Page 1 of Forge the Blade

Episode 7

Sevastyan

Sevastyan dragged air in and out of his lungs. We will bring them Armageddon, Vast. Ellisandre knew. His goddex knew. And he was still alive. Ellisandre wasn’t offering, they were giving their word that his enemies were their enemies. He’d prepared himself for so many answers. For Ellisandre’s judgement. Ire. Condemnation. The high road had been so far beyond him since the day he’d taken ownership of Rei’s body and soul that any punishment Ellisandre saw fit to mete out would have sat quietly within.

Instead, Ellisandre was standing over him, promising to be at his side and take down his enemies with him. Sevastyan buried his face in Rei’s shoulder and held the smaller man against his chest, breathing him in, feeling both his loves touching him for the first time. The worst had come, and yet the end had not. Someone had tried to take Rei from him, had hurt him, hurt all of them, and the world was not over.

Ellisandre’s hand slid from Sevastyan’s head and his goddex stepped back. “There is more to say, and more you must tell me, but for now, your boys are hurt and this location is compromised.”

Sevastyan nodded and straightened up. The bullet wound in his side burned.

Ellisandre waved their hand between Lisa and Rei. “We’ll take your boys to the Bolthole. Both of them have concussions and cracked ribs. Rei’s ankle is bruised and sprained. Lisa’s leg has multiple injuries, including a deep cut. I sustained no injuries. Give me your status, and then we’ll make plans.”

Sevastyan pulled his brain from the fog of shock and drugs. “I need to eat and drink to shake off the drugs. Bruising to my head, shoulder, and hip. I was shot, I think. I can’t tell if I’m cold from shock, drugs, or blood loss.”

“Get your coat off and sit on the couch,” Ellisandre ordered. “Lisa, finish stitching up Rei.”

Lisa motioned Rei towards him. Rei let go of Sevastyan reluctantly. He crawled back to his fellow slave and leaned forward, hiding his face in Lisa’s lap so Lisa could bend over him and go back to stitching the gash just under his shoulder blade. The bruising on his body was extensive. It looked like he’d been thrown into furniture, repeatedly, and from the state of the room, he probably had been. Not the worst state Rei had been in, but bad nonetheless.

Ellisandre tugged on Sevastyan’s coat and he cooperated, working robotically to get off his outer layers.

“Pants too,” Ellisandre ordered.

Something wet got on Sevastyan’s palms. He didn’t spare it a glance. All his attention was on Lisa’s hands as they wove stitches into Rei’s skin, making him whole. There was something so firm and gentle in the way Lisa moved and the way Rei held on to him, keeping silent. Now and then Lisa stroked Rei’s skin, comforting without words.

Lisa was a natural in the caretaking role—something Sevastyan had never seen before—at ease and sure of himself, even in his battered state.

Ellisandre took Sevastyan’s arm and led him to the couch. “Sit, you’re swaying. And cold. One gunshot wound. It grazed your ribs but didn’t enter, and some bruising, but you lost a lot of blood. Think back and tell me if you have any missing time.”

“I was out for at least an hour.” Sevastyan held his head in his hands. The short walk to the couch proved Ellisandre was right. “I should eat.”

Ellisandre grimaced.

Sevastyan said nothing. Getting shot and then immediately losing consciousness was a good way to die before ever waking up again. He was fortunate. But also weaker than a minor gunshot wound should have left him, if he’d been able to stop the bleeding.

“There’s food in the kitchen.” Lisa spoke without looking up. “Bread rolls. Applesauce. The meat is still in the oven. It might be done.”

“I’ll go look.” Ellisandre pressed a cloth against the bullet wound in Sevastyan’s side. “Hold that on. It’s mostly not bleeding, but we’ll have to clean it.

Sevastyan winced and obeyed.

“Can we get a blood transfusion?” Lisa asked. It was only then Sevastyan realized they were all speaking in Russian now.

Ellisandre frowned. “Blood what?”

Rei lifted his head and translated into English.

“I’m O negative,” Ellisandre said. “I can donate if we have the supplies. Or I can get the supplies. If we have an hour or two, bagged blood can be gotten. I have a contact.”

Lisa looked between Sevastyan and Ellisandre. “You’re our only fighter right now. Dirk could send more people. You shouldn’t donate, but blood will help him get stronger faster.”

“I’ll order it delivered,” Ellisandre said. They pulled out their phone and left for the kitchen.

Lisa snipped the thread he was using on Rei’s back and covered the cut in salve and then a protective breathable bandage. He patted Rei’s shoulder and Rei sat up, slowly.

“I’m going to help Master Sevastyan,” Lisa said.

Rei nodded. “I’ll pack.” He glanced back over his shoulder, meeting Sevastyan’s eyes.