Page 15 of Ryld's Shadows
Chapter Four
Hank’s room was situated in such a way that he could see the nursing station through the open door if he raised the head of his bed. Maybe all the rooms had a nursing station view. He didn’t have any way to know. The meds were making his brain wander.
His view that afternoon included a huge, white-furred being—Tenzin. Every crossover knew Tenzin from their time in assimilation. Lots of initial medical workups. Lots of checkups to see if they were thriving. Tenzin was especially soothing for the newly arrived.
A drow stood with Tenzin. A sharp-dressed drow in an expensive charcoal-gray suit and subtly floral red and cream tie. Interesting. Maybe he was an advocate or someone else in Legal. Maybe he was in public relations, though that would be unexpected. Maybe…
Those thoughts cut off abruptly when Tenzin straightened the drow’s tie, smoothed a stray wisp of frost-white hair back, and kissed the drow’s forehead.Oh. Oooohh.Thatdrow. The infamous Kai Hiltas. Everyone also knewhim. By name, anyway.
He was…shorter than Hank had expected. Though everyone looked small next to Tenzin.That’s nice. That he comes to see his husband. Nothing unusual there.
Hank’s brain stopped its meandering again when Hiltas strode down the corridor. And kept striding. To Hank’s room.
“Great. What now?” Hank murmured as anxious thoughts invaded the med haze.
“Afternoon,” Hiltas began briskly before he even cleared the doorway. “I’m glad to see you’re awake.”
“Mr. Hiltas. Um, hi?”
A crooked smile twitched at the drow’s mouth. “Kai is fine, please. Especially if I’m to call you Hank, as Tenzin instructs.”
“That’s fine, sir. Am I in trouble?”
“A certain amount, as I understand it.” Kai pulled over the doctor’s rolling stool and took a seat. Maybe so he wouldn’t be shorter than Hank on the raised bed. “But nothing insurmountable. Legal states that you’ll be asked to do community service rather than jail time for brawling on the street. Good news, yes?”
“Yes, sir. That’s very good news.” Inwardly, Hank cringed. Community service might mean he wouldn’t have time to work.Oh well. One thing at a time.
“I have a proposal. One that would fulfill your community service, since it truly is a service to the community at large, but would come with a small stipend, as well.” Kai’s smile showed teeth now. “Ah, I have your attention.”
“What…would it be, sir?”
“If you don’t stop calling mesir, I may change my mind.” Kai huffed a breath and looked off into the distance, maybe gathering words. That couldn’t be good. “There is a young drow. He is a bit different from most drow. The way he processes information. Reacts in social situations. Also, he has powers that get away from him in—distressing circumstances. They can be dangerous.”
Hank considered this. Something about it all sounded familiar. “All right.”
“He needs someone with him. Someone who can act as a buffer against these situations. Who can perhaps anticipate and prevent some of them. Someone who can protect bystanders if it comes to that. Do you have any magic?”
“Just the usual amount.” Hank shrugged. “I can shield some. Do some wind strikes. Nothing big or fancy.”
“That will do, I think. For a start. His name is Ryld and he—”
“Ryld?” Hank sat up farther before he remembered that was a bad idea. “I know Ryld.”
“You…?” Kai blinked at him. “You do? And how is this?”
“We met the other night. Then we talked in the lobby while he was waiting for an appointment.”
More blinking. “I see. And how did you find Ryld?”
Hank shrugged, though he knew perfectly well how he’d felt that day. Protective. Amused. “I thought he was fine. I don’t know him well, of course. But he was nice to me. Didn’t care much for his minder.”
That smile crept up again. “Thatone is no longer employed here. Would you like to think about it? What I’m asking, I’ll be frank, could become dangerous.”
“To help Ryld? Sure. I don’t have a problem with that.” How dangerous could the little guy be?
“Good. As soon as you’re on your feet, I’ll take you to him.”
With that, Kai put the rolling stool back in its place and swept out. Probably the weirdest job interview Hank had ever experienced.
