The Unearthing (Book I of the Tebel Chronicles)

Chapter 30

She woke in a tent filled with bunks of sick or dying people. She looked down and saw her torso had been bound tight. 'You're awake?' As she looked up, she saw the man who'd kissed her in the room lined with mirrors. He had dark hair tied back under a bandana and even darker eyes. She felt a wave of affection and love. He took her hand. 'You gave me quite a scare, but the men tell me you took down thirteen soldiers before they got you? When will you do as you're told?'

She felt her torso bandage and heard herself asking, 'Will there be a bad scar?' The man laughed. A lovely, full laugh. 'You could've died and you're worried about a scar? Yes, ladybug, you will have a scar, but you'll still be the most beautiful lady in all the land.' He looked around before brushing his fingers slowly over her forehead. 'I need to go before I'm found here. See you soon.'

She grabbed his hand as he tried to stand. 'It was you who got me back?'

He stopped. Turning his head without looking at her he softly replied. 'Of course. I told you, I'll always come back for you.'

Light was streaming in from the open glass doors. Cyan felt a chilly wind coming in that made her extra-sensitive torso shiver. She pulled her blankets up under her chin. She grimaced with the movement and the events of the day before came rushing into consciousness.

'Morning, Cyan.' Trey was sitting in an armchair that he had pulled up next to her bed. 'Xai did well to keep your fever down during the night.'

'Was I in danger?'

'No, not really. You just suffered a form of bad heatstroke. You'll be fine now. In fact you should be able to continue your afternoon activities as normal, if you feel up to it? I just don't want any rumors about yesterday circulating if we're to keep what happened with Rudi quiet. Not for her sake, you understand, but I think it will be better for you and me if the students and staff don't find out that you had anything to do with it. But if you feel weak, I'll make your excuses to the Masters.'

Cyan stretched and although her back pulled tightly, the pain was manageable. 'No, I think I'm fine.'

'Good.' Trey smiled, but she saw a sadness in his eyes. 'I spoke to Rudi – she feels terrible. We agreed that from now on you'll continue your fitness training on your own. I feel confident that you'll use the time wisely.'

'Sounds great to me.'

He stood up. 'Good. Another thing is that Dakin will be taking your sword lessons from now on. I just think it would be better. Take it easy this morning.'

With that, he left the room. Cyan's eyes went wide as she processed what Trey had just said, and more importantly, how he'd said it. Her confusion and subsequent hurt made her forget all about her burns. Xai returned to run Cyan another bath and to tell her to continue applying ointment over the next couple of days. Cyan managed to thank her for her help and asked her not to tell anyone about her dreams or their conversation.

'Why?' asked Xai.

'Because I'm not sure what they are or what they mean. And I want some time to process them without people adding confusion.'

'That makes sense, I guess.' Xai shrugged. 'But I'm sure the Masters could help you.'

'Nevertheless,' said Cyan firmly. Xai nodded and left, but Cyan thought she had looked worried and hoped the young medic could in fact be trusted to keep the dreams silent.

The students were still on a break from morning lectures while the Masters marked their exam papers, so Cyan went and spent the morning with Aphrachia. Shyla came rushing in to find her mucking out the freshly brushed Aphrachia's stall.