Desperation's Summit

12: The Late Wife

Turning to Rakash, Cordelia slapped her hands against the water. "Do I look like some creepy, death-dealing mage?"

Her glare only intensified as Rakash dawdled in a reply. Giving a thoughtful hum, he scratched at his stubbly chin with a thumb, eyes tilted away from Cordelia as he mused, "For a non-magic user, that magic shot was pretty impressive."

—

Rakash couldn't help but give a weak grin as Cordelia's expression edged into glare territory. She looked about ready to splash him, which would have been a promising return to normal. But she didn't.

Instead, she sighed and sank deeper until the water reached her chin. She didn't want to think about what that thing - that thrall - had told her. She didn't want to open up a can of worms that threatened to upend her understanding of the world around her.

She was Cordelia, a non-magic user and the 'baby' of the family. If she was being frank, she didn't want to think of that either. Instead, she focused on Rakash, gripping onto the residual annoyance at him. "I suppose I should be thankful you showed up, barely in time."

In the quiet, Rakash had shifted to sitting cross-legged at the water's edge, keeping a watchful eye on Cordelia. She hadn't been doing much, except swaying in the water and glaring off into the distance. He wondered what kept her expression so sour. Was it thoughts of him? Or her situation? Or something he wasn't privy to?

When she spoke, his shoulders hunched under the question. "I came to check, since I thought I heard screaming. Twice."

"You didn't move until the second scream." Cordelia cocked an eyebrow, scoffing at Rakash's lack of urgency in her situation. Part of her knew she couldn't expect more from him. Expecting more simply led to painful disappointment.

"I thought I could be mishearing things," Rakash explained, his gaze flickering to his hands in his lap. His hands flexed, a string of guilt tangling inside his chest and strangling his heart. He should have gone to check on her after the first scream. Just as he should have sought help for Ebra instead of insisting everything would be alright. Thinking back to Cordelia's unmitigated disgust in him, he sighed again and his shoulders hunched further. "I didn't want to disturb you, if I was wrong."

With a hum, Cordelia considered his words. It was true that she didn't want him to bother her. Residual disappointment and rage simmered in her chest still. But he did come for her. Better late than never. And any later might have spelled death for Cordelia, whether at the hand of the thrall or exhausted in the cold.

From her spot, she eyed the miserable-looking Rakash. Bags under his eyes and rumpled clothing appearing to hang off him, as if he were smaller than usual. Maybe she felt just a tiny bit forgiving. "Thank you for coming to get me."

"Don't thank me," he sighed, as morosely as he looked. He had a hard time bringing his eyes to Cordelia's face. "I was only doing the right thing."

That was also true. She couldn't deny that it was right to come to the aid of someone in danger. Although one could argue he had the right to ignore her after the things she said in the heat of fury and all the hassle she gave him.

Instead of voicing those thoughts, Cordelia changed the subject. "Can I undress now and take a proper bath?"

"Keep the clothes in the water. They may be tainted by the creature's magic." Clinging to the conversational change, Rakash rose to his feet and started to exit the area. "I'll get you some soaps and a towel."

Before he was completely gone, Cordelia called out after him, "And a change of clothes."

He didn't turn around, didn't even look at her. Just a backward wave to indicate he heard her.