A Shield of Faith (BOOK 4)

Chapter 20

FENRER

Tomorrow.

I guess I won't tell Maria I never did go back to bed.

He breathed in time with his magelight meant to soothe him into some sort of empty-headed doze until the flash of sunlight pierced the horizon with the herald of dawn. Sleep lost, he threw an arm over his brow and tested the worth of his words as he listened to the soft, distant chimes of the harbor calling out to the love of the sea. Always home. Water soaked through his garments, and he rolled over to try and get away from the sensation of bubbles in his throat, straight into his lungs, weakened from the pressure the sea put on them. Green sprinkles fell from the magelight he released to the air. Tomorrow... I have to explain myself if... if I want this to continue. Nervousness ripped through his stomach, and he tucked himself deeper into the pillow to try and catch sleep in his hands. Her compassion bloomed silver lilies across the auric plane, genuine and true in its manifestation. Fenrer slipped himself into the words of a book, closing his eyes to listen to the trickle of water.

"Molvisaliz."

Hm, or maybe that didn't really happen... how sleep-deprived am I? Fenrer burrowed deeper into the plump pillow supporting his head when someone poked his cheek, allowing the welcome darkness to swallow him whole into a flimsy embrace of relaxation.

"Molvisaliz," the word drew out longer with another added poke.

Breathe in, then out ten times... just stop thinking... He slipped deeper into the pillow and ignored the maelstrom of ice slicing at the darkness in irritated stubbornness. It proved marginally more difficult when someone's fingers cupped his chin and dug into his cheeks. Torn out of the ten timed doze, violet eyes greeted him instead. "What...?" he forced out through the burst of numb weariness when Yuven glared down in his usual way of morning greetings.

"You have been asleep all through morning, and you were supposed to see Maria about a haze bulb. You told her you would give a small one a try." Yuven shook his face, albeit not as harsh as he had in the past. "I do not like it when you are like this. Slow and sleepy. There are things to do."

Fenrer released the groan built up behind his ribs. "She told you?"

"Of course." Yuven's feathers puffed out in satisfaction.

"Can you let go of my face?" Fenrer closed his eyes.

"No. Must make sure you stay awake until you are able to get up."

"Loosen your grip then?"

Yuven acquiesced. "Were you up all night, Fenrer?"

"If I say no will you leave me alone?"

"No."

Of course. "Are you upset because I didn't say hello to you?"

"I am not four, Molvisaliz. I was teasing."

Fenrer pushed his hand off before tearing himself off the springs of his mattress. Outside, the outer shrine to the four Ancients sat in the middle of a small moat. Ornaments fashioned into the likeness of birds trembled along the pink leaves of the tree. Fenrer leaned against his window to check on the sun, half-way to its highest point. Yuven folded his arms and nudged his leg with his foot. Out of bed with Yuven's constant insistence never quite allowing him rest, Fenrer stretched out his arms then muttered, "Wait outside, I'll talk to you once I'm done getting ready." He sorted through his clothes and armor stands as Yuven drew his shoulders into a shrug and left his room. His late night wash proved the sole saving grace of his mental capacity, so he pushed his clothes to the side for laundering and hoisted his weapons belt around his hip before releasing the pressure in his lungs, leaving the room where Yuven stood in full battle armor with predictable expectation. "Unless we're doing something today—"