Page 69 of A Whisper of Cinders

They have been growing worse as the days pass, but I won’t say that, she has other, more urgent patients to take care of.

“Manageable.” It’s not a lie, I am managing through them.

We walk around the tree and an almost sad feeling settles in my bones the more distance grows between us. On the other side of the tree, a long hallway awaits with multiple doors on each side and at the end of it, enormous double doors stand open wide.

Althea explains that they lead to different kinds of storage rooms; for linen, sterile equipment, sheets and so on. She halts in front of the double doors and turns back to me.

“Beyond these doors, people are suffering. You will hear screaming, see and smell people vomiting and some might call you names.”

“I volunteered at the medical bay at my previous stay as well. I think I can handle it.”

Some admiration slips into her gaze, but it’s gone within a second. “That is good to know, we could always use an extra pair of hands around here. Especially since Aramis has a personal matter to attend to.”

Oh. “He isn’t here?” I really want to talk to him and apologise for my behaviour. And bring back the sweater I…borrowed from him. “Can I help?”

She observes me once more, before she nods once. “That would be very welcome.”

She hands over an apron and gives me an encouraging smile. “If it’s too much for you, please walk away. There is nothing more unfortunate than someone being sick in front of an unwell patient.”

The doors open up to an aisle where individual patient rooms sit on both sides and a beautiful coloured artwork stands on the opposite of the room. The first room on my left is empty and I quickly poke my head in it only to see a sanctuary of comfort. The wall across from the entrance has a window with dark green curtains, soft light casting a golden shine on the wooden floor. On the right side of the window stands a plush bed with soft looking sheets and a small nightstand next to it. A crystal light hangs on the wall and a smaller version is placed on the nightstand as well.

Althea doesn’t stop walking, so I hurry after her just in time to see her enter the last room on the right. The closer I get, the more I pick up the sharp, sickly-sweet tang of blood. It brings me back to when I found him and I know for certain that this room belongs to Arlo.

My suspicion is confirmed when I peek from behind Althea’s back, who is taking in his bandages before turning back to me. “Do you know how to change bandages?”

I nod and she gestures for the pile of cloth and some bottles and jars that stand near the entrance. I sniff the bottles, trying to recognise the ingredients and grab everything I think I need.

She moves away and gives me space so I can begin. I see Arlo fully now, and although he looks better than the last time I saw him and his eyes are open, there is a feverish glaze in them and sweat covers his face. “Hi Arlo, my name is —”

“Maily.” His voice sounds hoarse, probably from lack of use.

“You remember.” I wasn’t expecting him to, especially not with the blood loss at the time.

“I will…always remember…my saviour.”

I don’t know what to say to that. It’s not like I’ve done that much, but I give him a soft smile either way. “It was my pleasure. I’ll go wash my hands first, I’ll be back in a second.”

He closes his eyes and I wash my hands thoroughly before I return and unwrap the bandage around his leg. I expected an ugly, gaping wound based on how I found him in the woods that day, but to my surprise it looks healthy. Don’t get me wrong, the edges are still a little swollen and red, but it doesn’t look like he's about to lose his leg any time soon.

I place my hand on the skin around the wound, gently feeling for hard, though skin or inflammation. “How’s the leg?”

“Never been better,” he hisses between clenched teeth and I raise a brow. The corners of his mouth tip up, he can smile, that’s good. “The pain has decreased and there is some improvement, but I still feel miserable.”

“That is to be expected, your injuries were severe to say the least. The wound isn’t ready yet to leave open, but if the healing continues like this, it will be soon.”

Another half-smile. I start working. When he manages to keep his eyes open, he observes every move I make. I explain what I am about to do, which seems to calm him. When I move to his abdomen, the wound looks a little the same - rough edges and slightly red skin, but no green puss to be seen - and I go through the same motions as before.

As I end up bandaging the final wound, one question keeps spinning in my head. His eyes are closed again, so now might not be a good time to ask.

“I don’t assume you can read minds, Maily, so ask the question that is burning on your tongue. I promise I won’t bite.” He shows his teeth for a joke and I can’t help but notice the slightly sharper tip of his teeth, but when I blink it’s gone.

“I-I’m sorry Arlo, I don’t mean to be noisy.”

“You’re not, go ahead and ask.”

Well, if he insists. “Do you know what attacked you that day?”

His body tenses, but relaxes shortly after. “Probably a bear or a wolf maybe? I don’t really remember much. I only know you were there all of a sudden.”