Page 78 of Sun Warrior

“He is not dead!” Dove hissed the words at Lily. “And I will not have the People panicked!”

“Y-yes, Mistress.”

“I need your help, Lily. May I count on you?”

“Oh, Mistress! Of course!”

“Excellent, for when he awakens, and he will awaken, I give you the God’s word on that, our Champion will reward all who were loyal to me, and punish all who were not—just as he culled the blasphemous Watchers from this very balcony not so long ago again.”

Dove could tell by the rustling sounds of Lily’s skirts that the girl was bowing in deep supplication to her. “I hear and will loyally obey, Mistress.”

“Thank you, Lily. I value your loyalty. Now, listen carefully. First, bring pelts to cover him and make him comfortable. I cannot feel the heat of the firepots. Feed them. Our Champion is cold. Get me strips of clean cloth and plenty of clean water. Then order the Attendants to boil the marrowbones of the boar into broth, and bring it to me as quickly as possible.” Dove could feel Lily turning away to do her bidding, and her hand snaked out to capture the girl’s thin wrist. Thinking quickly, Dove said, “What has happened here is the working of the God. She has asked our Champion for a blood sacrifice, and the only blood rich enough, strong enough, was his.”

“And She has accepted his sacrifice?” Lily asked tremulously.

Dove forced herself to smile and nod confidently. “She has! Our Champion lives and he will speak with the God’s voice when he awakens. Until he does, the People would only be frightened by our Champion’s sacrifice—as were you.”

“I understand, Mistress. I will do as you say.”

Dove released her and the girl ran from the balcony, returning quickly with pelts.

“Make his pallet away from the pool of blood and nearer to the firepots,” Dove told Lily, who did as she commanded.

“The pallet is ready, Mistress.”

“Help me move him there—carefully.”

Together, the two young women slowly dragged Dead Eye’s huge body onto the waiting pallet.

“Now, get me that water and the bandages.” Dove paused; frantically she shifted through her memories, trying to find anything that might help her lover, and she remembered that the old Watchers used to stink of garlic cloves because they insisted if they smashed the cloves and added them to honey they found relief from the cracking wounds on their skin and even some small measure of healing. “Bring me garlic bulbs, too, and honey.”

“Yes, Mistress!”

Lily brought the water and the strips of clean cloth, and then she hastened from the chamber to search out garlic and honey. Finally alone with her lover, Dove began speaking to him as she cleaned the dried blood from his body and forced water between his slack lips.

“Beloved, you must awaken. I cannot lead the People from this poisoned City to the forest—only you can do that. Only you can be their savior—their God. Wake, beloved, and speak to your Dove.”

Dead Eye did not stir.

“Mistress, I have the garlic and honey.” Lily rushed back to Dove, breathing heavily. As she guided Dove’s hands to the things she’d asked for, Dove took a moment to tenderly squeeze the young Attendant’s arm and speak reassuring words to her.

“You are doing well, Lily. You have been a great help to me. Our Champion will reward you when he awakens.”

“Has he spoken yet?” Lily asked.

“He is still communing with the God,” Dove said. “Please get the broth now. Our Champion will need it very soon.”

As the girl hurried from the Chamber again, Dove crushed the garlic cloves, adding them to the wooden bowl that held the honey. When her concoction was ready, Dove unwound the cloth from Dead Eye’s wounded arm. Working fast, as he’d begun to bleed anew as soon as the pressure was released from the wound, Dove packed the sticky mixture around and within the long gash. Then she pressed the jagged cut together with one hand while she rewrapped new strips of cloth around his arm—tying it firmly.

Dove wiped the rest of the dried blood from her lover’s face and neck, and then she sat close beside him, holding his wounded arm on her lap so that she could apply pressure to the wound. She sat there with him, rocking gently and talking—always talking to her beloved.

“Awaken, my Champion. I need you to speak to me. I cannot imagine a world without your deep, clever voice. I need you, beloved. Please return to me.”

He did not speak, did not stir at all, but Dove was relieved when shefelt his breathing deepen. She managed to get him to swallow several cups of water, though it seemed more of an automatic reflex than the reasoned action of taking sustenance. The balcony grew warmer as the firepots heated the area. Not long after Dead Eye had stopped shivering, Lily returned in a wash of the rich scent of marrow broth.

“Mistress, the broth is ready!”

“Thank you, Lily. You may leave us now.”