Page 101 of The City of Zirdai
Zhek grunted and left. When he didn’t return, she eyed the tea. Her encounter with the guards and Yates had left her without any energy. Sleep would be best, but she needed to talk to Jayden. Before she could decide, Zhek returned with a glass of red water.
“Red?” she asked when he handed it to her.
“For the pain.”
“Thanks.” She drank it.
He jabbed a finger at the cooling tea. “Remember your promise.”
It didn’t take long for the pain to lessen and disappear. No wonder Zhek worried she’d leave. But her exhaustion caught up to her and she dozed until Jayden woke her around angle three-forty.
“What happened? Zhek said you were stabbed. By who?”
“Long story. I’ll tell you about it later. Right now I need you to meet with the recruits at angle three-fifty-five and escort them to our headquarters.”
“All right, but I want a full report when I return.”
She raised the cup of Zhek’s now cold tea and saluted him.
“Cute.” He left.
After downing the liquid, she set the cup on the floor and waited for the peace of oblivion to overtake her.
When she woke, Jayden was sitting by her door. He leaned against the wall and looked exhausted. “How do you feel?”
Shyla rolled over and groaned as all her injuries flared to life. Stiff and sore, she tried to sit up but then gave in, plopping back.
“That good?” Jayden stood. “Should I get Zhek?”
“No. I’m fine.” To prove it she managed to sit up without wincing. “How long did I sleep?”
“An entire sun jump plus sixty angles.”
Angle forty already? She’d slept through her chance to leave Zirdai at angle zero.
“Have you gotten any sleep?” she asked him.
“Some.”
“The recruits?”
“All safely transferred to headquarters.” He frowned. “You could have warned me there would be so many.”
“Did all twelve show up?”
“There were sixteen.”
“Sixteen? Does that include Wazir and his three family members?”
“No, they wanted to stay here a couple more sun jumps.”
“Sixteen? Are you sure?”
He held up his hands and wiggled his fingers. “I count good.”
“Sorry. It’s just—”
“You weren’t expecting so many?”
