Kei's Gift (82 page)

Kei was really tired of waking up with this headache. For a minute or two he was so distracted by the pain and the persistent nausea he failed to notice that he wasn’t alone—and that he was lying in someone’s lap. A lamp was set low, throwing a faint golden glow beside him. He turned towards it, and groaned at the pain. “Shhh, don’t move, Kei.”

“Arman?” Why was he lying in Arman’s lap—or anyone’s lap? “What’s wrong? Why are you here?”

Arman’s hand came gently to rest against his forehead. “You fell and knocked yourself out, apparently, and then you came to the Rulers’ House because of a mix-up. That’s where you are now.”

“The Rulers’ House?” He tried to sit up but Arman pressed him down. “I shouldn’t be here.”

“It’s all right,” Arman said. “Not only are you wanted here, you have permission to stay as long as you need to.”

“But...why am I in your bed?”

“You were in distress when you turned up—you seemed to be having a problem with your gift so I thought it was best if I were near. Don’t you remember any of it?”

Thinking was very hard.... “My head hurts too much.” He felt tired and drained. How long had he been here?

“The healer left you some pijn—he knew you’d be in pain. Do you want it?”

Kei thought about it. “He said it was all right?”

“He recommended it very strongly, in fact, so you would sleep.”

“All right, then,” he said reluctantly. Arman brought the cup to his lips, and he sipped it, knowing he would not be able to hold a coherent conversation until the pain stopped. The liquid made him gag, but he got it down. He lay back, exhausted, and waited for the relief to come. “Reji...does Reji know where I am?”

“Yes, he does. He has business to complete but then he’s going to come back here and stay until you’re well.”

Kei groped for Arman’s hand. Despite the pain, he hadn’t felt this centred and balanced in days. “Tell me what you know.”

“I don’t know much. Reji says you fell from your beast, or fainted, near the inn.”

“There was a brawl....”

“Yes—you remember?”

Bits and pieces of details came back...he remembered the screaming, and the roaring beast.... “There was a knife,” he whispered. “Stabbing.... I think I was confused....”

“You remembered...the hostages?” Arman tightened his grip on Kei’s hand.

Kei nodded. “Yes.... I think I must have fainted...can’t remember...then I was sick...was there a note? I...got a note...you needed me,” he said urgently. He looked up into Arman’s face, even it was masked by deep shadows. “What happened? Why did you need me?”

Arman stroked his cheek again. “It’s all been a mix up, like I said. I still had your book and I wanted to return it. When I asked Lord Meki for help in drafting a message, I told him about it, and you, and he said he’d like to meet you, that you might even be able to help plan the rescue. I’m afraid I was so overjoyed at being able to see you and say goodbye properly, I didn’t frame the note as cautiously as I might have done. You seem to have misinterpreted it as an urgent cry for help, when it was simply a friend wanting to see another friend.”

“Oh.” Kei now felt rather stupid—and rather sleepy as the pijn’s effect crept over him. “Goodbye? So you’re leaving? It’s happening?”

“In five days. You can stay here and see the masters—in fact, they’re going to come and see you tomorrow.”

“I didn’t want to be a nuisance,” he protested. He remembered causing a scene earlier, and his face burned in embarrassment. “Gods, I’ve made a complete fool of myself...I’m sorry.”

“You’ve done nothing of the sort. You were injured and confused because of the injury—and your gift, perhaps? The guards said you couldn’t bear to be touched.”

Kei tried to recall, but it was hard, lying in Arman’s embrace like this, to remember being in pain before. “It’s been...ever since you left, it’s been shaky.”

“Reji? Has he helped?”

“Yes...a little. He wants to.”

“Yes, I know he does,” Arman said quietly. “They’ve brought a cot in here—shall I sleep there or with you? Which would be more comfortable?”

“Please...don’t go,” he whispered. He’d thought never to have Arman with him again, and he shouldn’t ask for this, but it always felt so good with him. “But this is the last time.”

“Yes, I know. Just tonight, while you’re unwell. Tomorrow you can stay with Reji.”

Kei nodded, but for some reason, the thought gave him no joy at all. Nor did it for Arman. He was so damn tired of losing the people he needed. He struggled to keep his eyes open. “Are they treating you properly? Are you well?”

“Yes they are and yes I am. Kei, you’re the patient tonight, not the healer. Go to sleep, my friend.”

“Please don’t go anywhere?”

He heard a slight chuckle. “There’s no chance in any hell of me doing that. Now rest, and I hope your head is clearer in the morning.”

Kei hoped so too, but at the same time, he dreaded the arrival of the dawn.

~~~~~~~~

Dawn had to come, of course but having slept so soundly he wasn’t conscious at all of time passing, he could only be grateful to be so rested. And there were worse sights to have on waking than a pair of intensely blue eyes looking at him with concern and affection.

“Finally, you’re awake,” Arman teased. “I thought you’d sleep so long you would want lunch, not breakfast.”

Kei grunted, speech not being a faculty that was working properly just yet, although his vision was, fortunately, no longer doubled. His head still hurt like all hells, but he wasn’t nauseous—just hollow. He moved a little and found Arman had a possessive arm around him.
It still feels nice,
Kei thought sadly. “I should get up.”

“I should, at least. I must go to inspect the army preparations today, but I also wanted to be sure you were all right. How do you feel?”

“I’m all right. I’ll have a headache for a while, but I’m not insane any more.”

Arman smiled and brushed Kei’s cheek with the back of his hand. “You weren’t insane—just distressed. Everyone understands.”

“That clerk in the reception hall doesn’t,” he muttered, struggling out of Arman’s grasp so he could sit up. Gods, his head ached.

“Lord Meki’s not very happy with her, apparently. It’s refreshing to know the Prij don’t have a monopoly on mean-spirited servants.” Arman sat up and grinned at Kei. “Did you really threaten the woman?”

Kei blinked, trying to remember what he’d done. “Um...I possibly threatened to shove her pen up her arse,” he mumbled, terribly embarrassed at his scattered memories of turning up at the Rulers’ House. The clerk’s outraged face was one of the clearer recollections.

“That doesn’t sound like you.”

“No, it sounds like Myka. Gods, she’s a bad influence on me.”

“I’m sure you’ll survive. Now let me order breakfast, and then I can see about getting you moved to the rooms you and Reji will be staying in.”

Kei nodded, depressed that the time to leave Arman had come so soon. He looked down and realised he was dressed in a nightshirt. “Where are my clothes?”

“I sent them to be cleaned,” Arman called from the other room. “Mijli has arranged a clean set for you—they may be a bit short in the leg, she said, but they’ll do until Reji arrives with your pack.”

Everything’s arranged
, he thought unhappily.
Nice and tidy, so Arman can slip out of my life again.
He got up, and found the clean clothes placed neatly on the chair. He guessed the location of the wash-room and made hasty ablutions, conscious he smelled unpleasantly of sickness and sweat. What in hells had been wrong with him to have made such an almighty fuss? Common sense should have told him that if anything had been seriously wrong with Arman, someone would have come for him in person. There wouldn’t have been a note shoved under a door which might not be read for hours. He groaned in shame at what the Rulers must have made of it all. They would be thinking the villagers of Ai-Albon must all be touched if this was how their healer behaved when in the capital.

He dressed and tried to appear calm as he went into the outer chamber, which was set up as an office. It looked like a Ruler’s room, perhaps one that had been out of use for a little while. It was as comfortable looking as a family home, somewhat shabby, and with the eclectic collection of ornaments and decorations that might come from a series of people inflicting their personal taste on it. It wasn’t as grand as Arman’s house, but he liked it all the more for it. He was glad the Rulers were treating Arman well—from the way he spoke, it seemed they were making every accommodation for him, and had given him a good deal of trust.
As they damn well should
.

Arman was seated at the desk, where a tray of food had been set. “Come and eat—there should be something to tempt you.” He was being such a good, cheerful host, Kei thought irritably. Probably couldn’t wait to get his troublesome friend out of his way so he could attend to more important matters.

The Rulers ate well, it seemed, and even with his headache, the sight of the fresh food whetted his appetite—he hadn’t eaten in well over a day and what he’d eaten before that, he recalled losing in several painful and humiliating bouts of nausea.
Poor Reji
.
I’ve made so much trouble for him too.
Arman watched him as he ate, sipping thoughtfully from a cup of tea, and nibbling on a bit of buttered bread. Kei only detected concern from him. “Tell me what’s happened since I saw you—and the plan, how am I supposed to help with the plan?”

“Please don’t worry about that. While your wisdom and clear vision would be welcome, we have others who can advise us. Lord Meki was just being kind to me, I think.”

“Oh.” Kei felt even more of a fool now, getting ideas above himself. “But they’re taking you seriously?”

Arman smiled. “Oh yes. Now I know what I know, I know why I couldn’t know it before. You missed a wonderful show yesterday.”

“Huh?”

“Reis—the mind-mover, do you know him?” Kei nodded. “He picked up six Prijian ships and floated them into the harbour—when I say ‘float’, I mean in mid-air. I still can’t believe what I saw.” Arman’s voice was so full of wonder, Kei had to smile despite his depressed mood.

“Now you see why lifting gren nuts doesn’t impress anyone.”

“I don’t know—I always find the things you do impress me.”

Kei flushed at the compliment. “It’s not like being able to do that,” he muttered. “So—the rescue. the Gifted have agreed to help?”

“Some—more than enough, and we won’t take everyone who’s offered. Lady Jilki isn’t just talking about rescue anymore—she’s talking about a total peace settlement between the Prij and Darshian.”

Kei stared. “But...does that mean you could go home? If we’re not at war, then you can’t be a traitor, can you? Does it mean that?”

Arman nodded, but he wasn’t overjoyed. “Possibly. There would be those who’d see me as a traitor whatever happened, but legally...we’ll have to see. All I want is your people home. What happens to me is irrelevant.”

“It’s damn well
not
irrelevant,” Kei shouted, and then winced at the sharp pain this sent through his head. “It’s not—you have a right to be happy. You have a right to go home too.”

“So you think I should go back to Utuk?”

“It’s where you live. Karus too. People won’t stare at you there, or be rude.”

Arman was still staring at him oddly. “True,” he said finally. “Have you had enough to eat? I really must get moving.”

“Gods, sorry. Yes, of course. Don’t wait for me—just tell me where I have to go.”

“I can wait long enough to see my friend settled,” Arman said mildly as he rose and rang the bell-pull. “I’ll be back this evening for certain, and should you need me urgently before then, have someone find me. We’ll speak several times before I go with the expedition. It’s not goodbye.”

“Not yet,” Kei muttered. “I’m really sorry about the embarrassment I caused you.”

“Please don’t ever, ever apologise to me again, Kei. I mean it, do you hear?” Arman’s stern gaze and the anger Kei sensed made it clear he was entirely serious.

“Yes, all right. I just—” Arman held up his hand in warning. “All right.” He couldn’t do anything right this morning. “When is Reji coming?”

“I’m not sure. He’s trying to clear everything so he can be free to look after you. I like him. I’m glad to find all the praise I’ve heard heaped upon him has been justified. It relieves me to know he’ll be with you.”

Kei nearly snapped out an irritated comment about not needing a nursemaid, but after yesterday, perhaps he did. “He’s one of the best people I know.” He fidgeted with a piece of bread, wondering how long it would be before someone came to tell him where to go. It didn’t helping that Arman watched him intently, his expression and emotions giving nothing away of his thoughts.

With some relief, Kei heard the knock on the door, announcing a maidservant. “Ev, this is Kei,” Arman said, standing to greet her. “I believe Mijli has arranged rooms for him?”