Completion of the Whisper

Chapter Thirty-Three.

"Our people?"

Joridall gave a slight nod.

Confused, I stared at him, then at the weapons he'd just given me.

Our people.

"You are from Gnys", my whispered words were a statement, no question.

He was from Gnys.

"Yes, Milady."
"Almighty..."

Forgotten was my exhaustion "You have to tell me your story, please. How...?"
But he shrugged me off, inclining his head "I'd rather to it in the morning, Milady. Together with Mirella, my sister."
Blinking, I nodded.

Mirella. Nyshard had mentioned the name, said, she was also my new... personal guard.

Alone the thought of having not only one, but two of them... my anger dared to rise again.

"Shall I send Srandi to tend to your wound... Milady?"
Absently, I now took a look at my left arm again. My wound was still bleeding slightly, even though it was just a cut "No, I will tend to it myself, thank you."

Joridall shot me a curious look, then he asked "I don't want to step out of my place... but are you really alright, Mila-..."

"I am."

Back in my room, I put all my weapons aside and shuffled to the bathroom, got rid of my dirty and sweaty clothes and inspected my arm, while I waited for the bathtub to be filled.

It was only a cut, but deep enough, to not heal over night, not even with my now sightly improved self-healing abilities. Sighing, I got into the warmth of the water and almost instantly my battered and exhausted body went into a state of utter numbness.

But my mind was another case.

Nyshard's appearance on the training yard as well as his joining to Caaln's and my battle confused me. Clearly, Nyshard had still been furious with me for everything that had happened in Naarsd and also for leaving his chambers. But I had not suspected him to join us, rather to tell me to go back into his rooms to rest. Instead, he had joined the fight and had put me into my place, first with his behaviour, then with his remarks.

The worst was, that a part of me understood him.

I understood the pull he felt to protect me. But I also knew, that I couldn't let something happen to him, either.

We both wanted the same.

But the difference was, that I seemed to accept his wish to protect me, while he... didn't.

All the time, Nyshard had told me how he tried to give me a choice in things. All this time, he was trying to make me think on my own, he'd made me learn how to fight and he'd shown me trust when it was about something I haven't thought myself capable of.

But when I now finally had made choices on my own, had chosen to defend myself... he made me feel like I'd done something incredibly wrong. Or – not just something. Everything.

And on top of that, he'd said those words.

And he'd said them because he meant them.

Whatever Nyshard told me, it had to be the truth.

So, yes.

If he thought I'd endanger my own life because I did something out of love for him... then he would indeed distance himself from me.