Page 46 of Commander's Slave
He sighed. “I had a feeling you’d say that. Very well. Carnn, head straight for the monastery.”
The ship lurched into the night sky.
Chapter 23
Edek and Betsystepped out of the ship. The stars and moon shone down on the mountain, reflecting off snow-covered treetops and the frozen pond in front of the monastery. Candles flickered in the windows of the grand structure. He grasped her hand and they followed the lighted stone path to the archway leading inside. The building contained no closing windows or doors, only open space, yet warmth surrounded them as they entered the magnificent hall. Fire pits blazed in the center of each corridor and room, illuminating the bronze walls.
A Holy One appeared from a doorway, a white shroud covering her face and falling over her shoulders. Edek froze and pulled Betsy to his side, his heart pounding. A white shroud meant Draken still breathed.
“Come,” the Holy One said.
Edek and Betsy followed her into a room containing an altar decorated with thousands of burning candles. A body draped in white rested on a bed at the foot of the altar. Orange Heslla flowers were scattered atop the white sheet. Edek approached and gazed down at Draken’s pale face. Splotches of blood stained the thick bandage wrapped around his neck.
“He’s breathing,” Betsy whispered. She squeezed his hand and started to cry. “He’s breathing, Master.” She rushed forward and knelt beside the bed and bowed her head.
Edek turned to the Holy One. “Will he live?”
The Holy One lifted her thin white shroud up. Tears rolled down the woman’s cheeks. “If he does not, he will be missed and mourned like a holy brother.” She replaced her shroud and departed the room in a rustle of fabric.
Edek approached the altar and squeezed Betsy’s shoulder. Her hands were folded together atop the bed. The candlelight danced over her hair, and he regarded the Heslla flowers and smiled. Draken had been correct. The shade of her hair matched the flowers perfectly. He knelt beside Betsy and strained to hear the words she whispered.
A prayer. To her god. A strange Earth god Edek knew nothing about. He remained beside her, lowered his head, and folded his hands to mirror hers. They maintained a sleepless vigil together until the candles burned down and sunlight streamed through the open windows. A group of Holy Ones arrived to give Draken a purification bath and replace the bandage encircling his neck.
Edek hovered over them as they removed the bandage. Astonishment brimmed within him to see the wound nearly healed. Betsy leaned over his shoulder and her eyes went wide. She covered her mouth and stepped back. Happiness shone in her eyes. Draken was healing—and fast.
But he hadn’t woken up yet and this disconcerted Edek. The Holy Ones, who didn’t speak often, remained silent as they bathed Draken.
“He’s going to make it.” Betsy clasped a hand over her heart.
A cough startled the whole room, and the Holy Ones backed up from the bed. “Of course I’m going to make it.”
Edek rushed to his brother’s side. Draken smiled up at him with tired eyes. “I heard Betsy’s voice. Where is she?”
“I’m here.” She scurried into place next to Edek and peered at Draken. She traced her fingertips along the fresh bandage. “You’re alive!”
“And so are you, little Heslla. Thank the ancient gods.” Draken sat up on his elbows and groaned. “Holy Fires, I’m naked.”
Edek and Betsy laughed as a Holy One approached with a thick blanket. After covering Draken up, the Holy Ones lined up to place their hands on his head, each wishing him a long and happy life in the oldest dialect of Kall before exiting the room.
* * *
After two daysof resting and bathing in the monastery’s healing waters, Draken walked down the mountain without any assistance. In addition to the healing waters, the teas and ointments the Holy Ones cultivated from the Heslla flowers had healed him faster and better than traditional medicine. Edek marveled at his brother’s rapid recovery.
The servants, including the cook, returned as well. None of them had suffered any permanent harm at the hands of Teyya’s hired men. They all worked together to repair the damage to the house caused by the attack, cleaning up the blood and replacing a smashed door and a few broken windows.
On their first night back in the house, Edek sat across from Draken at the dining room table as Betsy brought in their meals. Edek’s mood plummeted as the meal continued and Betsy remained in her usual place along the wall, at the ready should they need her. It didn’t feel right to have her standing there, not sharing a meal with them after all that had happened. His teeth ground together and he stared at his plate of food.
“Betsy, come here.” His tone was sharper than he intended.
“Yes, Master?” She nervously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as she approached him with hesitant steps. She met his gaze for a moment before staring at the floor, keeping her eyes downcast like a proper slave.
A scream built in Edek’s throat, and he swallowed his rage and forced a smile. “I’m not angry with you, Betsy.”
She relaxed but didn’t look up. “Is something wrong with the food, Master?”
“No, Betsy. The food is fine. Look at me.” She raised her chin a notch and peered into his eyes. “You haven’t eaten yet, have you?”
Her brow furrowed as confusion flitted across her face. “No, Master. I take my meals in the kitchen after you and Draken eat. The cook now prepares a special plate for me, just as you recently directed him to.”
