Indenuel sat against the wall, hands tangled in his hair, sick with nerves. He hated waiting. Hated the anticipation.

The moment the door flung open, Indenuel was on his feet, heading toward the door. Tolomon stumbled inside, holding Nathaniel before he fell to his knees with a soft groan. Indenuel was on the other side, helping to ease Nathaniel to the ground on his stomach. The man was covered in blood, and Indenuel felt the barely contained rage. “Shit,” he whispered.

Nathaniel’s back was a bloody mass of skin and muscle. Tolomon was not much better, but it was more alarming on Nathaniel because he was unconscious.

Tolomon was on his hands and knees, breathing deeply, closing his eyes as he did whatever he needed to in order to stay conscious. Indenuel’s eyes were wide, feeling like he was going to be sick.

“What do you need?” Indenuel asked.

“Nothing,” Tolomon whispered. “You can do nothing. If you try and heal us, they’ll give you fifty lashes and they’ll whip us all over again.”

“Shit,” Indenuel said again, looking at Nathaniel.

“It’ll be fine,” Tolomon said, climbing to his feet and taking slow, unsteady steps, trying to walk off the pain of twenty-five lashes. Indenuel was in full sight of Tolomon’s back.

“Should you be walking right now?” Indenuel asked.

“I’ll be fine,” Tolomon muttered again.

“Tolomon-”

“I’ll be fine. Stay by Nathaniel.”

“I can’t do nothing,” Indenuel said.

“We’re both healers. Our powers have already kicked in. The High Elders cannot deny us that.” Tolomon started to make a slow circle around the cell. “It’s the only thing keeping Nathaniel alive right now.”

Indenuel was still on his knees, touching Nathaniel’s forehead, feeling how cold and clammy it was. Indenuel felt so powerless. Navir had no right to do this. He must have been waiting until after Indenuel was cleansed of the mark to do something like this, but even without a mark, he still wanted to break out and snap Navir’s neck.

***

Martin’s breathing was unsteady as he opened the door to his study in the Cathedral. Unsteady as he saw Rosa curled up on a chair, a handkerchief in one hand, hiding her face from the tears she was still shedding next to an empty teacup. Unsteady as he swiftly took off his blood-soaked High Elder’s robes and dropped them in a corner.

He collapsed in his chair, hand to his mouth, knowing he was moments away from a sob, but he forced himself to keep his composure. “He’s going to live.”

“Both of them?” Rosa asked.

“Yes, both of them,” Martin said. She nodded in acknowledgement but remained curled in the chair. “Sara is going to need your help to heal them.”

Rosa paused, then finally looked up. “What?”

“Tomorrow morning, I will be down there, checking the marks, making sure they aren’t healed through the healing power. But I’ve often spoken in my sermons about how interconnected the four powers are. I need you to return home and have Sara make whatever pastes and poultices she can to heal them. Not all the way. See if she can give them two weeks’ worth of healing.”

Rosa nodded, looking far more determined. “How are we going to get all this in the dungeon without being spotted?”

“The most I can do is bring a tray of tea for them, as High Elder of healing. You, being Nathaniel’s wife, can visit him for as long as you want. Can you find ways to smuggle in what Sara makes?” Martin asked.

Rosa nodded again. “I can do it.”

Martin ran a hand through his hair before he realized his hands probably still had blood on them. “And I need a new High Elder robe,” Martin said.

Rosa hesitated before nodding, finally glancing over at the blood covered robe in the corner and shuddering. “Is there anything you want me to tell Sara?” She was careful as she said this.

Martin continued to stare at his desk. “No. Tell her nothing. I have done a despicable thing and caused immeasurable pain to my family. This is not something to sort out through children giving messages back and forth. I need to talk to her myself, and that won’t happen until time has passed. When she has had her time to come to terms with the vile sins I’ve committed.” Rosa nodded, then stood and started for the door. “And Rosa,” he started to say before he could stop himself. Martin slowly rose. “Understand that your titles can bring you to the cell. I fully expect you to heal both of them. But… but you and Tolomon…”

Rosa raised a hand to stop him from talking, her face dropping. “I know, Martin. It will never be. Tolomon still doesn’t know my true feelings, and I’d like to keep it that way. It’s already caused enough pain for Nathaniel. I can’t do that to Tolomon, too.”

Martin nodded, knowing he was already stepping on something far too delicate. “Nathaniel loves you.”

For a brief moment Martin saw the pain in her eyes before she looked away. “Perhaps he loved the old me. The one he thought he knew. The real me… I do not see how he could love me now. I’ve lied to him and to myself for too long.”

“Rosa, this is Nathaniel we’re talking about. The only thing he’s ever hated was…” Martin almost said himself, but even that he couldn’t be sure. Nathaniel did, after all, come to visit him yesterday.

“I know what my husband hates,” Rosa said, almost without emotion.

“It’s not you,” Martin said.

Rosa shook her head, tears in her eyes as she turned toward the door. “It might as well be.” She shut it quietly behind her, and Martin was confused by her words.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

Martin eased himself into his chair again, trying to forget everything that happened. He looked at his robe in the corner, and realized he needed to start finding a place somewhere in the city. He took out a piece of paper and a quill before he wrote a letter to Derio. He might know where to find lodging. Then he needed to figure out how to make sure something like this never happened again.

***

The sun was above them, the windows hardly giving them any respite from the hot summer when Nathaniel let out a soft groan. Indenuel, who was right beside him, instinctually reached out and touched his arm. “Nathaniel?”

His eyes fluttered open, blinking, before he closed them again. “Ow.”

Tolomon snorted before he knelt beside Nathaniel, keeping his back straight and folding his arms. “Welcome back.”

“I’ll buy you a drink,” Nathaniel mumbled.

“I’m the reason you’re in this situation in the first place. I’m not taking it,” Tolomon said.

The pain was written across Nathaniel’s face, even with his eyes closed. “I’ll buy you a drink,” he repeated.

“No. It’s my fault. I swore at High Elder Navir, and you did the stupid thing of trying to save me. I cannot possibly accept anything you give me,” Tolomon said.

“You swore at Navir…” Nathaniel said, breathing heavily through the pain. “That alone is enough...” He took another few staggering breaths. “I’ll buy you a drink.”

Indenuel chuckled. Tolomon shook his head, looking away. “You’re an idiot.” Nathaniel said nothing in response. “Why do you keep doing this? Flaunting your nobility titles to get injuries you’ve never experienced before?”

“Noble code,” Nathaniel mumbled. Tolomon shook his head again, standing up and taking another unsteady walk. Nathaniel let out another breath, his face morphing in pain. “Tolomon.”

“What?” he asked.

“I… I’m not…” Nathaniel tried to say. Tolomon hesitated, glancing at him long enough, the smallest crack of worry in his unreadable face. “I’m not the man she loves.”

The worry disappeared, his eyes narrowing as he tried to process this. “You’ve been hit way too many times. You’re not thinking straight.”

“I know you’ve noticed… we’ve been stiffer around each other…” he paused to gasp. “Nothing escapes you.” Nathaniel tried to get up, but he hardly moved his arms before he grunted in pain. Tolomon’s frown not only disappeared, but his face turned unreadable as he kept walking. Indenuel frowned, glancing between the two men. This was all news to him. He had no idea Nathaniel and Rosa were going through something.

“We’ll talk about this later,” Tolomon said.

“I know you love her t-”

“No, I don’t. Not anymore.”

“Tolomon-”

“We’re talking about this later,” Tolomon repeated, his voice firmer.

“We talk now,” Nathaniel said.

“Fine. She chose you,” Tolomon said instead, his voice rising in anger. “No matter what she says, no matter what she feels, she is yours.”

“But what if I-”

“No,” Tolomon said. “Whatever it is, you two work this out. I’m not touching this.”

Nathaniel lifted a finger. It was all he could do. “We’re talking about this… when I get stronger.”

“Great. I have another six months to form my rebuttal,” Tolomon muttered, his pacing grew more vigorous, even as his face remained unreadable.

Nathaniel gave a soft groan, then a fast intake of breath. Nathaniel was in the pain Indenuel expected Tolomon to be in.

“Can I get you anything?” Indenuel asked.

“Water,” he said, his eyes shut tight as tears leaked out.

Indenuel nodded before standing up and heading toward the water basin. He poured a glass of water and placed the pitcher down, heading back for Nathaniel. He was almost there when the door opened. His feet froze in place when Rosa walked in, holding a tray of tea. Indenuel’s jaw dropped.

“I’ll stand guard at the door. Take whatever time you need,” Martin said from right outside.

She nodded as the door closed. Rosa thrust the tea tray into Indenuel’s unsuspecting arms before running toward Nathaniel. Indenuel took it, dropping the water cup as he tried to balance the tray. He managed to grab a hold of the top of the kettle to keep it steady but one of the teacups tumbled off and broke.

“Shit,” he mumbled. “Sorry, Rosa.”

Rosa didn’t hear. She was far too busy taking Nathaniel’s hand, touching his face.

“What are you doing here?” Nathaniel asked.

“I’m here to heal you. Both of y-”

“No. No,” Nathaniel said, trying to get up to move away from her, but he couldn’t even lift himself without gasping. “I can’t let you.”

“Stop it, Nathaniel. This is all Martin’s idea.”

“You can’t…” he panted. “If they find out… I can’t…”

“You honestly think you’re going to stop me?” Rosa asked. Nathaniel closed his eyes again, looking like he was going to pass out from the little he tried to do to escape from her. Indenuel set the tray down, trying to pick up the pieces of the broken teacup. “Martin will not let either of you get hurt again, nor me. Tolomon, come over here. It’ll be easier to heal the two of you if you’re over here.”

Tolomon had receded to the background, doing his best as a lower-class citizen to pretend like he didn’t exist. “Um, no. No thank you. That would be inappropriate.”

“I need to heal you too,” Rosa said.

“I’ve already put Nathaniel’s life on the line for me. I will not do the same to you,” Tolomon said.

“Martin gave his word he will not let me get hurt,” Rosa said. “Sara has given me enough herbs and powders to accelerate the healing. And she’s also given me some food.”

“Heal Nathaniel. I don’t need it,” Tolomon said.

“Don’t fight me on this. I will wait until you are asleep if I must,” Rosa said.

“I doubt you would last.”

“If she’s healing me, you get healed too, Tolomon,” Nathaniel said from the ground.

Tolomon shook his head, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “Indenuel can heal me. It would be more appropriate.”

“Fine. Just as long as you get healed.” Rosa stood up, facing the corner as she gathered her skirts up. Tolomon about asked, but changed his mind, looking away as she began to take out sacks of supplies under her skirts. Indenuel took the water cup and brought it back to the basin, glancing at Tolomon who was leaning against the wall, staring at the ground. There was silence as she did her work, stacking the sacks together before straightening her skirts again.

“I need your help untying my bodice,” Rosa said.

No one said anything for a moment. Indenuel at first assumed she was talking to Nathaniel, but there was no way he could help. Indenuel then glanced at Tolomon, who was still staring at the ground.

“Sorry, um, who were you talking to?” Tolomon asked.

“You or Indenuel. I don’t care who does it. Sara stuffed all the rags, powders, and herbs in my bodice, and I can’t get to them,” Rosa said.

“What’s all that?” Tolomon asked, looking at the four sacks on the ground.

“It’s food,” Rosa said, grabbing her hair that was down and moving it over her shoulder. “It is Sara, after all.”

Tolomon glanced at Indenuel, and for a moment he honestly thought Tolomon was going to make him do it, but then he walked forward, again rubbing the bridge of his nose before quickly untying the bodice of her dress, loosening the ribbon before looking away as she carefully peeled it off, exposing her underdress.

“Stay here so you can tie it again,” Rosa said.

“Yeah,” was all Tolomon said, his back to her. Indenuel faced the wall, giving Rosa all the privacy she needed to get the paper packages out of her bodice.

“Alright, I’m ready,” Rosa said. Indenuel glanced at Tolomon, saw how he stumbled at getting the ribbons to tighten, saw how impossible it was to read his face. “Indenuel? Can you bring the tea, please?”

“Yes,” he said, picking the tray up again. “I’m really sorry, I broke one of the teacups.”

Rosa straightened her bodice as Tolomon finished tying the ribbons. “It’s alright. They can share it.”

Indenuel nodded. Tolomon was already slinking back into the farthest corner of the room he could. Rosa knelt to the ground next to Nathaniel tearing open a package before dumping the herbs into the tea pot, carefully stirring it.

“This will be so much easier if you’re next to Nathaniel,” Rosa said over to Tolomon.

“It would be inappropriate to-”

“Indenuel will do all the healing, but all the supplies are over here,” Rosa said.

“I must ask you to reconsider this entire thing. I will be fine. I’ve had worse,” Tolomon said.

“And I will not leave this cell until you’re healed, further putting my life in danger. Get over here now,” she said.

He winced. “Yes, ma’am.” He didn’t look at her. He didn’t look at anyone. He simply stared at the ground, making his way over to them. He eased himself on his belly, giving enough space for Rosa and Indenuel to comfortably be. He had his head resting in his arms, not looking at anyone. Nathaniel, too, was facing the wall so no one could see his face.