Page 148 of Moon Chosen

***

Laru burst into the nest, tackling Nik just seconds before Sol. Nik was laughing and groaning in pain and telling Laru to get off him when he was lifted from the chair he’d gingerly sat himself in and engulfed in his father’s arms.

“Father, careful! My back’s hurt.”

Sol loosened his grip, but didn’t release his son. Nik felt his father trembling, and realized the big man was sobbing. Feeling unexpectedly childlike, Nik rested his head on his father’s shoulder, returning his embrace with as much strength as he could muster.

Eventually, Sol leaned back, holding Nik by his shoulders. His face was wet with tears, but his smile blazed with joy.

“You scared me, son. You scared me.”

“Didn’t mean to. And I scared myself, too,” Nik said.

“I love you, boy. Too much for you to do that again,” Sol said.

“I’ll try not to almost die again anytime soon,” Nik said. “Father, I have to sit down before I fall down.”

“Of course! Of course! Laru, move, so that Nik can get comfortable.”

Gratefully, Nik sank back on the chair. Laru sat beside him, leaning against him and whining softly.

“He’s fine, Laru. He’s fine,” Sol gently scolded the big Shepherd, but then he squatted in front of his son, studying him carefully. “You are fine. Aren’t you?”

“Yes, but the truth of it is a long, crazy story.”

“I’ll brew you a big mug of tea while you tell it to me,” Sol said.

“That’s a deal, but do you have anything stronger than tea?”

“Thankfully, yes.” Sol collected two wooden cups and a big pitcher, filling the cups and handing one to Nik before he pulled a chair from the other side of the table to sit beside his son. “All right. Tell me.”

***

Nik felt his father’s fingers gently probed the skin around the wound in his back.

“You’re right. There’s no sign of blight at all. It’s obviously a serious wound, but it’s hard to believe it happened only a week ago. The healing that’s taking place is incredible. Just like the cut on your leg.” Sol stepped back and Nik pulled down the tunic top. “It’s unbelievable.”

“But it’s the truth. The blight had taken hold enough that the wound on my leg had started to fester and stink.”

“That’s a death sentence, and a quick one,” Sol said.

“Not anymore it isn’t.”

“This girl, Mari, she didn’t give you the remedy, though.”

“She will, Father. I know she will. I just need time to get her to trust me.”

“I hear you, son, and I’m even in agreement with you, or as much in agreement as I can be without having met this girl. What you described to me is someone the Tribe could possibly accept, especially if she brings with her Laru’s son and the cure for the blight. The problem is time. You don’t have much of it,” Sol said.

“I’ll have all the time I need if we don’t tell anyone that Mari can cure the blight. We just tell part of the truth for now—that some Earth Walker women found me and saved my life, and that they did it to show their humanity. We’ll tell the rest of it after I’ve earned her trust and brought her and Rigel here. I don’t understand the problem with that.”

“There isn’t any problem with your plan. There’s only a problem with time. Nikolas, I’m sorry I have to tell you this, but O’Bryan is dying.”

“What! The wound wasn’t that bad. It was only—” Nik stopped himself as realization caught up with his racing mind. “O’Bryan has the blight.”

“He does. And it’s advancing rapidly.”

“How long does he have?”