The Myatheira Chronicles: Volume Two: Beyond the Veil (54 page)

Aiva watched him with interest, surprised by the vehemence in his tone. He was angry about something. She just couldn’t be sure if Enokih’s actions were the only thing that affected him. “So you’re upset that she insisted upon making the second incision on my neck? Callum, it was already there. She and Uttae made those cuts a few days ago. To not reopen it would only have spared me a brief moment of pain.”

“And if I was stronger, I could have had the venom cleared from your veins without need of their rituals and incisions.”

Understanding dawned on her. He was upset with himself for his inability to perform the procedure on his own, to prevent her from enduring the pain caused by Enokih’s strange magic. “Callum, this is not your fault.”

He picked something up from the table where the dagger had been, lifting a vial to his face, sniffing at it curiously. Wrinkling his nose in disgust he sat it back down, scouring the surface for something else. “Fault? No, not my fault. But I can still be frustrated by the fact that she refused to consider the possibility that there may have been an easier way. Why does it seem like everyone I meet is too stubborn to recognize that someone else might actually be intelligent? Too proud to admit that someone might be able to help them? There is no shame in asking for assistance. Or accepting that which is offered you.”

“She did at least allow you to assist in manipulating my energy…”

“Of course she did,” Callum smirked. “Her inability to rid you of the venom was making her look bad. She let me help because it was the only way for the ritual to work, due to her lack of knowledge regarding our bodies. For the sake of her pride, she then had to make sure the rest of the procedure was done exactly the way she commanded it. Regardless of whether it caused you to suffer more. Now, because of her practices, you have two very deep lacerations in need of sutures, which should have been tended days ago, and instead have been aggravated and left to bleed. The wounds need to be cleaned or they will become infected.”

“What are you looking for, exactly?” Aiva inquired. “I thought she gave you the items required for sutures.”

“I am looking for something with which to cleanse the skin before I close the wounds. Unfortunately her medicines appear rather archaic,” he frowned. “From the looks of things, they are still eating minerals and crushed stones to cure their ailments. And while that may work fine for them, it is not good enough for you.”

Her heart ached for the frustration she sensed in him. He wanted so badly to help. To make sure she was safe. Sitting up, she motioned for him to come closer, urging him away from the table of strange herbs and potions. “Callum, you’re going to hurt yourself if you stay on your feet. General Uttae told you not to overexert your body.” Reaching down, she picked up the small needle, examining it closely. It appeared to be some kind of bone. Sturdy. Surprisingly sharp. She tapped the tip of her finger against the point, shuddering slightly as she offered it to Callum. “Suture the wounds. I trust you to do it better than anyone else, and if it becomes infected, you will be strong enough by then to assist in flushing my system of its effects.”

Callum faced her, shoulders bowed dejectedly. With heavy steps he made his way to the table, accepting the needle from Aiva’s outstretched hand. “Have you ever had sutures before?”

“No. We may have played rough as children, but you and Edric were always rather gentle with me. Once you left for training, mending dresses and playing the harp really didn’t prove so dangerous.”

“You may not want to watch then,” Callum gave a quiet chuckle. “It’s rather unpleasant.”

She didn’t want to admit her own nervousness at the thought of having the needle pierce her skin. If she showed hesitance, it would only make things worse for Callum. He was concerned for her. She could only imagine what it had been like for him during Enokih’s ritual, a helpless bystander to it all, unable to do anything. His small role had been just enough to keep him from consoling her, prevented from holding her hand to offer encouragement. He had been left with no option other than to sit there and listen to her scream in agony.

Averting her eyes, she felt it easier if he couldn’t see her face. If he wasn’t able to see the pain in her eyes. She would do her best not to flinch. She needed to be strong. The way Callum had been strong when faced with certain death at the hands of the divastru. The image was ingrained in her mind. Him standing on the boat, bow drawn, firing arrow after arrow, even though he knew it was futile. An honorable soldier. Willing to sacrifice his own life to save those of his men. To protect his Prince and Princess. Compared to the suffering he endured, a few sutures seemed trivial.

Gently he reached for her hand, moving it to rest over the torn fabric of her dress. “You might want to hold that,” he cleared his throat uncomfortably. “I would rather not risk it falling lower than it already is.”

“I’ve never known you to be so shy,” Aiva smiled through her own embarrassment. Callum was always so strong and confident. It was strange to see him reduced to such bashfulness at the mere thought of seeing a bit of her skin. “You’re a grown man, Callum. I’m sure you have seen far more of a woman’s body than is visible on me now.”

“It would be a lie if I claimed otherwise. The difference, dear Aiva, is who the body belongs to which is being looked upon.” Callum held the silken thread up to get a better look at it while carefully weaving it through the end of the needle.

Aiva laughed quietly at the thought. “My body is no different from any other woman.”

Callum lowered the needle back down, staring absently into the distance. “On the contrary, your body is very different from every woman. It pains me to think that I am about to mar that beauty. But it must be done. Take a deep breath.” He leaned in closer to her shoulder, positioning the needle just over the skin. “I will count to three before I begin, unless you would rather not know when the first prick will come.”

“Surprise me,” she gritted her teeth, prepared for the worst. A slow count would be absolute misery. It was best if he simply got it over with.

When the needle touched her, a soft intake of air was the only sound she gave. The pain was minimal. Although it stung horribly, it was nothing compared to the sensation of her shoulder when Gadiel set the bone in Carpaen. It paled in comparison to the biting cold waters and the burn of the venom being pulled from her veins. Trembling slightly with every pass of the thread, she bit her lip. Curiosity was getting the better of her. She wanted to see what Callum was doing. Out of the corner of her eye she could see him, deep in concentration, skillfully applying each suture. Sickened by the sight of the needle she turned away, losing all desire to watch the procedure.

“I should teach you how to use a bow sometime.”

“Hmm?” Aiva started to turn her head, thinking better of it. She didn’t want to risk seeing the needle again. “Why do you say that?”

Callum chuckled to himself as he tied off the end of the thread. “I was just thinking about that last night on the ship. At the time I was more concerned about getting you to safety – since you were supposed to be in my quarters with your brother. When I saw you on the deck, you were wielding a bow. I remember thinking it an odd sight. It only just struck me why. Have you ever held such a weapon before?”

“Held, yes. Fired, no,” Aiva frowned. “I used to watch my father practice on the targets back home. It’s a lot harder than it looks.”

“You didn’t do poorly. Your arrow fired in the general direction of the divastru. That is impressive, really.” Callum walked around to the other side of the table, settling himself on the chair for a moment. He looked pale. Drawn. “It wouldn’t take much to teach you how to use one. Perhaps when we return to Tanispa and – everything has calmed down.”

She followed his movement with her eyes. He looked sluggish. Tired. Reaching out her hand she placed it against his face, feeling his muscles tense at her touch. “You look terrible,” she said quietly. It sounded an awful thing to say, regardless of the truth behind it. She was worried about him. After everything he had done for her since she awoke, for the first time she could see the strain it caused his own body. He was so skilled at hiding his discomfort. It had been impossible to distinguish before, though now she couldn’t deny it. Something was wrong.

He waved dismissively, forcing a smile. “I’m just a little tired. Once the sutures have been applied to the wound on your neck, I will start to consider seeking somewhere to rest.”

“You don’t have to hide the truth from me, Callum. I’m not one of your men. I will think no less of you for admitting if you are ill.” Aiva slowly retracted her hand. She wanted to do more for him. To help him feel better. The problem was that he would never tell her what ailed him. He was just as stubborn as she was. “You have become a great man since you left Tanispa those years ago. I wish I could have been there to see the transformation.”

“It has taken years to make me into what I am now, and there is still much for me to learn,” Callum inhaled deeply, the effort it took to stand visible on his face. “What I am honored to have observed is the change which has come over you. You’re not the same girl you were when I found you in that wagon in Kaipoi. Over the past few weeks, I have watched you become… a fighter. A strong woman. I regret ever having said the things to you which were spoken between us in the Feh Noq prison. Not… not about my feelings toward you. I refer to the horrible things we said to one another before that. I was mistaken in my judgment of you. When I look in your eyes now, I see more than just a young, naïve girl. I see a great queen. One who will make her mother very proud.”

Aiva blushed, the warmth spreading through her cheeks until she could feel her entire face flush with the pink hue. “It takes a lot more than a swim in the sea to make a great queen. But I am working on it.”

“Your mother once threw herself in front of your father to protect him from certain death during the Siscalian war. It may not have been arrows you endured, but you willingly dove into that water to save me from the divastru. You risked death to drag my body to shore and I am here now only because of you. Argue what you will, Aiva. I will not concede on this one.” He gazed at her silently for a moment, the look in his eyes distant. She wondered what was going through his mind. After a moment he seemed to remember what he was doing, quickly grasping the needle to prepare a new suture. “This one might hurt a bit more. Try to hold still.”

She said nothing, allowing Callum to guide her onto her back, his hand gently turning her head to the side in order to get a better look at the cut on her neck. His words lingered in her thoughts. She had never considered her actions heroic in any way. At the time she’d thought only of helping Callum. And even now, it didn’t feel like anything special. She did what had to be done. Callum wasn’t meant to die in that water. He was intended for greater things. She could see it every time her eyes looked into his. At times she wondered if he was aware of his own potential. The bravery he already possessed. On countless occasions he’d thrown himself into danger to save her. A single act on her part seemed hardly enough to repay all he had done.

There was no doubt in her mind that she had changed since stowing away with Callum’s men the night of the wedding. That girl never would have considered risking her life for someone else. Her head had been in the clouds. Filled with nonsense and matters of little importance now that she knew the reality of how the world around her existed. There was no time in life to waste on trivial drama and personal vanity. At any given moment it could be over. She had seen it happen to so many of the men along the way. To Kaemin. He had so much still to live for and his life had been cut short in that single instant. He lost his life while saving hers. There was so much more she needed to do in order to repay a debt of that nature. Even if she risked her life to save a thousand men, she wasn’t sure it would be enough. She could only hope to become a queen worthy of Kaemin’s sacrifice.

Tears lingered on her lashes at the memory of her friend. The pain of loss was still too great for her to think of his face without feeling the overwhelming grief harbored in her heart. It hurt more than the prick of the needle guided by Callum’s hand. When he finished the end of the suture, she was surprised by how fast he worked. It felt only moments since she had lain down, though she could tell by the more prominent strain in Callum’s eyes that it had been much longer.

“The wounds are clean enough. If we keep them washed, there should be no concern of infection,” he stated, setting the needle on the table at Aiva’s side. His hand rested atop his head, the skin so pale it nearly blended with the bandage wrapped over his hair. Slowly he lowered himself onto the chair, arms bent, elbows propped on the edge of the table to support his head as he laid it upon his forearms. His eyes drooped, struggling to maintain consciousness. “I’m just going to close my eyes for a moment. If Enokih returns, I will awaken.”

She watched him nervously. Her heart ached for his misery that he kept bottled inside. He needed a bed. Somewhere to sleep where he could relax his weary muscles. To let go of whatever troubled thoughts filled his head. Sliding from the table she tiptoed to the door, opening it slightly to peer into the hallway of the building they were in. It was oddly shaped. Large pieces of wood formed the walls and ceiling supports, a thatched roof providing cover overhead. She wasn’t sure where the others had gone, but she needed to get Uttae’s attention. Callum couldn’t stay there with her. She worried his injuries were somehow worsening. It would be best if someone more skilled were able to look over the bandages to make sure he was alright.

“General?” she called out hesitantly. Her voice sounded small and hollow. Not loud enough for anyone to hear. Clearing her throat she mustered the courage to try again, projecting further through the house. “General Uttae?”

Movement could be heard from somewhere within the structure. She stood frozen in the hall, listening intently. Footsteps were coming closer. Her heart fluttered nervously. What if he was angry with her for interrupting their dinner? There was no other choice. Callum needed rest. He needed a bed – or at least someplace to lie down. At the sight of Uttae’s broad form rounding the corner her heart began to race even faster. He always looked so stern. Emotions were impossible to read in his dark eyes.