It took Indenuel and four other men to get Tolomon in the back of a carriage meant for prisoners. Captain Luiz ordered the driver to go to High Elder Martin’s house as Indenuel held Tolomon’s shoulders and head. He looked dead except for the barely there rise and fall of his chest. Indenuel braced himself as he closed his eyes and placed his fingers again on Tolomon’s temple. The corruptive smoke tore through his body, and there was little else he could do but force a protective layer over his vital organs to keep them working.
“We expected you to go through multiple bodyguards,” Captain Luiz said.
“Don’t.” Indenuel had a danger to his tone. He pushed his power harder and faster, trying to organize the chaos. The corruption fought against the protective layers of his vital organs. He pushed through that, concentrating deeper, as he began to stitch Tolomon’s wounds. His eye had been damaged, so he fixed it. When this was all over, when Tolomon was better, he would need his eye. He forced the power into Tolomon’s face. The smoke demanded his body break apart, but Indenuel fought against it. Despite the chaos, despite the noise, the eye healed, the broken nose fused together, and the cuts and bruises went away.
The door to the carriage was thrown open, but Indenuel only noticed when Captain Luiz grabbed Tolomon and eased him out, breaking the connection.
“Wait, I need to stay connected,” Indenuel said. There were many injuries, not just on his face.
“We’re here. Get out.”
Indenuel blinked, realizing they were at Martin’s. Derio was there, helping Captain Luiz carry Tolomon into the house. Indenuel ran, holding his friend’s head steady as Martin waited at the door.
“Follow me. The sick room is right down here.” They followed Martin into a room that looked like a guest room, except with supplies for healing. Derio and Captain Luiz eased Tolomon on the bed as Martin began cutting Tolomon’s shirt off. “Gray death?”
“Yes. Can you heal him?” Captain Luiz asked.
“No. But with Indenuel here, he might have a chance,” Martin said as he and Captain Luiz took off Tolomon’s shirt. Indenuel wasn’t sure what he could do that gave Martin such hope, but he wouldn’t question it. Martin ordered Captain Luiz to cut the rest of Tolomon’s clothes off before he placed his palm against Tolomon’s temple and chest, about where his lung was. “Indenuel. Same position on the other side,” Martin said, his voice somehow both calm and urgent. Indenuel didn’t hesitate. He placed his palm flat on Tolomon’s temple and chest. Martin closed his eyes, and he did the same. He didn’t know there were tears in his eyes until he closed his lids and they fell down his cheeks.
His conscious was there, in Tolomon. The chaos was worse, and it flared up his own anxiety.
“Calm.” Martin said it in the room, but also sensed his consciousness alongside him. “Lead the haze to the stomach, but don’t put it in yet.”
“Will that make him vomit?” Indenuel asked.
“Yes. And with it, the haze will leave his body,” Martin said.
“The grey death? Will it be safe once it’s out?” Panic grew as he realized what was expected.
“Yes. It will be just fine.” Martin’s conscious moved, throwing solid protective nets around the organs as Indenuel traveled through the chaos, gathering it toward him, making sure every drop followed him. He forced it near the stomach before going off to gather more. He went deeper, traveling through every blood stream, organ, and muscle. The chaos that frightened him now followed him as he led it away. Martin was there too, gathering is own chaos.
“That should be enough for this round. Ready?” Martin asked.
Indenuel nodded, feeling like Martin could sense that. He pushed the chaos into the stomach, and it took a few moments before Tolomon started to gag. His hands slipped as he oriented himself back into the room. Derio and Martin were helping Tolomon vomit into a bucket. The stench was strong, smelling again of a body rotting in the hot sun. Martin whispered some urgent orders to Derio who nodded and took the bucket with him out the room.
Tolomon collapsed back on the bed, eyes still closed, looking somehow far paler than before as Martin covered the lower half of Tolomon’s body with a thin blanket.
“Captain Luiz, once Derio returns, go check with my wife on how the broth is cooking. Once it’s done, bring an entire pot of it,” Martin said. Captain Luiz nodded.
“Do we need to wait?” Indenuel asked.
“No. He’s got enough food in him for now, bless my wife for her hospitalities. We’ll do another round.” Martin moved his hands to Tolomon’s temple and chest. Indenuel did the same. Again, he closed his eyes and traveled through his friend’s blood stream, through his organs and muscles and bones, gathering everything he could, not letting the smallest bit slip from his grasp. He grabbed everything, certain the chaos couldn’t be anywhere else. Tolomon vomited again, and this time when he collapsed against the bed, Martin placed his fingers against his temples and checked before he shook his head.
“Again.”
Indenuel obeyed. He fell back into his habit of when he healed the Oraminians. A few of those people might have betrayed him, but he couldn’t think about it right now.
Whatever Martin said, he did. He gathered the chaos, as much as he could, stuffing it in Tolomon’s stomach that was continually emptying of its contents.
After the fourth time, Martin and Captain Luiz force fed Tolomon as much broth as possible. He was barely conscious for the whole thing. Indenuel grabbed his arm, trying to get some response, trying to give him the strength to live.
They did another round. Indenuel didn’t know how late it was. Past dinner, that was certain. But he didn’t care. He just needed his friend to last the night.
After the eighth time draining his body, Martin checked him again before leaning back.
“Is he…” Indenuel wanted to hope but was terrified of what it might mean. Tolomon looked asleep, his chest hardly rising or falling as it had before.
“We can’t know for certain. It seems like we did, but grey death is impossibly small. We won’t know until he’s survived the night.” Martin took the blanket around Tolomon’s waist and moved it to be around his shoulders. “He’ll sleep here. I’ll keep an eye on him.”
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“Should I sleep here too? In the room? Just in case?” Indenuel asked.
Martin paused. Even though they went through that whole ordeal, it seemed like he just noticed Indenuel was there. “I suppose.”
“He can’t possibly go back to his home. Not with his bodyguard in the position he’s in. Half the army is set up outside your house. This is the safest place for Indenuel to be,” Captain Luiz said.
“Of course.” Martin smiled, acting like the last few moments never happened. “Absolutely. Tolomon’s survival depends on you being here as much as it does me. Derio, prepare one of the other beds over there for Indenuel.”
Derio bowed before leaving the room. Tolomon still looked deathly pale.
“Later tonight we might need to make him do another bought of vomiting,” Martin said.
Indenuel nodded. “I’ll be here.”
Martin frowned, then moved around the table. “You’ve been though quite the ordeal today, my boy.” He didn’t realize how bad he shook until Martin grabbed his shoulders. “Are you sure you can handle tonight?”
The air in the room seemed to disappear. The sounds and noises of the battle hit him on every side, even though it hadn’t happened since the sun was in the sky. Was the sun in the sky? How long had it been? What were the Kiam doing in the city? Was this Indenuel’s fault? Did he just trade the lives of the Oraminians for Tolomon’s?
Martin’s fingers were already to his temple as tears again streamed down his face. He didn’t even notice the bruises and the cuts he still had from the battle. He had completely focused on Tolomon. The physical aches and pains went away, but he was still left with the mental kind. There was a knock at the door from one of the soldiers. Captain Luiz slipped out of the room as Martin dropped his hands.
“This is Tolomon’s job. He wouldn’t have it any other way,” Martin said.
“I still need him,” Indenuel said. “He can’t go yet.”
“That is not for us to decide.”
The tears came quickly. He couldn’t stop them. He simply shook his head. “I can’t do this on my own.”
“There are other Gradua-”
“No,” Indenuel said, covering his mouth as he backed away. “No. There is no one like him. I need him to live.”
Martin closed the distance between him and Indenuel before hugging him tightly, squeezing the sob he had kept inside. “It’s in God’s hands now.”
Indenuel closed his eyes, covering his mouth to try and stifle the sob. He couldn’t think about what might happen if one small residue of smoke was left inside Tolomon. Couldn’t think about how hopeless Captain Luiz and Martin looked. Tolomon was going to live. God would not be so cruel to pull him out of Mountain Pass, give him an incredible friend, then pull him away barely a month later. Indenuel had done everything right going to the Oraminians to heal their sick. God would not punish him for that. God would have warned him. Lead him to the men who would betray him so he could stop them, using any means necessary. Since God didn’t stop him, it was clear Tolomon would live. It was only fair.
Martin broke away as soon as Indenuel’s pathetic attempt at hiding his sobs finally died down. “I believe dinner is finishing up.”
Indenuel winced. “I’m not hungry.”
“Shall I have them send you some food here?” Martin asked.
“I’m not hungry,” Indenuel repeated.
“You are exhausted, my boy. You need to eat, then get some sleep. For Tolomon. In case we need you during the night,” Martin said.
Indenuel gave in, drying his tears.
***
Once Martin and Indenuel washed their hands in water infused with clove and oregano, Martin left Indenuel in Derio’s capable hands as he made his way over to the dining hall. He was deeply concerned about Tolomon but tried his best to keep a good face for the children. The moment he walked in, Rosa stood.
“How is he?” she asked.
“Resting now,” Martin said. “We are simply waiting to see what more needs to be done.”
She nodded, her face falling. He scanned the room but found no sign of Inessa or Sara.
“Sara’s finishing up in the kitchens,” Rosa said.
“Thank you. And Inessa?” Martin asked.
“In her room, I think.”
“Thank you.” Martin gave a hasty bow before heading toward the room he always dreaded going to. He knocked on Inessa’s door, giving her plenty of time to answer.
“Come in,” she said, her voice quiet.
Martin opened the door acknowledging her maidservants who were busy cleaning an already spotless room.
“Leave us, please,” Martin told the servants. They curtseyed as they left. Martin hated it, but he shut the door, leaving the two of them alone. At least Inessa was still dressed. This would be so much worse if she was already in her nightclothes.
Martin rubbed his forehead with his finger. “Tolomon is resting in the sick room. Indenuel will be spending the night in that room as well. You are not allowed in there.”
She blinked in surprise before her brows furrowed. “Obviously not. That would be illegal.”
“Good. I’m glad you’re aware of that.”
Inessa’s mouth opened slightly in shock. “I don’t know what you’re trying to insinuate, but there is nothing going on between me and Indenuel.”
Martin took another step forward, not so much as a ghost of a smile on his lips. “Isn’t there?”
Hurt and anger flickered across her youthful face. “I have tried to make him not feel anything towards me. I admit I should have warned you that it didn’t work, but we have strived to keep ourselves-”
“I’m not talking about him,” Martin said, realizing his voice had turned sharper than intended. The exhaustion of the evening was taking its toll. “I’m talking about you. What I saw, earlier today, you care about him, and it needs to stop.”
Inessa laughed, even if her eyes darted around in panic. “Stop caring about him?”
“Yes. This is a dangerous slope you are on.”
“Nothing is going to happen. We are adults. We know when to stop before…” Inessa trailed off. The guilt he often saw on other people’s faces while they confessed crept across her face now. Martin’s eyes narrowed.
“Before what?”
Inessa clenched her fists, the guilt turning to anger. “Nothing. Nothing has happened between us. Tolomon’s health is more important right now.”
“This needs to be settled, Inessa. What the High Elders decree is law. You need to stay… you need to… us. You can’t… with no other,” Martin said, hating that he fumbled over his word.
Inessa let out a breath, her hands in her hair. “Oh, good God, Martin. I know! I know the consequences of what might happen! I will not risk my family’s status because of whatever I feel towards another man. Maybe if you stopped treating me like a child, this relationship wouldn’t be so uncomfortable!”
Martin was thrown off by her language. Not just the swearing, but her whole speech felt like the meek, submissive girl finally got fed up. He gathered his composer, pointing a finger at her. “This relationship will always be uncomfortable. Understand? You are younger than my...” He couldn’t bring himself to admit it out loud. He hated knowing that she was younger than Adosina. “But we will obey the law, because it is what’s asked of us.” The anger Inessa felt quickly left her. Her shoulders slumped and she turned away from him as she gripped the back of her chair, letting out an angry breath. Martin waited for her next comment, but she said nothing. He saw her face in the mirror, the anger and hurt playing across it. She didn’t notice he could see her. Her emotions were plain, not hidden behind perfect submission. “What is it?” Martin prompted.
“Nothing,” Inessa said, her voice sharp.
“If you want to be treated like an adult, you need to act like one.”
“I already told you. I know the consequences of breaking the law. It won’t happen.” The submissive concubine returned before she turned around and looked at him. “Is there anything else you require of me tonight?”
It was strange to see her complying so easily. Especially now that he saw her give an outburst where she was not submissive at all. It unsettled him how this girl could make him believe she would do anything he wanted. There wasn’t a hint of anger in her face as she looked at him. If she hid all the other emotions, there was no doubt in his mind that she could hide something else. Martin stared, and stared hard at her face, trying to find the anger and hurt that was so clearly there before.
“You are not to interact with Indenuel unless I am in the room with you, understand?” Martin asked.
Surprise flickered across her face before she stuffed it down. She gave a curtsey. “Understood.”
“Good night, Inessa,” Martin said, turning on his heel and leaving the room, closing the door softly behind him. Martin straightened his robes before he walked down the stairs to the kitchens. Deep down he knew he didn’t handle that well, but Indenuel had other things to focus on.