Eira is immediately taken aback by what she sees, but she hides it as best she can. Almost every inch of the Archman's chest, torso, back, shoulders, and arms are covered in scars, all of which vary heavily in size, depth, severity, and age. It seems almost impossible for one person to accumulate this many lesions, although if they had dozens of lifetimes to do so, it certainly could be plausible.
Eira decides not to make any comments, as the Archman looked visibly uncomfortable in his shirtless state. She can empathize with him in that regard, but he evidently had much more reason to be insecure than she did.
Eira takes the needle and thread and steps around behind the Archman, threading the thin strand through the miniscule eye of the needle. Once prepared, she wipes away as much blood as she can with the white shirt, then focuses on the open wound on the back of the Archman's shoulder.
It is a slash about two inches long, which fortunately doesn't go too deep. She places a hand beside the lesion to steady herself, then brings the needle close to the damaged flesh.
The Archman grunts lightly as Eira inserts the small metal utensil into his skin.
"Sorry..." Eira whispers.
"It's fine." The Archman says with a neutral tone.
"Did you want something to bite down on?"
"I think I've bitten enough things for today." The Archman wipes away some of the blood from around his mouth.
"Thanks for sparing my neck, at least." Eira says with a lighthearted tone, hoping to ease some of the discomfort as she sews together the Archman's wound.
"Well, that wasn't the plan." The Archman replies without the same humorous bent to his words.
"What was the plan then?" Eira inquires, her eyes drifting towards the Archman's face every now and then.
"I don't know...I mean, I thought I had one. You've made it quite challenging to concoct any sort of objective."
"Yes, I'm quite the distraction, correct?"
"I thought so, but I fear it is much worse than that." The Archman's voice tremors ever so slightly.
"What's worse than a distraction?" Eira stops closing up the wound, as she can't keep her attention on it consistently.
"A contradiction. That's what you are."
"Am I?" Eira asks with a restrained curiosity.
The Archman freezes, clearly struggling to formulate his thoughts into words. It is the first time Eira has seen him tongue-tied.
"Like right now. Why the hell are you treating my injury?"
"I can't just leave it like this." Eira replies simply.
The Archman turns his head towards Eira, suddenly overtaken by an agitated tension. "But why?! I already told you I won't help your father! What other reason could you possibly have?!"
"I owe you at least this much. You saved my life, after all."
"I saved your life because you're more valuable to me alive than dead." The Archman refutes.
"Well..." Eira hesitates for a brief moment, looking away from the Archman. "...you're more valuable to me alive as well."
The Archman looks back at Eira, his face plastered with a profound confusion, accompanied by a faint lightness.
"This is what I mean..." He returns his gaze forwards. "You make no sense. I'm your captor! I'm the Archman! For God's sake, you should want me dead!"
"You hardly make any sense yourself. I'm meant to be your prisoner..." Eira feels her face redden as she speaks. "...so why did you kiss me?"
YOU ARE READING
The Archman
RomansaWhile departing for London to meet with her fiancé, Eira Pryce finds herself taken captive by a living legend, the fabled pirate known only as the Archman. As it turns out, the fables may not have been so accurate in their portrayal of this mythic f...
