A Place To Bloom

Roses

My eyes cracked open.

I was in the medical ward at Carthia wondering who in my unit was still alive.

Across the room, Shamuni, the tall, lanky girl who'd taught me the very important phrase pʊ ɣʊwose xatʌ, barked at six-year-old 'ækimi. "I told you to put away the trays in the back! Go take care of it now!"

She crossed her arms and turned on Besami, who was busy changing sheets on another bed. "I said, all of them! Even if they look clean!"

"He wakes!" To my left was a man with a widow's peak hairline, sharp features with full lips, and taut muscles beneath his dark-green skin. He wore a bright-green silk loincloth with fine, silver embroidery in a multitude of symbols. He sat with one leg over his knee and a book in hand.

"Good morning, Taganu."

He smiled wide. "You've been through some shit!"

My left leg was bandaged up with white gauze wrapped over some moist leaves. The wound where that dog had tried to steal a snack felt strangely numb. It was almost like a tingling in my toes that didn't belong. Scabs filled my hairline and under my chin where that snake had its teeth in me. When I sat up, a sharp, stabbing pain tore through my whole body.

I collapsed back down and tried to breathe without hurting. "Is there any word from the tower? Do you know who of my unit made it back?"

He shook his head. "That's not for me to answer. But, I will let the Princess know you're awake, and they can give you those details."

"Oh Goody!" The high, girlish voice of Dr zʊɣi came from behind him. She rushed up and knelt to peel the bandage from my leg. Her flat face and gentle yellow eyes felt like a warm welcome. "How are you feeling?"

"I've been better."

She giggled lightly. "Jungle tested you! Also, where's your medical kit?"

I didn't see it. It might have been in the bushes beside Borel, but it was hard to notice much beyond those birds ripping him apart. "I think I lost it."

She held one of those crystals to my head and watched it turn deep green. "You think, huh? That's the second one you lost already."

"What's the record?"

At that she pursed her lips and handed me a glass. "Lucky you, you have the honor of explaining firsthand what gebu'i tastes like."

Fermented shit. Slimy, goopy, clumps of glop with a thin sheen of sugar that felt more like an insult. I resolved to slam it down as quickly as possible, but that foul, rancid taste stayed with me no matter what.

At that, Taganu stood. "Oh, don't let me forget."

My eyes were drawn to the symbols on his loincloth. The crescent moon was there, and also the jaguar. Falcon, the coiled snake, Cougar, Orca, the same bat's wing on Miyani's shoulder, and several others. He reached out his hand and dropped some coins into my palm. By the time I figured out what it was for, he explained. "I was told, explicitly, to make sure you've been given your month's wages before your promotion to captain is made formal."

"Captain?"

He closed his eyes with a nod, turned, and left. I resolved to ask him someday about the three parallel lines of scars across his shoulderblade and down his back.

Dr zʊɣi smirked, "are you qualified to be a captain?"

"I am."

"Are you sure?" She smiled wide, poking me in my side where a rib wasn't broken. "Are you man enough?"