sic semper tyrannis

sunt lacrimae rerum

A month of observed rest turned into two.

Despite the carnage that had become of the people of their entourage, a few of the horses had been left alive and that was really all Alhaitham needed. It was easy enough to scoop Kaveh up, place him back safely onto the seat of their carriage, and find their way to Caravan Ribat.

Aaru Village had no Bimarstan, but there was one waiting pleasantly at the Caravan and they were welcomed with open arms. Kaveh's condition received a myriad of grimaces and hands pressed over open mouths, but the nurses quickly pulled themselves together and found him an open bed and a seemingly countless supply of bandages.

He ended up with the expanse of his legs, arms, collarbones, and neck wrapped behind thick bandages, most of which were replaced every few hours in the beginning. Alhaitham's medical knowledge wasn't extensive, but the amount of medication they fed him and slathered onto wounds seemed almost excessive. But still, doctors promised him everything was going well and he'd be fine afterward.

Except for the fact that they promised one month and it stretched on longer than that. Longer to the point that Alhaitham was sure the whole of Sumeru City knew by now. They had to considering Candace knew.

Her visit began one month after they'd arrived and she wasted no time making her way to Kaveh's bedside. He was asleep when she approached, laying pitifully on his back with the covers pulled up so all that could be seen were the tips of bandages around his neck. That and the gauze that covered his left ear, wrapped tightly around to keep the ointment on his torn earlobe.

The doctors said the two halves would heal, but they wouldn't ever come back together. Kaveh had just smiled weakly at that and then asked for Alhaitham to take the other earring out. He'd left it on the table beside him, leaving the gold to glint against the light of the room. It sat prettily against the backdrop of medical supplies—the faint promise of a future in which things may be better.

He hoped Kaveh would ask for it back in again.

Candace waited until he woke up, patiently attending to whatever the doctors asked of her while she lingered around the Bimarstan. Candace was nice like that. She liked to busy herself and remain helpful while her true task lay in wait.

However, she didn't even get much out of Kaveh when he woke up. He stared at her, eyes wide, and then turned away, burying his face into the pillow. She talked for a long while and he didn't turn her away, but he refused to speak to her or even look her way in return.

If Candace minded, she didn't voice it. She apologized multiple times for what happened to him as if it were her fault (she seemed convinced it partially was somehow), then continued talking about things she thought he might find interest in. Art of the desert, architecture, and some plan to integrate one of the designs he showed her into an upcoming project. He perked a little bit at that last one but still didn't move.

Finally, Candace decided it was enough and slowly exited, pausing to give Alhaitham a look before she left the room. She tilted her head toward the door, gesturing to follow, and then quietly slipped through the threshold.

Alhaitham took one glance at Kaveh, though he didn't look back and his head remained pressed into the pillows, and then followed after her. She had stopped just outside the Bimarstan, hands held behind her back as she stared up to the sky. It was a clear day, sunshine pouring down into the hot desert and illuminating the green of the rainforest in the distance.

Candace slowly turned her head back to him and smiled, though it didn't reach her eyes. Beneath that multicolored stare, she appeared mournful and somber. The self-blame was heavy and it made the air feel tense as Alhaitham approached, not that he could particularly blame her.