Page 17 of Runes To Rain
Both of us stand frozen, neither moving nor likely breathing. The room feels strangely still, like there is an energy that is hesitant to break us free from this spell. Unsure what else to do, I begin to look for answers amongst all the chaotic memories in my head. Suddenly, a door opposite my room opens roughly, running into the wall behind it, and Reem and Lent enter this space, caught in some argument.
They don’t seem to see us and continue to argue, their voices loud in the space, blind to all else but their disagreement.
Looking at them with narrowed eyes, Fem hesitates. Then he looks back at me as he says, “We’ll talk about this later.”
What I see on his face as he speaks to me isn’t apology, shock, or horror. Instead, his expression is more akin to sadness, and I pause, again wondering what great plot line to my own life I’m not understanding.
Fem moves towards the others and says wearily, “What now?”
Reem and Lent are pulled from their blindness back into the world as they notice Fem and me.
“Should she be up yet?” Reem asks, looking at me.
Fem half shakes his head, “We’ll talk about it later, but what are you arguing about now?” he repeats himself.
I’m desperately clutching at plot threads for what my next action should be.Is it so normal to be provided with a healer who was on the side so recently involved in violence? Do they wonder why I have wings of light protruding from my back? Can they even see them? Are these things so normal to those who live in this world, and is it just me that is off balance?
My attention is then pulled back to the boys’ conversation asReem says, “That’s it, we’re holding an audition for a singer. I know you can sing Lent, as can I, but that doesn’t mean weshould. Nor does it mean any of us has the talent to be lead.”
As Reem speaks, Lent holds his hands up as though surrendering.
I note that Fem smirks slightly at both of them.
“Next thing we know, Fem will want to audition for the part,” Lent says with a laugh.
At that, Fem’s face goes red, but he doesn’t say anything.
“Alright, old boy, as you say, it shall be so,” Lent says to Reem as though he didn’t notice Fem’s reaction. “If I may ask, though, are we to get on the road to complete our errands, or may I take a nap?”
“GodsLent,” Fem says, “I’m the one who’s supposed to always be sleeping. What’s with you?”
“It’s all these late-nightsessions,” Lent says with a yawn.
With his mouth still open, Reem punches him hard in the shoulder and shakes his head slightly. Lent snaps his jaw shut and looks at me. With that motion, I note that there is something they don’t want me to find out about the “late night sessions.” As with many things, I note it for later.
“What errands?” I ask, irritation filling my voice. Luckily, more than thinking me an ungrateful guest, they seem relieved that my question is about errands and nothing else.
“We will be having the auditions in the basement of a small shop a short distance away,” Reem says. “We need to bring some of our things from here to that shop and get set up. Since the band is well known, we expect many people will want to audition. We’ll need some basic refreshments and seating for ourselves and those auditioning.”
“I’ll help,” I offer quietly. Anything to get out of this house and relieve my boredom.
Even as I say it, Fem is shaking his head. “You’re not yethealed enough to help with this. You’ll stay here with our employed help after I re-bandage your leg.”
“My leg feels fine,” I say.
“It’s not only your leg that I’m worried about,” Fem says.
“Then what?” I ask, and I hear the steel back in my voice
“Your recovery seems to be impacted, perhaps by the pain meds,” Fem says. His voice is now soft. An attempt, however late, at kindness.
As I glare at him, Reem puts his hand on Fem’s arm and pulls him aside. While they talk, I muse about what he might mean. Do the pain meds slow healing? Even as I consider, they turn back towards me. It’s clear that whatever Fem was feeling about my recovery, he has shared it.
Reem stands, arms crossed against his chest, looking irritated.
Without further explanation of what’s happening, Fem says, “I’ll re-bandage your leg. If the wound is healing well, you may accompany us tonight. If your leg doesn’t look healed enough, you will agree to stay here.”
The order is clear in his voice, and without hesitating, I agree.
