Brannal raised a hand in protest. “Let’s not rush our fences.”
“I didn’t tellRennythat,” Perian clarified. “Just assured her that I thought she would get better and that she’s starting off much healthier than she was, so there’s every reason to suppose she’ll get over this quickly.”
Brannal opened his mouth, clearly about to protest.
“Look,” Perian hurried on, “I know it might not be true, but wouldn’t you rather have her cheerfully facing her future and believing it’s possible?”
Frowning faintly, Brannal said, “But what if she gets more upset when a fast recovery doesn’t happen?”
“If,” Perian corrected. “Ifa fast recovery doesn’t happen, then I’ll remind her that I can’t actually see the future and can only wish for the very best for her. Why borrow trouble, Brannal? Why not give her hope? I’m not promising she’s going to be completely well tomorrow and never be ill again. Just telling her what Idobelieve, that she can recover from this and keep going. Isn’t that what we all want?”
Brannal nodded, conceding, “Yes, of course.”
Smiling, Perian said, “I should go let the doctor know I administered the tonic.”
Because she had to be wondering, several hours later, after she’d given him an excuse to go visit, right?
“I’ll go with you,” Brannal told him.
Oh. He’d rather gotten the impression that Brannal wanted him to go away, but that was fine.
“Dinner in the dining hall?” Perian asked Molun.
Molun nodded, flashing him a wide grin, blue eyes bright. “I didn’t hear most of those details about your weekend away, and I want themall.”
“We might need a more private setting in that case,” Perian said with a wink, and the Warrior next to Molun stifled a laugh.
Brannal rolled his eyes. “Come along.”
Perian waved goodbye, and he and Brannal passed out of the sitting room and back into the corridor.
“The doctor gave you her tonic?” Brannal said. “Really?”
“She absolutely did,” Perian said earnestly. “You didn’t really think I wouldn’t get in to see Renny, did you?”
Brannal huffed a laugh. “I was entirely certain you wouldwantto be there, so I was going to make sure I had a report for you.”
Aww. Perian had assumed he’d been there solely as Summus. That was so sweet. Perian squeezed his arm.
“Thank you. I really appreciate it. I kind of panicked when the doctor told me what happened.”
Carefully, Brannal asked, “Do you wish that we’d been here?”
Wraiths take Cormal, Perian thought viciously.Even if Perian had briefly wondered the same thing, it wasnotall right for Brannal to feel guilty about this.
“I don’t suppose it would have helped at all, would it?” Perian asked calmly. “I always want to be here to support her, of course. But Ilovedour weekend away, and I can’t imagine not having experienced it. So I guess I’d like for the two things not to have happened at the same time.”
Brannal’s lips tipped up, his expression softening. “If we can direct the doings of the world.”
“Exactly,” Perian agreed cheerfully.
If only. Perian would have some suggestions about a certain Secundus’s behavior, that was for sure.
At the doctor’s office, Perian made sure it was all right to sip the tonic. Thankfully, she confirmed it was fine, though it would work best if it were consumed within an hour at the latest.
“Trying to stretch out your time together?” she said, not sounding surprised.
Perian nodded, expressionrueful.
