Page 5 of The Tides of March

“Smells s’good…” the Roman slurred drowsily as he stirred.

Ronan dried his hands, approaching the bed carefully. He didn’t want to alarm the Roman and knock him unconscious again so Ronan cleared his throat softly. “Aye, lad… Yer in me cottage and no one can harm ye now,” he said as soothingly as his gruff voice could manage. “Stew’ll be ready soon, if ye feel up to wakin’ and eatin’.”

“Hmmm…” The young man nodded drunkenly, his eyes still closed as he drifted toward consciousness. “I’m tired of…tired,” he whispered but it ended on a sad sigh. “So tired.”

“We’re all tired, but layin’ there and waiting for somethin’ to change won’t fix ye.”

There was a soft chuckle and the Roman nodded, finally opening his eyes. They lifted to Ronan’s and the young man offered him a pained grimace. “Sorry about before. I wasn’t sure what I was in for, getting dropped on a dark, dreary beach. But you’re not so scary when you aren’t snarling and swearing.”

That surprised Ronan and he laughed wryly. “I imagine it was a shock, seeing the likes of me standing over ye,” he said, only to earn a shrug in response.

“A teddy bear could have scared me, I’m such a wimp. But Nox told me you’re sensitive about your appearance and being around people so I should have been cooler. My name’s Tony,” he said as he attempted to push himself upright but barely managed to lift his head off the pillows. He fell back with an “Oof!” and grunted in defeat as he shut his eyes. “Thought I was feeling better.”

“Ye’ll start feelin’ better, now that yer here, but we’ll go slowly. Aye?” Ronan said as he raised his hands before reaching around Tony and adjusting the pillows so he was sitting. He’d surprised Ronan by apologizingto himfor being scared at his first sight of a merrow.

“Thanks,” Tony said, smiling as he allowed Ronan to tuck the covers around his middle. “I’m naked?” he asked but it was Ronan who blushed and nodded, turning back to the stove.

“Yer clothes were soaked, down to yer drawers,” he explained and waved at the clothes drying on the rack by the hearth. “Gave it all a quick warsh while ye were resting.”

“I appreciate that,” Tony replied weakly, his eyes closing again. “I’ve felt like I was dying for the last few days, but being cold and soaking wet made it all just a little bit worse.”

“I suppose that could get uncomfortable…” Cold and wet never bothered Ronan. In fact, he felt most at home with the cold spray in his face and a whipping wind. “Do ye know how ye got sick like this?”

Tony nodded, his eyes opening briefly so he could scowl. “This shitty little zombie kid grabbed me. Tried to suck the life out of me and I haven’t been able to fully wake up or stay awake since the attack,” he mumbled but he might as well have yelled it, Ronan swore as he backed away from the bed to return to their soup.

“I know the little shite. He came at me too. It was a little over a week ago.”

“Here?” Tony asked and shook his head. “How did he get here and what was he doing in Georgetown a few days later?” he wondered but Ronan didn’t think that was important.

“I think he used whatever he sucked out of me to attack ye, and that’s why ye can’t wake up.”

“That’s what Nox and Merlin think,” Tony said, nodding weakly. “They also think you’re the only one who can heal me, so they delivered me to your doorstep. So to speak.”

“Aye… That’s the way of it. In theory, at least. I’ve never enchanted anyone before and it’s been ages since I’ve seen an enchantment at work,” Ronan explained as he opened the pot on the stove and tested one of the potatoes. It was soft so he went to the cupboard for some bowls. “Or seen one lifted,” he added with a gravelly chuckle.

“But you can do it?” Tony asked hopefully. “I don’t mean to be pushy, but I’m sick of sleeping and these dreams are… Dark and intense. I want out.”

“Should be able to. There’s no spell or potion as far as I know, it’s more a matter of a merrow’s will. And I sure as fuck don’ wanna keep ye,” Ronan added, despite the covetous yearning he felt as he ladled stew into one of the bowls. He ignored the lewd impulses, calmly placing a bowl on a tray, along with a thick slice of bread, leaving room for a teacup. Ronan checked the teapot, grunting in approval at the color of the tea before filling the cup.

“What do you mean, a matter of will?” Tony asked, cracking open an eye and groaning gratefully at the tray as Ronan approached the bed. “Thanks!” His eyes were shut and Tony remained relaxed with his arms at his sides as Ronan set the tray on his lap.

“Ye wouldn’ wake up if I wanted to keep ye here. But since I don’, it should wear off soon and ye should come out of it.”

“Thank goodness. I’m feeling more alert. Still drained and woozy when I open my eyes, though,” Tony said, thanking Ronan again when his hands were guided to the spoon and the bowl.

“Can ye manage?”

“I think. I haven’t had an appetite for days but I feel like I could eat the whole pot now.”

“Taste it first,” Ronan said, laughing softly. “Ye might change yer mind.”

He looked on as Tony lifted the spoon to his lips with a pleasantly steady hand and took a taste. “Yup. That’s good. Send over the whole pot,” he declared but it took nearly all of Tony’s strength to feed himself the bowl and slice of bread. He yawned loudly and fell back against the pillows when Ronan removed the tray. “My compliments to the chef. I need a break, but I’m gonna demolish the leftovers,” he stated with a nod and stifled a yawn.

“So… That zombie shite attacked ye,” Ronan continued awkwardly as he gathered the tray. He was curious about how much MacIlwraith had told Tony. “Is there anything else ye can remember about the attack or do ye know anything that might explain why it happened to ye?”

“To me?” Tony shook his head. “I have no idea. From what Nox and Merlin told me, it was hunting for magickal beings and draining their strength and magick from them. But I’m not magick. I’m just a history and mythology nerd from Silver Spring.”

A humph wafted from Ronan as he picked up his own bowl and prodded the contents. “I’m not sure about that last part, but I wouldn’ say yer not magick. Yer notnotmagick, if that makes any sense,” he said with shrug.

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