The War God's Wife

Chapter 1: Life Debts

I awoke in great pain and agony.

Everything below my neck seared with tingling fire, and my breath came in ragged gasps as my shocked mind tried desperately to grapple control of my thoughts. The sheer volume and overwhelming strength of my torture stunned me. I opened my mouth to call for someone, for aid.

And all that left my mouth was a strangled whimper.

Humiliation flooded me at the feeble, weak sound that escaped me, and I gritted my teeth so hard my face began to ache. I felt the corners of eyes burn at the shame before my stunned brained offered me a small comfort. At least no one heard.

"You're awake? How are you feeling?"

My head swivelled, which immediately sent a burst of agony down my spine as my neck muscles spasmed and locked. I yelled at the new pain, bright and fierce. My eyes squeezed shut as my head returned to its previous position, easing my current discomfort. I took a deep breath through my nose, anxiously trying to seize some resemblance of calm and dignity. I was then startled by the sudden touch of cool fingertips to my temple. Before I could say anything, the fingers moved in a circular motion, slowly rubbing against my skin. My muscles slackened as one long second dripped by after another. I could feel the hellish tingling steadily dropping until it was nothing more than an indistinct buzz on my skin. My mind seized the opportunity to lock the pain in the back of my head, giving me clarity once more. My eyes snapped open.

Right into the eyes of the woman.

My blood chilled, and I felt my skin prickle as my mind flashed between the wistful gaze in my memory and the warm eyes staring—searching—into mine. She suddenly broke into a warm smile, and I realized my body had completely relaxed.

I also felt the sudden and completely insane desire to overthrow kingdoms if it meant seeing this smile again.

"How are you feeling?" I blinked. Her voice was soft and musical, like the subtle pluck of her harp. If she had a harp. It was just a dream, I reminded myself sharply. The cocking of her brow caught my eye and snapped me from my trance. I cleared my throat, my mouth curiously dry.

"Better," I said hoarsely, and I desperately tried to wet my lips. But my tongue was thick and heavy, and I winced as the movement tugged at dry, cracked lips. Instantly, her smile melted to a look of concern. Her head flickered away. A shard of anxiety shot through my heart, and I desperately tried to follow her with my gaze; a warning twitch from my neck, however, ceased my stirrings, and I lay there, sore and miserable. I blinked slowly, and she reappeared.

"Drink," she ordered. My eyes flickered to the clay cup I now saw she held. A soft hand gently helped my head up, and, when I felt the cool pottery on my lip, I slurped greedily at the cold water within. Immediately, she slowed me, pacing me against my burning thirst.

"Too much," she scolded gently, "and you'll only send it back up."  I felt a spike of annoyance, as my body ached for more of the icy draught, but I shoved it down fiercely and obeyed, allowing the woman to control the pace.  A moment later, the woman set the empty cup aside and gently laid my head down.  My skin still tingled from my earlier movements, but now at least my tongue and mouth felt normal.

"Thank you," I said, my voice somewhat normal now.  The woman blinked in surprise, and I saw a blush race across her cheeks.  My heart throbbed at the sight, a feeling that both surprised and unnerved me. Who was this mortal? I opened my mouth to say just that when there was a loud clunk!  The woman whirled around, and her face lit up.

"Father!" she cried. She darted out of my vision, and I twisted my neck as far as my screaming muscles would allow me.  I was granted the upside down image of the woman helping a grizzled man out of his leather coat, which was drenched in rain.