres had completely dismissed the notion of meeting one. He thought himself alone, remnant of a long-extinct minority of powerful people once thought to be gifts from the gods. Aia was proof that his father was right. He was not alone. Not an outcast. Someone like me.
And yet, not someone like him. Teveres could catch the stray thought, and certainly emotions, but the way Aia pried open his mind was unlike anything he had ever experienced. Where Teveres stole energy from the ontgy fromworld, Aia's touch held the power to change a resonance from calamity to sweet harmony. It was beautiful. She was the incarnation of the reverence Teveres's father showed for the Deldri, a reverence which Teveres had not been able to understand until now - here, in a small cottage outside Nivenea, with a young woman who appeared oblivious to how special she truly was. He wanted time to get to know her, to experience what it might be like to be close to someone equal in power but far superior in ability. She gave him hope, and part of him wished she hadn't.
Part of him wanted to let down his defenses and invite her into his mind, let her see every violent act he had ever committed so she could be done with him. He was too cowardly to kill himself, too afraid of the black abyss of death to do what needed to be done. He could provide her with all she needed to recommend execution, to rid the world of Teveres, bane of Ilvan, the god's mistake. After all, how could a woman who spent her life sav
ing others feel sympathetic towards a man who had killed dozens?
Her appearance in his life complicated everything.
With his tasks complete and feeling more fatigued than he had any right to, Teveres walked to the side of the garage in view of the slowly setting sun. He slid down along the wall, quietly ruminating on the many competing ideas in his head.
When the sun was below the University Spire's tip, Aia walked out to greet him. Her hair was down, framing a heart-shaped face. She said something to Devian that he couldn't hear; Devian appeared displeased, but ultimately moved off out of earshot while still maintaining a clear line of sight.
"I'm sorry about Delia," said Aia. "I was hoping she'd be gone before you came out."
"I like her." The earth was moist beneath his fingers. Nivenea must have seen some share of rain. Everywhere else he traveled a dry, cracked earth followed.
Aia sat down beside him, not quite close enough to touch. "I noticed your tattoo."
"Oh yes, that old scar."
"You don't look like clergy to me."
"Mm," he laid down slowly, one hand clutching his left side. He stared up at the sky to avoid her gaze. "Ruined my chances years ago."
"Sounds familiar."
He noted her left hand, missing the healer's tattoo worn by those in the guild. He sincerely doubted that her rift with the healer's guild bore any resemblance to the catastrophe that was his dismissal from the order of the divine. "I imagine it does," he obligingly lied.
"You could make it less obvious that you're hiding something, you know." She lay on her belly, peering at him sideways. "You're smart enough to make up some plausible story to get yourself out of this. Why don't you?"
He wanted to lie to her again, but those damned lavender eyes were so earnest. "Maybe it's because I wish someone could understand."
Tragedy (Forsaken Lands) Page 5