***
I slept in late. My last two patients had gone home and no new business wandered in. My brother kindly allowed me to laze while he attended to his errands. Every once in a while I’d wake up enough to feel distressed. My fatigue allowed me to yield back to the amnesia sleep granted.
Ramy came back from the market and made me cabbage soup and dumplings. I reveled in the comfort food while finally giving him a full account of my adventure, minus Exinious’ history, as he’d requested of me.
“If you’re going to go back you need to go now, Ash.”
I frowned. “Why is that?”
“Because there’s no one sick to keep you here. Who knows how long that will last?”
I looked out our open door. (We were venting the cabbage stink.) The colors of dusk were lighting the sky.
“Then Mabel can sleep in your cot again.”
I darted my head back towards him. “You let her sleep in my cot? You’re going to give me lice!”
“She cleaned up first.” He shoved a dumpling in his mouth.
I fumed, but was actually glad my brother hadn’t been lonely. Mabel was a 12-year-old orphan who slept with others of her ilk below the west bridge. I wasn’t yet sure if Ramy’s interest in her was romantic. He was just reaching the age for it.
I freshened up before heading out. This took longer than expected. I suppose I was inordinately preening. I had to race to reach the base of the mountain before the light faded. If Exinious didn’t send his bird for me, I had no chance of reaching the summit tonight. At least I could say I tried.
I climbed toward the spot where I’d been retrieved before. The sight of black boots hanging over the ledge shocked me, but then I realized who it was. I clambered up the rock to sit next to him.
“Hello, my dear.” He said this without intonation while staring into the darkening sky.
My face grew hot, as though I’d been slapped. “You’re angry with me.”
“Yes.”
I closed my eyes. His cold veneer bespoke pain, not anger. I knew that would be the case, and yet I had to flee. If I lost my power the villagers would suffer tremendously. I didn’t hesitate to run because it was necessary. Only now did I face the wretched consequences.
“Please forgive me, Exinious.” I wanted to cling to him and implore him. His coldness shielded him from my touch.
“Beseech me.”
This made the hair prick up on my neck. Okay, I suppose he deserves it.
“I’m sorry I ran away. It was cruel of me to leave you without a word. Everything was happening so fast. I was…I was afraid.”
“Am I truly so fearsome?”
I became plaintive.
He fixed his gray eyes on me. “You hid your misgivings well. Had I known, Ashla, I would have reassured you. You robbed me of the chance. Then you tormented me by resuming your life as though nothing had happened between us. I worried that you wouldn’t come back. I loathed that uncertainty.”
I inched closer and hugged my body against his side. “Please forgive this foolish little mortal, Exinious.”
He glared at me with an expression of pure spite, but then pulled me into his arms and crushed his lips against mine. The passion of his embrace seared me. I felt instantly swept away to a rapturous, heady place. He’d bared himself to me. He might ravage my mouth to conceal it, but I’d seen his sweet vulnerability.
I felt the hard rock beneath me transform to softness and the air was suddenly warmer. He broke from the kiss to reveal we’d transported to the parlor area in his great room. I caressed the side of his face.
“Thank you,” I said.
He stared at me with a lingering touch of pain in his gray eyes. “If you wish to leave, simply ask me.”
“I won’t leave until you’ve had your fill of me.”
Exinious neared my lips once again. “Then you’ll never leave.”
His kiss was sweet this time. I clung to him and savored the spark of our connection. He made me feel weak and floaty. Both sensations I welcomed. This time I’d come to him without apprehension.
“Tomorrow we’ll feast and frolic,” he said. “Let me and my servants show you all the wonders of my fortress.”
I smiled demurely. “I would like that very much.”
He pulled himself away from me and stood. The empty space he left behind caused a throb in my chest.
“For tonight you should rest. Return to the chamber I assigned you.”
He left the great hall without another word.