Traveler's Blessing

Chapter 5: Good Night Commander

The new guards-in-training, or goufa guards, are to safeguard the entrance of Lexa's room every night. They are split into three different night shifts, two for each group. Since they are still in training, they are joined by seasoned warriors on Lexa's personal security detail.

The first and the last shift are always more coveted because guards on these shifts can sleep uninterrupted, unlike the second shift that has to wake up in the middle of the night. The second shift is also more dangerous, as assassination attempts usually occur in the deadest part of the wee hours. So only the strongest of guards are assigned to this shift.

Han and Costia are both assigned to the second shift. Much to Costia's dismay. The assignments were personally appointed by Lexa. She questions the decision of being identified as one of the more promising goufa guards. And unlike others, she had hoped for the first and last shift for different reasons. To be one of the last people to see Lexa every night or be amongst the first to greet her every morn. Urg, she is head of heels for the girl that threatened to stab her to death today, twice! Maybe this is a blessing in disguise. She will have less contact with Lexa, and when the time comes, die peacefully.

One of the seasonal guards accompanying the two juniors is Nya. She is Gustus' counterpart in Lexa's security detail. The older woman is also Indra's friend and is one of the few warriors that guarded Lexa when she was just an novitiate. Indra had asked Nya to help keep her Seken out of trouble, and Costia has taken an immediate liking to her. She is less strict than her faux Seda.

There is a stir in Lexa's room. Lexa is still awake. Costia can hear her shuffling around, opening drawers, tossing, and turning. She is standing guard across Han, who is brimming proudly at her. He loves this, getting the attention and recognition he wants and being on the same team as Costia.

She must be punishing me for the poison stunt I pulled today. Costia recalls the angry red rashes that developed on Lexa's arm. The sparring sessions didn't help; the strenuous exercise, increased blood circulation, and the added sweat probably aggravated it even more. Costia's thoughts wander to the small vial of topical cream in her carrier bag. She had hoped to pass that on to Lexa's healers but didn't get a chance. The poison Costia used was some powder derived from rosehips mixed with a bit of urushiol oil. She had developed it to pranked other goufas in her unit. The effect is similar to poison ivy, but it kicks in much faster and dissipates quickly. It's harmless. Yet, Costia silently wishes Lexa would have treated the site immediately instead of ignoring it.

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This is more than slightly uncomfortable. It is unbearable! For the entire day, it took Lexa all her willpower to not scratch her right arm. She made the mistake of scratching it when no one is looking, and now the rash has spread from her forearm to her left fingertips. She didn't summon any healers because she didn't want to appear weak, and now she is paying for it. Unable to sleep, lying awake.

She tried to rinse it earlier, but the water only makes it sting and itch more. She gets up and rummages for a left glove; to keep her left hand from touching anything else. Then she grabs her kumpur and wraps the long cloth around her forearm. She needs to keep it from spreading any further. She hops back onto her bed and tries to relax, but all she can feel is her right arm pulsating with an insatiable itch. Maybe if I burn the skin or take a knife and bleed the rash. Lexa gets up again and walks over to a row of candles. She pulls off her left glove and reaches for the candle wick, holding her fingertip right above the flame. She held her hand there until the itch is replaced with searing and numbing pain. Lexa retracts her fingers and inspects them. Pressing her fingertips together with her thumb. The pain slowly dissipates, and to Lexa's horror, the itch now had spread to her thumb. She looks at her hand in disbelief. She had enough. So what if she shows weakness. She knows Costia is outside guarding her at this hour. She had put her on this schedule in case the poison hasn't subsided yet.

"Guards!"

One of the guards opens the door and peeks his head in. "Heda."

"Send the girl, Costia, in ... tell her to fetch me some water."

"Sha. Heda." The guard closes the door.

Shortly later, a knock.

"Come in."

Costia comes into Lexa's room with a pitcher. Lexa is still standing in the same spot facing the candles, with her back against the door. She is wearing a long nightgown with her hair down. Her left hand is frozen midair. Since she is not quite sure what to do with her hand and is afraid to touch anything.

Lexa turns around slowly and looks at Costia.

Costia notes the wrapped forearm and sees a glimmer of indignation in Lexa's eyes. So that is why she is still up. Costia thought as she closes the door behind her.

"Sit down. Let me look at that for you." Costia motions setting the pitcher down on the side table as Lexa sits at the end of her bed.

Grabbing a nearby towel, Costia settles next to Lexa. She places the towel on her lap, takes Lexa's bandaged forearm, and starts to unwind the cloth.

Then she places both Lexa's arm and left hand on the towel and observes the festering rash. It is worst than she had imagined.

At least she didn't scratch it raw. Lexa must be hypersensitive or allergic to the poison.

A lump of guilt rises in her throat. Costia reaches into her carrier bag and produces a bottle, a vial, and some cotton wool. She drops the vial and the cotton to the side and uncaps the bottle.

"It's alcohol. It neutralizes the poison, but it may sting a little."

Lexa nodded and winced only slightly when the content was poured onto her arm and fingers.

Costia then takes the corner of the towel, dabs the liquid off, softly blowing air on the rash, trying to encourage the alcohol to dry. Lexa can feel her ears turning red, secretly relieved that it was too dark for Costia to see.

After disinfecting the arm and the fingers, Costia put some of the vial's content onto the cotton wool and gently applies it onto Lexa's arm and fingers. An instant cooling sensation washes over as the throbbing itch and heat start to fade.

Costia takes some clean gauze out from her pack and begins to rewrap Lexa's arm and fingers.

"Keep it dry. Make sure to not get it wet. The itch should be gone by tomorrow, and I'll leave the vial with you in case you need it."

Lexa nods again, mesmerized, recalling a distant dream.

"Have we met before? I don't mean at Bowie ... but somewhere else..." Lexa asks, her voice small and uncertain. She never felt anything like this before.

How do you move forward? They were doing what they believed was right for their people, too ... Good night. Ambassador.

Costia Smiles. "Perhaps ... in a different life." Overwhelmed with emotions, Costia quickly cleans up and excuses herself. Leaving Lexa sitting and pondering the moment. As the door closes, she thinks she hears Costia whispering, "Reshop. Heda..."