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‘It’s not optional,’ Kainan grated. ‘It’s my wish.’
The hard line of his jaw said just how stubborn he would be about it too.
By then, a few medics had stepped into the room, followed by the rest of the Sable Riders, who’d clued into all the sudden action in Kainan’s room.
The spacious hospital room now seemed tighter than an overcrowded maglev carriage at the height of a Dunian summer festival.
The physician on duty walked in, glancing nervously at the glowering Edenites.
‘What’s going on?’ he ventured.
‘We need to get to the grotto,’ Kainan whispered, his energy too sapped to provide more information.
Ki’Remi came to the rescue, giving the doctor a quick summary of what Kainan wanted to be done.
Appalled by the new idea, the small, tidy man turned to Selene. ‘Respectfully, Prime,’ he whispered, his eyes fluttering with nerves. ‘The patient should not leave the med-scan bed. It’s what is keeping him alive. The expiration of his healthy metanoids could increase exponentially, placing his life in extreme danger. Also, the grotto here has only ever been used as a pain relief option for our patients. But never to try and heal injuries as serious as this.’
Selene placed a hand on the agitated man’s arm. ‘Doctor, we hear you. But I’m not the person you need to talk to. The patient can speak for himself.’
She turned to Kainan.
‘I know I have the right to request and access the healthcare and treatment that I believe will best meet my needs,’ the Edenite whispered weakly yet with a lacing of steely resolve. ‘That includes being given access to the grotto. So please, let’s respect my wishes.’
Realising the battle was lost, the doctor bowed and gestured for his team to act as the patient had requested.
Minutes later, Kainan was bundled in an air chair, floating through the hospital’s corridors. He’d insisted on piloting it using the carrier’s control pad. Selene strode on one side of him, Ki’Remi on the other. Behind them prowled Sheba and the Riders en masse, followed by several medics trailing on like a bemused entourage.
Soon they were outside, under the blue skies and twin suns of Dunia. A soft, sweet breeze swept over them, mixed with the fragrance of blossoms and the heady perfume of lei’oia vine flowers.
The medics directed them towards a hidden paradise near the northern Milawi gate of the Hospital’s stunning gardens. They passed by a pretty river lined with purple dunivillea flowers, shimmering wisteria and cascading argonivea flowers. Patients and families wandered through the rows of flowering and edible plants that emitted evocative fragrances.
Their river led them to a naturally occurring cave within a rock wall. The darkened cave entrance opened into a large, glowing pool, flanked with two small waterfalls, glow worms, bioluminescent fungi, and trailing vines similar to those Selene and Kainan had seen at the Enclave’s grotto. Lightning bugs flashed above the deep blue pool of water dotted with lily pads and blooming lotus flowers. Glow worms and bioluminescent creatures streaked light onto the seemingly dripping stalactites to transform the cave ceiling into a twinkling nighttime sky.
There were no steps at this cave, just a tiny sandy beachhead, where Kainan directed the air chair.
He lowered it until it hovered over the sand.
‘Brothers,’ he called out hoarsely to the Riders. ‘Get me into the water.’
His friends were by his side instantly. Kage and Ki’Remi lifted Kainan, huffing slightly with the effort of hefting their still bulky brother. They swept into the depths of the pool until they were waist-high.
Selene, too waded in, watching keenly. The rest of the group stood along the pool’s edge, watching.
‘Ready?’ Kage asked his friend gruffly.
‘Ready.’
The two Riders lowered Kainan into the deep water.
His body touched the mirrored surface, which danced and rippled against his skin.
‘Sante. Let me go,’ he choked out.
Kage and Ki’Remi stepped back and out of theirkhosi’sway.
Kainan reached a hand towards Selene. She pushed through the water to grab hold of it.
Selene watched, amazed, as his thickly muscled, hurting body floated just under the surface as he was enveloped in the cave’s waters. There seemed to be a powerful energy holding him up, gently yet firmly.
