I was woken up by a knock on the door to my room. I groggily woke up before hissing as I rolled and put pressure on the wound in my back. “Enter.”

The blonde maid that had been part of the seduction plan walked into the room carrying a tub of steaming water. Heather was behind her as well carrying a tray of soap and oil. As she looked at me she winced, I looked down and saw some blood had soaked from my back wound and was currently staining the tunic I was wearing. The spot where I was laying on the bed had speckles as well.

“Sorry, I seem to be bleeding still.”

They were quiet as the maid stepped to me and started to pull at my tunic loosening strings around the neck that kept the chest closed. I went to stop them before Heather’s hands took mine. “Just let us help you.”

I grew still as the blonde untucked my shirt and pulled it off over my head. The bandages on my wounds were loose and the unguents untouched beneath them. “I don’t think the bandages should come off.”

“We will wash everywhere else,” Heather said as she looked away from the wounds on my body. Her face going pale at the sight of the blood soaking the cloth. “Now come on and stand.”

She half pulled me to my feet before she undid my pants and bared me to them both. Though the desire that usually burned in her eyes was nowhere to be seen. Maybe the fact that I was damaged had finally put a hole in the lust she held for me. I stepped free of them and she swept them in her arms and brought them over to a basket that sat by the door. There were fresh clothes sitting nearby though they looked like they would be baggy on me.

The blonde woman started to wet a cloth with soap and water and had me sit back down with a gentle push. She started by wiping my face that had gotten soaked in my sleep from the sweat of pain. She was as gentle as a feather being swiped across my skin. Her eyes full of pain as she looked at my gut.

The clothes they used were barely damp as to not get the treatment the healer had given wet. They both worked down my body much like Heather had done on her own that first night here in the bathroom. I had been kept so clean lately that I was starting to feel really spoiled by it all. When they were done I felt cold from the water cooling on my skin.

“I think that is enough, I need to lay down.”

Heather and the blonde went to strip off their clothes but the confusion on my face seemed to still there hands. “We thought you should have a reward. I wanted to offer myself and my favorite maid to you.”

“I can see neither of you desire me any longer now that I’m not whole. You shouldn’t lay with me if you don’t desire to do so.” Their eyes showing relief at that made me feel slightly disgusting to look at.

Heather grabbed the blonde by the hand, “I see. Thank you Dolan. For what you did today. I’m sorry, I don’t think I will be seeing you again.”

A mix of relief and disappointment warred inside me, “I understand. Not many people like to spend the night with someone that is currently fragile. Thank you though for helping me get cleaned up tonight. I’ll manage on my own soon enough. Might take a few days off of bathing so that the unguents and bandages can do their jobs.”

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The two looked down at the floor as they walked out of the room carrying the dirtied clothes and all the supplies they had brought with them. It was difficult to stand up and get dressed once more. Exhaustion was in my bones as I laid back into the bed and pulled the blanket I was given over my shivering body. I waited for warmth to seep into my bones before my door was knocked on once more.

Sighing to myself, “Come in.”

The older woman Mildred stepped into the room with a set of tea in her arms. “Oh dear, looks like you’ve had a rough day. I had hoped the rumors going around the house had been lies.” The rattling of the tray from her shaky hands filled the room as she set it down. “Do you need help sitting up Dolan?”

“No, I can manage that on my own.” I sat up as she brought me a cup of steaming tea. Then she handed me a hard biscuit. I dipped it together and started to enjoy the warm and lovely treat. The taste of the tea was comforting and spread through my mouth. The heat of it all when I swallowed was like being wrapped in a sunshine warmed sheet fresh off the line. “Thank you Mildred. I seem to be being pampered today.”

“I expected you would be in bed with someone. The rumors in the house are quite salacious. That you have laid with Miss Heather. That can’t be true.” I kept quiet as she looked at me with a scandalous glow as she realized it was true.

“She can be very persuasive and beautiful when she wants. She was dressed as a maid at the time and they were practically throwing themselves upon me. What is a man to do when presented with such a chance?”

Mildred wiped her brow with the back of her hand as she shook her head, “You foolish man. My husband was also weak to the wiles of women. I thought someone as world wise as you would have been thinking straighter than just a normal man.” She pulled a stool nearby the bed and poured her own cup of tea and sipping it. “Tell me what happened. I don’t want to just sit by and absorb rumors.”

“I was playing an instrument for the entertainment of the Portage and their guests. They seemed to be out of their minds with something that Reginald had done and that is when the assassin struck.” I started and walked through the version of events I had planned to share from my point of view. The strange behavior of the Portage family and how I suspected foul play. How if I was more skilled I would have been able to not be hurt so badly.

“What an awful man to have done that to someone. I can’t believe that someone could be so driven to kill. Though part of my burns with curiosity on what was really driving him to do what he had done.” She was on her second cup of tea by the time I had finished and I put my cup down.

“Who knows what goes on in the mind of other men? Only the gods know what could be driving him, I’m sure that whatever torturer is put to bringing the truth out of him will do his best to extract it.”

“Torture, such a barbaric thing. I’m not sure what it takes for them to be able to do that in the world. It would turn my stomach and make it do flips.” She set down the cup and leaned back in the stool while it creaked under her.

“Well there are just some people out there that can handle it. I’ll stick to playing instruments and telling stories. I’ll have to relearn how to play though now that my hand is all damaged. Fingers are kind of needed in order to do what I do.” I held up my hand and wiggled my two remaining fingers.

Mildred shuddered as she looked at my hand and I tucked it away. “That must hurt. I have some milk of the poppy if you need it? I took it from the Master’s cupboards. He keeps quite the array of things in there that he enjoys with his favorite bedwenches.”

I shook my head, “I don’t think I will need it. I’m quite exhausted and will sleep through the pain just fine. I have to thank you for this company. I’m not going to lie, being rejected for my wounds hurt my pride a little. Usually warriors talk about how their scars seem to drive women crazy with desire. But it seems to turn a noble’s head.”

“Better you don’t lay down with them. I’m sure that would enrage the Duke. He is not a forgiving man and even though you saved the life of someone important in their house won't mean much.” She shook her head as she spoke and touched my good arm. “I think you could do much better anyway. Miss Portage can be quite sadistic and treats us servants as objects and not people. So not much of a loss.

“Thank you Mildred, I need some rest now but you coming to see me has brightened my spirits quite a bit. Is there anything I can do for you in return? Anything in my power,” I offered as she lifted the tray and started on her way to the door.

“I’m just happy someone will spend time with me. Rest well Dolan.” The door closed softly behind her and I could hear the rattling cups continue down the hallway towards the kitchen.

I tucked myself in and looked at the ceiling. Being with her reminded me of the way I treated children and I wondered if it was always this pleasant. Her respect and company had truly done wonders to me and my wounded pride.

I thought of the other dragons now. That feeling of true loneliness crawled in the back of my mind. I closed my eyes and tried to think of all the happy memories I had so that I wouldn’t fall into the deep darkness of heartbreak. I would have a few days of rest before anything would happen I hoped.

Sleep came for me and with it dreams.