“Will he be all right, my lady?” the one called Berrick asked.
Grimly, I replied, “We’ll know if he wakes up.”
* * *
“Come, my lady,”the gruff Berrick said, a rough stubby candle in his hands. “I’ll show you to your rooms.”
Leisha took my arm, though she knew from the expression on my face I wasn’t in the mood for a conversation. I still hadn’t forgotten what she’d said about leaving Rhys. When we were settled in the castle, I’d make sure she was okay, but for now, I was frozen, sore, and in dire need of the bathroom.
I squared my shoulders, and we followed Berrick’s hulking form down a maze of hallways lit only by the flickering candlelight. After the third identical turn, I gave up trying to discern where we were going andtried to keep from stumbling. It had taken most of the evening to get Rhys to the ship, tend to the other wounded, and all the supplies loaded. By the time we finished, the moon was high in the sky.
Finally, we reached a corridor with many doors on either side and one at the end. Chatter came from one of the open rooms and I peeked inside as we passed to find a bedroom of sorts. Berrick indicated it was for Leisha, who scurried inside and quickly closed the door behind her.
Wearily, I continued behind the hulking form of Berrick as we delved deeper into the bowels of the ship. I couldn’t feel my feet and my hair was falling out of its plait. I hadn’t been able to clean my hands of the blood staining them and wished mightily for a warm bath more than anything.
He stopped suddenly and I almost stumbled into him. “These are Lord Blaque’s quarters, my lady. Your trunks have already been delivered. If you need anything, I’m three doors down.”
“Thank you, Mr. Berrick.”
“Just Berrick, my lady.”
“Thank you, Berrick.”
“There’s a pitcher of water for cleanin’ up. I’ll have a washtub brought down for you at first light.”
“What about Rhys?”
Berrick nodded toward the room. “We thought it best he rests where you could watch after him.” The knots in my chest loosened. “Is there anything else you need?”
“No, that’ll be all. Thank you.”
He stepped aside to let me by, but before I could open the door to the room, he said, “We appreciate what you did out there. Healing Lord Blaque.”
“It was nothing,” I said.
“Just the same. Good night, my lady.”
“Good night.”
He left, and I hurried to the bedside where Rhys lay sleeping. The bleeding had stopped and he didn’t have a fever, which was a good sign. I never would have thought I’d wish for him to come back to me, but as I knelt by the bed, that’s exactly what I did. I never did much praying when I was at the temple, the Goddess never answered them as far as I was concerned, but I found myself murmuring devotions as I clasped Rhys’s hands in mine.
He didn’t wake, but the words and the ritual eased my nerves. After glancing at his wounds and reapplying a medicinal salve and a fresh bandage, I made use of the attached facilities and then went to the washstand where a pitcher and cloth waited. The water was freezing, but it was fresh and clean.
I stripped myself from the ruined gown and threw it in a bin in the corner. My trunks were by the bed, and I selected a soft white nightgown. Noticing my grimy hands, I went back to the washstand and wet a towel. A gelatinous bar of soap that smelled of things I’d rather not describe stung a little, but it got rid of the blood.
By the time I finished, my eyes ached and the small space beside Rhys was looking extremely comfortable. I returned to his bed and climbed in beside him. Wrapped in warm furs and sheets that whispered with the scent of his skin, I fell into a deep sleep with him at my side.
My nose crinkled at the scent of charred wood and harsh smoke. I coughed and a hand came to my back and rubbed as I came awake, shooting up with the blankets pooling around my waist. My eyes burned, and I struggled to discern the shapes in the shadows. The embers from the small fire in the grate gave little light, but I didn’t need any to recognize the large form by my side.
“Rhys?” I managed, my voice hoarse from the coughing fit.
“I didn’t mean to wake you.”
I blinked owlishly. “No, that’s all right. You’re awake.”
“You seem pleased,” he answered from the darkness.His voice was weak with exhaustion, buthe was awake.
I felt the bed shift under me as he turned to his side to face me. I’d wedged myself between him and the wall so I was well and truly trapped. Even wounded, he was a force to be reckoned with.
