Page 74 of Ryld's Shadows
“My shadows… They didn’t attack the drow, did they?” Ryld asked.
It was less a question than a request for confirmation. Everything was blurry around the edges, but he remembered consciously trying to turn his rage toward those who deserved it.
Dzev shook his head. “They did not. They attacked Lady Jessamine most, ah, enthusiastically. I was able to drive them off, and they turned most of their attention on the palace.”
“Sounds like Lady J. bit off more than she could handle,” Hank said with a snort. He tipped Ryld’s face up so their eyes met. “Hey. Are you okay in here? With, you know, all the drow you don’t know?”
“I am much better now that I see you with my own eyes. I am…okay. Right now.” He reached a hand up to touch Hank’s cheek. “I may never let you leave my sight again.”
“Right now I feel the same. I think we’ll get over it eventually.” Hank gave him a hard squeeze, though, so he probably wasn’tover ityet.
Kai hitched himself up on the pillows a little farther. “AURA’s been informed? On their way?”
Dzev put a hand to his chest and bowed his head. “Teams will be ‘porting in. Medical will be among the first, I’m told.”
“Ah.” Kai’s eyes gleamed wetly. “They will be busy. If someone could inform Tenzin where I am. I’ve no idea where my phone ended up.”
“I’m afraid I might know.” Dzev put down the bag slung over his shoulder and rummaged in it. He came up with a battered phone. The glass on the top was badly cracked. “The aelfe who was trampled by his horse. He had this. It did not smell of him, so I concluded it was not his. Was it yours?”
Kai took the phone in his unbandaged hand and sighed. “Of course. I suppose it serves him right, but I would have liked to have gotten some work done.”
“I will send a message to the scout at the ‘port sight and they will get the message to your husband. Lady Ksatha would like to extend her hospitality, for as long as you need. Ryld, wherever you are most comfortable, you are welcome. You need rest, you are very depleted.” He glanced meaningfully at Hank as he said this.
Oddly enough Ryld did not feel the urge to flee immediately now that he had Hank. Perhaps that also had to do with Kai and Dzev’s presence.
“I will stay. The cave is comforting.”
“Good.” Hank sat down on the bed across the room and patted the blankets beside him. “I know I was asleep most of the afternoon, but spell sleep is surprisingly tiring.”
“Spelled sleep is not like regular sleep,” Dzev confirmed. “Your mind and body still fight, even if you are unaware. Yes, all of you, rest. I must go to Lady Ksatha, but any passing drow will get you whatever you need if you make it known.”
Kai might have muttered,“I need Tenzin,” but Ryld couldn’t be sure. Aloud, he said, “Thank you, Dzev. Everyone’s been most gracious. We’ll content ourselves with rest for now.”
Dzev bowed himself out, and Kai heaved another put upon sigh. “My laptop most likely didn’t survive, either. It’s a good thing I back everything up on the servers.”
Ryld yawned and shuffled over to Hank. “He will be here soon, Kai Hiltas,” he said, the only assurance he could muster for his friend. Because that’s what Kai had become in all of this. Mentor, friend.
He lay down on the bed next to Hank. His mind thought of a thousand things he wanted to say, to tell him, how immediate and desperate the despair had been when he believed Hank dead, how his heart had felt broken beyond anything he’d ever known…and the elation at learning he was still alive. All those things, and more, but as he laid his head down, no words would come, the weariness dragging at him.
“I can hear your brain spinning from here,” Hank whispered and wrapped him up close so that Ryld would transfer his head to Hank’s chest. “Just breathe with me right now. Share a heartbeat. Everything else can wait.”
The last bit of tension at the thought of where he was, surrounded by unknown drow, flowed away. He did as Hank suggested. He let his breath sync, then his heart, and he was asleep.
