Moonflower

Chapter 79: Beloved

The next morning, Hobi was keeping an eye out for Nuri. He wanted to catch her in the hallway. Hopefully, a secluded one. So far, though, he hadn't seen her today. In an hour, he would have to head off to practice with his troupe. He'd been loitering in this hallway for close to an hour already.

Just then, she turned the corner, stumbling along on her twisted leg. He winced as he watched her. She was carrying a tray again. He rushed up to her.

"Nuri!" His beaming grin engulfed her with its light.

She felt completely embraced by his goodness.

"Hobi!" she returned his smile.

"Can I carry that tray for you?"

She peeped up at him. "All right."

He removed her burden and walked slowly alongside her. "Lead the way, my fair maiden."

She giggled and blushed.

"Nuri?"

"Yes?" Her eyes were wide and full of gladness as she gazed up at him. She already adored him.

"How old are you?"

"Fourteen."

"Ah," he grinned. "I'm twenty."

She wasn't sure how to respond to that news, so she just kept smiling at him. Then she admitted shyly, "My birthday is in three days."

His eyes grew round. "It is!? Happy early birthday!"

Her smile grew wider. "Thank you."

Now he found the moment to ask the question that was burning a hole through his gut. "Nuri, have you ever had the measles?"

She nodded suddenly. "When I was a toddler."

Hobi heaved a deep sigh of relief. "Thank God."

"You heard that someone in the village has them?" she asked him quietly.

He bobbed his head.

She peered up at him curiously. "Did you have them too?"

He shook his head, and she felt a dart of fear pierce her. "You didn't?"

He heard the tremor in her voice.

"It's all right," he spoke softly as he tried to soothe her. "I'm pretty sure I can't get them. My sister had them. My cousins and all my friends had them. I was exposed several times, but I never had any symptoms."

"Oh," she sighed in relief, "that's so good to hear!" She glanced up at him out of her wide, dark eyes.

He resisted an urge to kiss her pretty lips. And to pull her into his arms. He wanted to hold her. To comfort her. And because it seemed to him that she belonged in his embrace.

"Do you think you could get some time away soon?" he queried quietly. More softly than was his natural bent. "Maybe meet me in the garden again?"

Her face filled with sadness. "I doubt it. My master keeps a close eye on me. And a tight rein. Most of the time. Last time was...an anomaly."

He saw her wince. "Nuri," his eyes filled with concern, "what's wrong?"

She pasted a fake smile on her face. "Nothing! I'm fine. I just wish I could spend some more time alone with you," she breathed so quietly that he almost didn't hear her. Surely, no one else had.

"I wish it too," he murmured as his hungry eyes devoured her lovely countenance. "I wish I could spend some time with you every day."

All day.