Falling From the Tree (Darshian Tales #2)

by Ann Somerville

  Kei rested a gentle hand on his forehead. “Now, enough. It’s very late, we’re both tired. I’m going to sit here but I’m going to nap because you’re going to be asleep. If you need me, you can wake me up but you are going to become a diurnal mammal again, young man.”

  “Yes, Master Kei,” Karik said meekly.

  “There’s a good lad.”

  Karik saw him looking longingly at the bed where Arman was lying, facing away from them. “Go on.”

  “Eh?”

  “Go and join him. I’ll be asleep and Wika’s over there. Go on.”

  Kei’s brow wrinkled. “I shouldn’t....”

  “Kei...he needs you more than I do right now.”

  Kei brushed Karik’s hair away from his face—tiresome stuff that it was. “All right. Thank you.”

  Karik waved him away. It wasn’t like they would be hard to get hold of if he needed them, and really, he was sick of feeling like a burden. “Good night, uncle Kei.”

  “Good night, nephew mine. Try to sleep.”

  Seeking Home: 18

  Whether he actually needed not to be watched, or whether it was because he felt the benefit of his good deed, Karik actually managed to sleep through until dawn. The pain was definitely less, although still definitely there, but he no longer felt cold, and felt altogether more like himself than he had done since that day when he had stepped in front of an angry man’s knife.

  Wika saw he was awake, came over and checked him in silence, then helped him to some water. At least people had stopped trying to force that horrible tea down his neck. Kei had promised he might even be allowed some real food soon, which would be nice. The pap he had been eating since he had begun to eat anything at all was rather monotonous.

  When Wika left him alone, Karik looked over at the bed beside him, and had to smile. Kei and Arman were entwined like children, with Arman holding Kei tightly to him like he was afraid he might lose him off the edge of the narrow bed. They both looked tired and rumpled, but somehow content. Karik wouldn’t disturb them for anything.

  He thought of his mother, about how much he missed her, and was startled to suddenly hear her voice in his head. “Karik?”

  “Ma! What are you doing up?”

  “It’s not that early, dear. Your father’s had a sick animal we’ve been looking after. How are you feeling?”

  “Better. I want to get up, but Kei hasn’t said when I can.”

  “Well, ask him. Where is he?” Karik looked, so his mother could see where Kei and Arman were lying, still fast asleep. “Ah, I see,” she said, amusement clear in her voice. “Things have changed since I did my training. Is anyone else there at all?”

  “Wika’s here. Kei and Arman have been up all night with me. I thought they could do with some rest.”

  “They certainly could do, I think. Karik, your Pa was thinking of leaving any day now to come up and get you. How do you feel about that?”

  “I don’t know when I can travel.” Now he thought about it, he found he wasn’t in any hurry to leave, though whether it was because he felt he’d been cheated out of his time in Darshek or because he didn’t want to face hostile villagers while he was still recovering, he wasn’t sure. “Can’t I come back with Kei?”

  “Oh. Yes, I suppose so. I just thought you’d want to come home. Kei wasn’t going to come back until nearly the night of the ancestors. That’s three months away.”

  “I know.” Karik felt a sudden rush of homesickness, and wished he could hug Ma and get a hug from her. “When is Pa coming up again?”

  “In a month, if he doesn’t leave soon, though he could send the load with Pia’s uncle coming up from Ai-Tuek. You could go back with him, if you wanted to and were fit.”

  “Pa shouldn’t make a trip just for me, Ma. You’d be all on your own. I’m fine up here. They’re looking after me really well.”

  “Yes, I know. Remind me to thank them for the small matter of saving your life. You’re making a habit of worrying me to death, young man.”

  “I’m getting sick of it too. Ma—what do you think of Arman? I mean, apart from Kei? Do you like him for himself?”

  “Now that’s an odd question at this time of the morning. Did something happen between you two?”

  “We’ve just been talking when I woke up a couple of times in the night. He told me about...about Mayl and things. I think I understand why he gave me to you now.”

  “Good, it’s about time he spoke to you,” she said firmly. “As for your question...I like him. I’d like to murder him sometimes, because he can be a real arse, but he always means well. I tell you this, Karik. If he’s your friend, then he will move heaven and earth to help you and those who are precious to you. Your father and I owe him a lot, not least you.”

  “It sounds more like you’re grateful than that you like him for himself.”

  “There’s a bit of that, but I do actually like him. If you can get behind all that stiff pride of his, he’s just a big, soft romantic. Not that I expect that to appeal to you,” she added, and he could just see her grin.

  He spoke to her a bit longer about the sick animal, and the small amount of village gossip. She questioned him a little on his health, though she would have the information in much greater detail from Kei. “I’m going to let you go now, Ka-chi. But you can speak to me any time, you know that.”

  “Yes, Ma.” She’d spoken to him several times while he’d been so ill, but he couldn’t remember much of anything specific about most of the conversations. He’d been grateful to have felt her presence with him, and to know he had only to ‘call’ and she was there to comfort him. He must have worried them all a good deal. “Tell Pa I miss him.”

  “Tell him yourself later, Karik. If you really aren’t coming back soon, then you can still talk to us this way.”

  “I know. I love you, Ma.”

  “And I love you, my dear son. Tell Kei to give you a kiss from me later.”

  “Sure,” he agreed, smiling. As if he would do anything of the kind. He felt her close their connection, and sighed. He missed home so much.

  He was wide awake now and outside the window he heard the birds enjoying what promised, from the bright early sunshine, to be a lovely day. He longed to go outside again. He longed to get out of this pissing bed. And he really, really wished his side would stop hurting him. How long was this going to take? He was so sick of being sick.

  He stretched a little and looked over at the other bed again. He was startled to see Arman’s blue eyes looking back at him. “Uh, good morning.”

  “Good morning, Karik. How do you feel?”

  Karik shrugged. “Same—better. I wish I could get up.”

  “You might not be so eager once you actually stand, let me tell you.” Arman brushed Kei’s cheek. “Thank you. It meant a lot to me.”

  “There’s no need for you two to sit watching me. You should both go back to your work.”

  Arman’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. “I thought you wanted us by you.”

  He shifted in discomfort—Arman sounded prickly again. “It was good while I was really sick. But I’m just one patient, and Darshian needs its Rulers. Kei has more things to worry about than me.”

  “Darshian very nearly lost one of its Rulers except you saved his life. It can manage perfectly well until you are recovered.”

  Karik looked down, away from Arman. “It’s all right now. I’m grateful for what you’ve done,” he added formally.

  “As you wish. I won’t impose upon you. It’s up to Kei whether he feels he can hand your case onto another. I don’t make those decisions for him.”

  Karik nodded, still not looking at Arman. It was as he suspected. As soon as Karik no longer needed his assistance, the older man was eager to get away. Which only made sense, really—after all, why would he prefer to sit at a sickbed when he could be administering the affairs of Darshian?

  He heard a yawn and looked back to see Kei moving and stretching, smiling as he saw Ar
man’s face and then looking over at Karik. “Ah, you’re awake. Please tell me you slept through.”

  “I...did.” He kept his voice quiet because he didn’t want to start coughing, but it seemed just a little easier to breathe this morning.

  “Excellent. You never know, this being awake during the day, sleeping at night thing might just catch on, what do you think, Arman?”

  “I think when you’re sick, you sleep when your body tells you to, but once you’re better, you can arrange things more conveniently for everyone else.” He sat up, and Kei came with him, still yawning. “Why don’t I order breakfast for you, and then I should go back to the House. I have things that need doing.”

  Kei stopped yawning and looked at his lover in surprise. Nothing was said, but Karik felt they might be talking in their heads. He wondered how long Neka would keep up this very convenient link for them all, now he was so much better.

  Arman rose. “I’ll send someone along with your food,” he said to Kei, kissing him. “I’m pleased you’re so much improved, Karik. Good day to you.” And then he walked out of the infirmary.

  Kei stared in the direction Arman had taken, shook his head, then got up to come to Karik’s bedside. He made his usual meticulous checks, then sat. “What did you say to him to pull his tail?”

  “N...nothing.” He started to cough. Kei sighed and signalled to the healer who had taken over from Wika to bring some of the damn tea. Karik sipped it, pulling a face.

  “Well?”

  “I just told him that since I was so much better, there wasn’t any reason for you two to spend all your days and nights with me, and that as a Ruler he surely had more important things to do.”

  “Oh, Karik.” Kei shook his head again. “What are you doing? Do you want to push him away?”

  “He...got all cold and stiff with me again.”

  “Before or after you dismissed his services?”

  Kei was giving him a hard look now, and Karik was forced to examine what he had actually said to Arman. “After.”

  “Well then. You sent him away like a servant, and Arman, being a proud man, quite uncertain of how to deal with you or how he feels about you, reacted as he always does when he’s trying to protect himself. I thought you were so smart, Karik,” his uncle said in exasperation. “If you don’t want to make friends with Arman, then say that plainly to him. But don’t toy with him. He’s fragile right now. I thought you understood that after last night.”

  “I’m sorry, Kei. What should I do?”

  “Try making your mind up, for a start. And then be as honest with him as you want him to be with you. But for now, we’ve got other things to think about.” Kei took the tea mug from him and set it down. “For one thing, if you are ever going to get out of here, you have to become mobile. I want you to start by sitting up as long as you can bear it today, and tomorrow, we’re going to try letting you walk. It’s going to hurt like all hells, I promise you. And I want you to stop using mind-speech. I know talking makes your lung hurt, but you need to get used to that too. Just take things slowly, you’ll be fine.”

  “All...right. Kei....” He stopped to cough. Kei poured him some more tea and handed him the mug so he could sip from it. “I’m s-sorry.”

  “Don’t be sorry, just fix it.” But then Kei ruffled his hair. “It’ll be all right. Now, after breakfast, we’ll give you a wash. Since you’ve declared you don’t need me dancing attendance on you, I’ll take you at your word, and bring some of my work in here. What do you want to do to amuse yourself? I’ve had repeated requests from certain people to visit you. Do you think you would like that?”

  “Seiki?”

  “Seiki, Reis, your student friends—heavens, what a social life you’ve built up for yourself.” Kei had recovered his habitual good humour. “I take it you wouldn’t object?”

  “No.”

  “Very well. And a few books?” Karik nodded eagerly—he was so behind on the reading he wanted to do. “Then I’ll have someone bring some later.”

  As he ate breakfast, Karik thought about Kei’s insistence that he had to make his mind up about Arman. He thought he had, really, but when Arman had reverted to his usual cold demeanour, Karik had retreated in defence. Like fighting thurls, he thought sardonically—each putting up the defence before any attack had happened. This time, it was definitely not Arman’s fault. He would fix that when he saw the man again.

  Kei pronounced himself delighted by the progress of the wound healing, and left the bandages off Karik’s arm completely, though it wasn’t yet fully mended. As soon as it was, Karik would need to do strengthening exercises on it—he was going to have more scars on an arm already marred by earlier violence.

  “Kei, wh-what...?” Damn cough. “Wh-what happened to...the man...who hurt me?”

  Kei wouldn’t look at him as he continued dressing the wound in his chest and stomach. “He was taken to the prison island for his own protection and that of the city. I’m sorry to say he died two days ago.”

  Karik started violently. “D-died?” He nearly spilled the water he was holding.

  Kei put his hand over Karik’s to keep it steady. “Keep calm. Yes, died. He took his own life. Nothing to do with you. He wasn’t right in the head, just as we thought. Hadn’t been for a long time. I’d hoped to help him but he was probably beyond any saving. At least I hope he is at peace now, and soon will be reborn to be reunited with his wife and son.”

  Karik could only stare in horror. “I never meant him to die. I just wanted him to not hurt Arman.”

  “You did the right thing. I suspect he came up here with the intention of dying. Don’t be distressed, lad. It’s a miserable business, but you weren’t the cause of it.”

  “He must have been in a lot of pain.”

  “Yes, it’s a tragedy, no doubt about it.” Kei straightened. “But put that behind you. Don’t borrow sadness. Jik is past his agonies now, and nothing can be done for him. If he’d succeeded in killing you or Arman, then he would be paying a greater price in the next life than he will do now. At least murder did not stain his soul.” Not for want of trying, Karik thought. He sensed his uncle wanted to be sorry for Jik, but was angry at what he had attempted, which was understandable. “Voice only now, please.”

  “All right.” But he continued to be troubled by the fate of that sad, crazy man, and to wonder how two separate men had been driven to murder from grief in that way. He hoped he would be spared that pain for a long time, if a man as strong as Arman could be made insane by it.

  Seeking Home: 19

  Arman forced himself not to dwell on Karik’s dismissal, abrupt and unexpected though it was. The boy had no reason to want his company for its own sake, after all, and what did Arman care for the regard of a child? He returned to the Rulers’ House for a wash and change of clothes, then ate breakfast in his office, looking over what paperwork and reports had been left for his attentions. There wasn’t anything like as much as he feared—Peika had been as good as his word, lifting the burden from his shoulders and sharing it among the other Rulers, as was only efficient. To be truthful, Arman found it hard to concentrate, his thoughts drifting back to the infirmary, though he told himself sternly that the boy was in no more danger, and thus in no need of his concern any more. Kei had matters in hand. Arman was not needed.

  He put on his robes, then stepped along the corridor to Lord Meki’s office. Naturally despite the early hour, the elderly Ruler was already there working—he was utterly incorrigible. “Arman, I didn’t expect to see you back so soon. Is the boy out of danger?”

  “Indeed, and well on the path to a full recovery so I’m back at my duties.”

  “Hmmm. Well, there’s no hurry, you know. You left things in such good order, and your reports were remarkably thorough as always. You can afford to take more time away.”

  “Perhaps, but it’s not necessary. If Kei and I are to take our usual break, then I want to earn it.”

  Lord Meki shook his head.
“You’ll end up like me, see if you don’t. Very well, if you insist, there’s something I’d like your opinion on.”

  Arman spent a good two hours with Lord Meki looking over the plans for a new quarry in the west, which would need roads and defences. The economics looked less than sound and they debated that, resolving to ask for more reports from the miners before making a decision. As they worked, Arman was pleased to see his companion was actually taking it easier. They stopped for refreshment, he got up and walked around, and when they were done, Lord Meki suggested they sat in the garden in the fresh air. It was a more leisurely pace than he had ever seen the older man work at before, and he was glad, since the regime was clearly having an effect. Kei had the man taking gentle exercise in Lord Peika’s swimming bath, and Lord Peika had been roped in to assist in making Lord Meki spend more time out of the office.

  “Now, tell me, is this young man up to a visit, do you suppose?”

  “I don’t know, but Kei will. You’re surely not planning to—”

  “Indeed I am. More than that, we’re all resolved to make an official award to him for his bravery in saving your life. It is no small thing for a child to risk danger that way, and when it is to save a Ruler, the society should show its thanks.”

  Arman frowned. “But I was attacked because I murdered that man’s son, Meki. It’s hardly appropriate to celebrate the consequence of my crime.”

  “We’re not,” Lord Meki said. “We’re celebrating the courage of one of our young people. If he had saved that man’s son from you, then we would do the same.”

  “If only he had,” Arman said heavily, “though since I’m better at killing, Karik would be dead, not merely wounded.”

  “You seem rather gloomy. Perhaps you need more of a break than you think you do.”

  “Kei’s convinced you taking it easy is a good thing, so now you prescribe it for everyone?”