The Blood in Our Veins

Chapter Forty Nine - Visiting

- SINDRI'S POV -

I opened my eyes slowly. After Brother Stephen had left, I had quickly fallen into the blissful shadow-land of sleep. A whisper met my ears. I had assumed it was a remnant of some forgotten dream, but as my eyes flickered around me, my unfocused view rested on a form at my side. Through my feverish thoughts, I sorted out blonde hair, a red silk tunic, and breathtakingly blue irises.

I was met with a dazzling smile. "High King Gallahein wishes to heal you." Mason told me. I tried my best to nod and give him permission, but couldn't. He seemed to get the message. He rested a hand on the side of my face and mumbled words that I couldn't quite register. The King's presence in the back of my mind strengthened and spread to the rest of my body in a pleasant warmth. It retreated, pulling away the illness with it.

As if by magic, my senses sharpened and sweet strength flowed through me once more. Unfortunatley, the pain of my injuries hit me full force. I exhaled in a quiet hiss. Finally able to, I lifted up the sheet a little. I made out bandages soaked through with blood. My thigh fared better than my side, although it didn't feel that way. I swore under my breath.  

Before I could stop him, Mason helped me sit, causing a ripple of agony to shoot through my side. My cry of pain  was cut off as his mouth pressed against mine. "I missed you." he muttered against my lips. I smiled. The sound of footsteps outside forced me to pull away.

"Visit me. Every night. Swear it." I demanded. He grinned as we clasped eachother's right wrist to make the promise more than empty.

"I, Prince Mason, hereby formally swear to see Princess Sindri every night until dismissed from the words spoken here today by her, or severe injury or weakness prevent me. May Maldein strike me where I stand if this oath is broken." I nodded, pleased with Mason's commitment. He placed a quick kiss on my forehead then vanished without a trace, other than my amazing recovery. I silently thanked High King Gallahein for his generosity.

Multiple locks clicked and then the door swung open with a groan, revealing Brother Stephen. He caught sight of me, sitting upright without even a twitch. He looked as if he'd seen a ghost. I smiled softly and slid from the table. I favored my right leg and ignored the burning in my upper ribs. With a quick twisting of fabric, I had the white sheet securely tied around me.

I shrugged. "It's a miracle?" I guessed, somewhat innocently. The monk strode forward and placed a hand at the base of my neck. After a moment, he nodded in approval. Without warning, a fist came flying toward my face with surprising force. I easily caught it in my palm and twisted, as I had grown accustomed to doing. Realizing what I had done, I released Brother Stephen's hand. He was thoroughly puzzled. He shook the lingering pain from his hand.

"I don't understand it. An hour ago, there was almost no hope of your survival. Now your strength has returned, your reflexes are as sharp as the blades you carry, and your fever has dissappeared entirely. It's impossible." he said quietly. The stitch of pain in my side had quickly become a brand, yet I stood rigid, drawing energy from the memory of Dimitri's torture.

I sat back on the table by the hand of Brother Stephen. Since my vision had cleared, I was able to take in his appearance for the first time. His gray beard reached down to his waist, and hair of the same color was thinning around the crown of his head. His robes were modest  and dark, even in the dim light of the tower. A strange wiry trinket rested on the bridge of his nose.

Without thinking, I snatched them from his face. I turned it around in my hands. Glass plates rested within round shapes bent into the copper.  "What is it?" I questioned.

"They're an invention of mine. I call them 'spectacles'. They help me see." he explained without turning around. He was fumbling with the lock of a closet opposite the entrance. After a moment, he had opened it, revealing a cluttered mess. Papers lay scattered on shelves and random objects were in a large heap at the bottom. He pushed things aside and dug through countless worthless objects. After a minute or two, he seemed to have found what he was looking for.