Kei's Gift

by Ann Somerville

  “Don’t ask,” Kei growled. “Damn that man.”

  Arman was forced to sleep on his back, so he couldn’t move any closer, or even curl around himself for warmth. Kei settled on Arman’s good side, and, giving into the inevitable because they would end up that way later because of the cold, he cuddled close to him. “I’m going to enjoy this and then pay for it later,” he muttered.

  “He made you sleep in here? Tiko?” Arman’s hand curled around Kei’s braid the way it always seemed to. “Why?”

  “Because he’s a meddling old bastard,” Kei said, hoping it was loud enough for Tiko to hear.

  “I’m sorry—should I speak to him, explain?”

  “No,” Kei said with a sigh, reaching around to touch Arman’s cheek. “It probably doesn’t matter and we’ll sleep better, it’s true.”

  “Well, I apologise in advance for making you feel good,” Arman said solemnly, but Kei could hear the smile in his voice. “But since you’re here, move closer, would you? I’m cold.”

  Kei did as he was asked, and once again found himself amazed at the peace lying next to Arman could bring him. Pijn for my soul, he thought regretfully, even as the warmth of Arman’s affection washed over him, an irresistibly pleasurable sensation that made him want to live in those arms forever. Which was not and never would be an option for him, so he better damn well not get used to it.

  ~~~~~~~~

  The truly irritating thing about Tiko being right over the sleeping arrangements was enduring his self-satisfied smile the following morning. Of course Kei had slept well, and Arman had rested peacefully too. That wasn’t the issue, Kei thought angrily as he dismantled the tent, Arman watching at the side, seated on his stool.

  “Getting upset about this won’t make it better,” Arman said mildly.

  “That’s easy for you to say—you’re not the one who’s likely to have to live with this mess for the rest of his life!”

  “No, I’m going to have to live with the guilt of having caused it. You’ve been a lot better lately. You handled things in Darbin so well—is it possible you’re getting better anyway?”

  “Some things are better,” Kei admitted grudgingly, folding the canvas as Neki had painstakingly instructed him. “But most of it is being with you. As soon as we have to part, it will be no different.”

  “I’m sorry,” Arman murmured.

  Kei was hurting him with his bad temper, and this wasn’t Arman’s fault. He went to him and laid a hand on his shoulder. “No, I am. It’s been a good break for me, and I’m enjoying this time—I’m being a coward because I know what’s coming and fear it.”

  Arman smiled up at him. “There’ll be an answer in Darshek. I feel it in my bones. If the answer turns out to be that you have to keep me in a jar in your house in Albon, then I’ll certainly consider it.”

  Kei laughed. Arman could make him laugh so easily sometimes. “You’re loopy.”

  “No, just Prijian. We better get moving.”

  They had an easy journey to Ai-Tuek, overtaking the slower moving wagons carrying Arman’s soldiers on the second day. A day after that, they arrived in the village just before dusk and were received by the elders. All the facilities Kei had demanded for Arman were freely provided, and no one bothered them in the least for the two nights they spent there. Arman was in good shape—far less tired than three days in the wagons would have made him, and brighter in mood. How much of it was because he was now away from Ai-Darbin, Kei wasn’t sure.

  The villagers were content to let Tiko be the one who interacted with them, passing on Kei’s now nearly four-month-old news of their hostages, and deflecting invitations for Kei to join the clan head for a meal. Tiko reported when he dropped over to see how they were both getting on, that there was nearly as much curiosity about Arman’s ‘chariot’ as there was about Arman, and the village wainwright was busily sketching designs and making notes, which amused Arman to hear. He and Kei worked together a little on the medical text but although he was in amazingly good condition for the distance they’d come, he was still tired from the journey, and spent some of the day sleeping with Kei watching over him, glad to see him so much improved.

  And then they were off again. Kei spent his days feverishly practicing the exercises he’d been taught, and the nights in Arman’s gentle, unthreatening embrace, letting Arman’s cultured voice shred his fears and exposing them to simple logic. “You’ll be gone at most another six weeks. Considering you could so easily still be back in Utuk, I think they’ll think that’s a price worth paying.”

  “You don’t know my sister,” Kei said darkly.

  “No, I don’t, but I’d like to. I’ve always wished I’d had one—my mother died giving birth, but I was never told what sex the child would have been.”

  “Funny, I always wanted a brother. Pa and Reji made up for a lot, and I had Banji and Misek, but I always wanted to be someone’s older brother. You know, them following me around admiringly, asking for my wisdom.”

  He heard Arman chuckle in the darkness. “I did that to Tijus. I think it drove him mad sometimes, but he was very kind to me, considering. I don’t know why I wanted a sister—I suppose it was partly missing my mother.”

  Even though he had now lost both his parents, Kei had been far luckier than Arman, raised a lord with all the privileges that meant. He told Arman about Myka, and they talked until Arman fell asleep. Kei wasn’t long in following.

  They made good time and arrived in Ai-Albon just as dusk was settling on the fourth day out of Ai-Tuek. As they passed the outlying farms, children ran to spread the news, and not long after that, the signal horn was blown. By the time they reached the village proper, all of his clan were there to meet him, waving, cheering, grinning broadly, a joyful sight and a somewhat overwhelming one for him. He gritted his teeth and pasted on a smile, raising his hand in welcome, and as he did, a slim figure pushed her way out of the crowd and ran to him. He slid out of the saddle and braced himself for an armful of healthy woman to hit him full on. “Kei! Gods, Kei!”

  He hugged Myka to him, suddenly overwhelmed by joy at seeing her even though he’d been so apprehensive—this had been his dream for so long, what had sustained him for many weeks in Utuk. “I’m so happy to see you,” he said with total honesty. “I’m so happy you’re safe.”

  She looked wonderful, for all she was crying with joy. “Gods, you’re damn thin,” she said, wiping her nose with her hand. “What happened to you?”

  “A long story which I’d rather not tell here. Where’s Fedor, and Reji, and Banji—”

  “Oh, slow down, I can’t keep up,” she laughed. “Father!” she yelled with a total disregard for formality.

  With a big grin on his lined face, Fedor came forward and clasped Kei’s hand. “My son, I’ve dreamed of this day.” He pulled Kei forward into a crushing hug and pounded his back. “We’ve been on edge for days, waiting. Everyone here has been longing for the day when you’d return to us.”

  “Kei?”

  Kei turned in response to the diffident calling of his name. “Oh, gods, I nearly forgot about you. Father, this is Captain Tiko. Tiko, this is Fedor—my real father, so you can give up the job now.”

  Tiko grinned and stepped forward to shake Fedor’s hand. “An honour to meet you, Fedor. Uh—you’ve met our guest.”

  Muffled in his scarf, and hidden by the oilcloth, Arman looked more like a bundle of laundry than the frightening vision he had presented to the village all those months before. “Yes. General Arman.” There was no friendliness in Fedor’s tone and Arman merely nodded in acknowledgement. “Kei, we’ve arranged to put him in your house, but if that’s a problem, Reji’s away so we can use his.”

  He hadn’t even thought about Reji being gone when he returned. “Reji’s not here? Why?”

  Myka pushed forward. “He went to Darshek two weeks ago but you’ll see him when he gets back.”

  “I’ll see him in Darshek before that, I imagine.” Strangely Myka only g
rinned at that statement. “Mychichi? I thought you’d be mad at me.”

  “Why?” she said, her impish smile betraying she knew something he didn’t.

  “Because I’m going on to Darshek—didn’t the message get through?” But it must have done if they were expecting Arman. He was confused.

  “Yes, but it’s all arranged! The Rulers sent another healer back with us, and he can go to Darshek with the general.” She grabbed him around his waist. “You can stay here where you belong!”

  Arman had to have heard some of this, but he revealed nothing to Kei’s gift, nor in his expression. Tiko was less guarded, clapping Kei on the back. “Well, that’s perfect then.”

  Kei freed himself of Myka’s grip, feeling trapped by more than her embrace, and suddenly very angry at his decision being so easily ignored. “No. Tiko, Fedor, I need to talk to you about this. Uh, perhaps it would be better if the general was taken to Reji’s house after all.”

  Myka frowned at him, but Fedor merely shrugged. “As you wish. The new healer, Teki, can supervise him while you come to our house to talk.”

  “Give me a little while, father, and I’ll be there. I just need to make sure my patient is properly settled and to tell Teki about his condition. Myka, I’ll meet you there.”

  “But, Kei—”

  “Let the boy do his duty, Myka. You come with me,” Fedor said, but with a puzzled frown on his face. “We’ll wait for you at the house, Kei. Teki?” he called. “Please go with my son.

  Tiko had to push people back who were clustered around Arman’s cart. All the other beasts were led away and the cart was drawn up to Reji’s front door. A man of Reji’s age met them there and shook Kei’s hand as Arman was removed from the vehicle. “I’m Teki—tell me what you need.”

  “For now, just come inside.” He needed to get away from the crowd.

  He closed the door behind the soldiers with a sense of relief. Myka and Fedor’s meddling had not been what he’d expected at all. The house was neat as Reji always left it, even though there were no special arrangements for hosting Arman. Kei directed Tiko to have Arman taken through to the bedroom, and tried not to think about the last time he’d been here, making love with Reji.

  He checked Arman carefully, wanting to use the contact to calm his mind, then motioned Teki over and quickly explained Arman’s injuries. “He needs to rest and to have a decent meal later. A bath too, but I’ll handle that.”

  “I thought I was taking over,” Teki said, frowning.

  Arman watched them both with a blank expression, as if he had nothing to do with this tussle between healers. “No. I’m sorry, but I gave an undertaking to personally take the general all the way to Darshek.”

  “Kei—”

  Kei whirled and glared at Tiko, pointing an angry finger at him. “Not one word, captain. This is my patient, my job, my responsibility. I’ll hand him over to another healer when I judge it right to do so, and not before. I’ve been pushed around for months by you and the Prij, and I won’t allow my damn sister and father to do it now!”

  Tiko held his hands up in surrender. “Whatever you want. But right now, you also have a responsibility to your clan which can’t be put aside. The general will be fine until you get back. I promise no one will break your toy.”

  Kei narrowed his eyes angrily at being teased in this way in front of his colleague. “Teki, let the general have peace and quiet. Keep the villagers—and more specially, this man—out of here while he sleeps.”

  “Whatever you say,” Teki said mildly, clearly humouring him.

  “Tiko, I want my things brought here and not to my house, regardless of what anyone else tells you I supposedly want.”

  “If the clan head makes an order, I’ll follow his direction, not yours. But your pack will be left here for now.”

  “Good. Don’t get used to the idea of me disappearing just yet.”

  He stalked out to the front door, threw it open and instantly regretted it. He’d forgotten his friends would be waiting for his reappearance. “Kei! Keichichi!”

  Banji and Misek. He barely had time to brace himself before two grinning men grabbed him.

  “Hey, Banji-ki, only half of him came home!” Misek said, making a pretense of looking for the rest of him.”

  His irritation momentarily forgotten, Kei gave himself over to the pure happiness his friends felt at his safe return. “I left my arse in Utuk and on the road here. You’re welcome to go back and find it,” he said, laughing at their antics. It was so good to see them both, again, safe and well. They both looked fit, and Misek’s scars were finally starting to fade a little. “Look, I have to go see Fedor—”

  “Great!” Banji said. “We’ll come too.” Kei’s arms were grabbed on either side and he was towed up the street, allowed to acknowledge the calls of good wishes from his clan, but not being set free for a minute to stop and talk to anyone. Everyone looked little the worse for wear for the ordeal of being either in Darshek or in a village with enemy soldiers quartered on it.

  Banji and Misek dragged him without any ceremony to Fedor’s house and through the door to no one’s apparent surprise. Kei’s aunt and adopted mother, Sira, hugged him warmly and kissed his cheek. “Welcome home, my son.”

  “I’m so glad you’re all safe, mother,” he said, hugging her back.

  Fedor and Myka were sitting on the comfortable chairs that were often used for clan elder meetings. Banji went immediately to Myka’s side and held her hand in a possessive way that caused Kei to raise a questioning eyebrow at him. “Well?”

  Banji looked a little apprehensive as he said, “We’re pledged, Kei.”

  If he’d been expected Kei to object for some reason, he’d be disappointed. Kei couldn’t have been more pleased for them. “Oh, well done, Banji!” He knelt at Myka’s feet. “You’re made me very happy, Mychichi.”

  But she wasn’t at all happy with him. “We were waiting until you got back so Fedor could marry us. When we heard you were on your way, we made plans to have the ceremony as soon as you returned. Now we’ll have to wait for weeks more, not just to have you back, but to be wed. Why do you have to go to Darshek? Teki can look after that man.”

  “I made a promise to myself, Myka. More than that...look, father, can you arrange a joining ceremony tomorrow? While I’m here?”

  Myka protested immediately. “No, Kei! I wanted it to be a big celebration, not with soldiers and that damn Prijian general around.”

  Kei looked helplessly at Banji, who shrugged. “I don’t mind for my own sake, but Myka has been waiting for you, because she said she wouldn’t wed until you were here to speak for her.”

  “But I am here, Myka.”

  She glared at him. “And then you’re running off again!” She flung herself at him. “Please don’t go!”

  With her gripping him like this, he couldn’t escape her anger or her hurt. “Myka...let go...please, let go!”

  He pushed her back, and gasped against the pain as he tried to regain some equilibrium. “Kei,” Misek said, coming up behind him. “Are you all right?”

  “Just...some water, please?”

  Misek dashed over to the stone jar of cool water in the kitchen and brought him back a mug. Kei used the delay as he drank to get himself back together. Misek urged him to sit on one of the other chairs while Myka stared at him in confused hurt, begging with her eyes for him to tell her why he’d rejected her, why he was doing this to her.

  Fedor folded his arms and waited impassively as Kei collected himself, then he spoke. “Kei, I think you need to explain what’s going on, and what’s so urgent about Darshek.”

  In a low voice, not wanting to meet any of their eyes, he told them about the hostage deaths and what it had done to him. “So I need to go to Darshek to see if they can help, Myka. Believe me, being apart from you has been an agony. But at the moment, so is being back unless I avoid almost all contact with people.”

  “But where does this general fit in?” Ban
ji asked.

  “He...doesn’t, not really. He’s helped me a lot, but he’s not the solution.” Kei clasped his hands on his knee. “I suppose...we’ve been together for months now and I’d like to finish the journey we started together.”

  “But you were his slave,” Myka said. “Kei, that’s sick!”

  “Not a slave—at least, not his, anyway. Myka, it’s complex, all right? Sister mine, will you not consider having your joining ceremony before I go and a bigger celebration when I return?”

  “Not while he’s in the village,” she said firmly. “I don’t care what he’s promised to do, I know what he’s done and so far as I’m concerned, I’ll never forgive him. And neither will anyone else.”

  “You know, you’re wrong there,” Kei murmured. “Father, please don’t order Teki to go with the soldiers because I’ll have to disobey you and leave anyway.”

  Fedor grunted. “All right, but I don’t like it. We still have nine people gone and I was hoping having our own healer back would help the pain a little. Not to mention the slight matter of Sira and Myka being out of their minds with worry about you—with good reason from the look of you. What else happened to you?”

  Kei shook his head. “It’s really too painful to discuss. Myka, let me get the general seen to this evening, and I’ll spend all day with you tomorrow, I promise.”

  “What? Not even dinner with us? Kei!”

  Fedor held up his hand. “No, Myka, be fair. They’ve come all the way from Ai-Tuek in four days. Kei needs his rest. His arse must be harder than a brick.”

  That made Banji snort and Misek smile. “It’s not so bad, father. You really ought to look at the cart Ruik in Ai-Darbin made—it’s a clever idea. You can feed Tiko and the soldiers, though. If you keep that interfering bastard out of my hair, you’ll be doing me a great favour.”

  That took the conversation onto less contentious subjects, but as Kei spoke to the others Myka kept shooting him hurt little looks. He couldn’t leave things like that.