Raj Handers pushed through the old hospital room door; his heavy leather work apron swung in behind him. He had a habit of forgetting to take it if off after work. Not that he made much of an effort to remember. His physical appearance had slipped far from the top of his concerns.
He was sure he was breaking some sort of social code of conduct to be seen publicly in work clothes, given his social standing. But then, it wasn’t his reputation that’d be injured, it was his in-law’s.
He slid the apron down the long curve of his hunched neck then lifted it quickly over his head and snout before it caught on his teeth.
The action made a painful pinch in his spine. All Zoes were a little stooped, he tried to excuse himself. But his was extreme and getting worse. His son, Emret, reminded him, on occasion, to hold himself up straight. But he didn’t seem to care enough to make a consistent effort.
“We brought you a little treat,” he said as he set a plate of colorful pastries down on a small counter at the back of the room. A thin railed bed filled the remainder of the space, leaving only a few feet to pass between it and the wall.
His son sat at the right of the bed, propped up against a pile of thick pillows. The boy’s nurse sat on the left with her feet swung over the side and a tattered green book open in her lap.
The door banged open as Rinacht struggled to back through without dropping a stack of books balanced in his hands. His small Petra form and formal servant attire contrasted harshly against Raj, his much larger Zoen employer. The Petra looked as though they were hewn of stone, a collection of sharp rocks clumped together. Compared to the Zo, they were like giant boulders. Rinacht, however, had been the blessed recipient of exceptional genetics. He was small and exceptionally so. In his own land, he’d been a peculiarity, but not odd enough to draw stares in the street. Here, though, he was a peculiar variety of an almost non-existent breed. There were almost no other Petra in the city.
"We got you some new books!" Raj said as he circled around to the top of the bed.
"Yes, we..." Rinacht lifted the stack still in his arms to emphasize the word, "brought you all that we could carry."
Emret looked up from the green book and sat back against a pillow. "Hey Dad, Rinacht."
Emret had just crossed into those awkward teenage years. Raj was having a hard time seeing him as anything other than how he’d always seen him - a little boy. Only now he was stretched out a little funny, and he seemed to disagree with him a lot more.
The boy's attractive young Botan nurse closed the green book softly and stood. "Hello Mr. Handers." She greeted him with something slightly more than a friendly smile.
Moslin was beautiful. The Bota were a beautiful people. At least he thought so. They weren't hunched over, fury messes like the Zo, or cold unforgiving clumps of mass like the Petra. No. They were slender and elegant. Their skin was a smooth creamy green that flowed in long graceful curves with only the thinnest hint of fuzz. Raj couldn’t imagine what it would be like not to have to deal with his thick pelt.
Emret grabbed the green book and put it on his lap. They'd been reading it together... again, Raj thought, as he returned the smile. He took her hand and bowed slightly. "Miss Moslin."
Despite the annoyance of her continual disregard for his desire that she not read that particular book to his son, he couldn't help but smile when she was in the room.
"What happened?" Emret asked, a bit surprised.
"What?" Raj leaned to the side to see his boy behind the lovely Moslin. He followed the boy's glance down to his apron still draped over his arm. The thick leather had long gouges cut down its full length. It appeared as though a large set of claws had raked across it a few times.
"Oh. The Attly Clan's black bears. They've become a little aggressive lately, stopped responding to clan issues. I've had to work with them all week."
He leaned over by his son and kissed him on the forehead. "How you feeling today?"
"Fantastic." Emret answered dryly. “What are you trying to do, book a room here next to mine?”
“Funny,” Raj responded. He turned his attention to the green book. It looked like it belonged in a museum rather than a kids hands. "What are you guys reading?"
Moslin looked away, uncomfortable.
Emret stared at the book. "Same thing."
Raj turned his attention to the nurse. "I appreciate you taking so much time with my son."
"My pleasure.”
"Although, you run the risk of making your other patients jealous,” he said with a half grin.
She laughed. "I don't think it's the other patients I have to worry about."
He smiled.
She picked up the green book off the bed and stepped past Raj towards the exit.
"Where're you going?" Emret asked.
"Your father's right. I do have other patients."
"Thanks Dad,” Emret muttered sarcastically.
"Don't worry, sweetie. I'll be back later,” she said as she slipped out the door.
"Didn't you two just finish that book?" Raj asked as he turned back to the bed.
“Yeah. Why?”
"Well, how many times have you read it?"
"I don't know."
"Don't you have other books you could read?"
"Dad! Seriously."
A scratching noise reverberated from the wall across from the foot of the bed. They both turned abruptly, startled by the noise.
At the base of the wall near the door was a small, ornately trimmed hole. The scratching grew louder until a small rodent scampered out onto the lip of a piece of trim and hopped down onto the tile floor.
It scurried across the tile and stopped in front of Raj with its chest exposed. A metal plate, engraved with his wife’s family crest, hung to its underside.
Raj dropped his shoulders. It was such an ugly creature. And it stunk. Appropriate to announce the arrival of his wife’s family, he supposed, chuckling to himself.
The rodent knocked its hands against the metal crest a few times then scampered back the way it came.
Rinacht got up from his seat and moved towards the door. "Shall I admit them, sir?"
Raj stared at him for a moment before responding. What if he said no. He could, couldn’t he? What if he simply didn’t let them in. It wouldn't be that bad, would it?
He looked back at his son who was watching him with a disapproving look. "Yes, of course. Why would you need to ask that, Rinacht?" He delivered an uncomfortable fake laugh to his son, then pointed at Rinacht as though he didn't know what had gotten in to him.
He followed his glum servant to the door to meet the arriving guests. "And we were having such a nice day." He muttered.
Rinacht turned to him and whispered, "She could fall. You know... accidentally. The floors are quite slippery."
Raj laughed. "You're a good man, my friend."
A light rap on the door cut off their exchange. Rinacht opened the door and made a welcoming gesture to the guests standing outside. "Please come in."
Emret's grandparents and an aunt danced into the room with an explosion of chatter. Rinacht bowed politely. “My Lord and Ladies.”
They side stepped Raj and Rinacht without a word of acknowledgment and continued their exaggerated waltz towards their grandchild, singing his woes all the way to his bedside.
Emret leaned forward to greet them as they wrapped him up in a warm embrace.
His grandpa grabbed a handful of Emret's hospital gown and pulled on his stomach skin. "What're they feeding you in here, my boy? You’ve gained ten pound, I’m sure of it.”
"So when do we get to sneak you out of here?" asked his aunt.
"Yes that's a good question,” the boy’s grandmother said, then paused. “Raj?"
Raj glanced over from his hiding place in the corner. "I'm sorry?"
She didn't turn to face him. "When is he coming home?"
"We don't exactly know, just yet.”
This time she turned. "What do you mean you don't know yet.
The poor boy's been here over a month! You should know everything there is to know by now."
"Well, they're..."
"What're you trying to do to the poor boy?"
"The... the doctors are doing everything they can." He stammered.
She stared at him coldly. "Are they?"
Raj scowled, then grunted to himself as he looked away, shaking his head. She knew she could speak to him however she wished and he'd offer no resistance. What would you call a person who took advantage of a mans guilt? Foul? Treacherous? Conniving? He had a hard time not thinking ill of his mother in law, yet it made him uncomfortable when he did. He tried to put the thoughts out of his mind.
A knock on the door broke the tension. Moslin entered without waiting for permission. "Excuse me. I need to check on Emret.”
"If you'll excuse me. I'll be back in one moment." Raj said as he slipped out the door.
Moslin stopped in front of Emret's grandmother on the way to his bed. "I understand you have a concern about Emret's treatment? If you'd accompany me outside, I can answer any questions you might have."
"Oh, that won't be necessary," the older woman answered with a polite smile.
"With all due respect ma'am, the hospital staff as well as your son are doing everything in our power to help Emret. Please refrain from antagonizing patients or their family while in this hospital.”
"Raj isn't my son.”
"Visiting hours are over. You have five minutes." She turned and left the room.
-
Red Leaves and the Living Token - Book 1 - Part 1 Page 4
