Kei's Gift

by Ann Somerville

  “Oh.” Kei now felt rather stupid—and rather sleepy as the pijn’s effect crept over him. “Goodbye? So you’re leaving? It’s happening?”

  “In five days. You can stay here and see the masters—in fact, they’re going to come and see you tomorrow.”

  “I didn’t want to be a nuisance,” he protested. He remembered causing a scene earlier, and his face burned in embarrassment. “Gods, I’ve made a complete fool of myself...I’m sorry.”

  “You’ve done nothing of the sort. You were injured and confused because of the injury—and your gift, perhaps? The guards said you couldn’t bear to be touched.”

  Kei tried to recall, but it was hard, lying in Arman’s embrace like this, to remember being in pain before. “It’s been...ever since you left, it’s been shaky.”

  “Reji? Has he helped?”

  “Yes...a little. He wants to.”

  “Yes, I know he does,” Arman said quietly. “They’ve brought a cot in here—shall I sleep there or with you? Which would be more comfortable?”

  “Please...don’t go,” he whispered. He’d thought never to have Arman with him again, and he shouldn’t ask for this, but it always felt so good with him. “But this is the last time.”

  “Yes, I know. Just tonight, while you’re unwell. Tomorrow you can stay with Reji.”

  Kei nodded, but for some reason, the thought gave him no joy at all. Nor did it for Arman. He was so damn tired of losing the people he needed. He struggled to keep his eyes open. “Are they treating you properly? Are you well?”

  “Yes they are and yes I am. Kei, you’re the patient tonight, not the healer. Go to sleep, my friend.”

  “Please don’t go anywhere?”

  He heard a slight chuckle. “There’s no chance in any hell of me doing that. Now rest, and I hope your head is clearer in the morning.”

  Kei hoped so too, but at the same time, he dreaded the arrival of the dawn.

  ~~~~~~~~

  Dawn had to come, of course but having slept so soundly he wasn’t conscious at all of time passing, he could only be grateful to be so rested. And there were worse sights to have on waking than a pair of intensely blue eyes looking at him with concern and affection.

  “Finally, you’re awake,” Arman teased. “I thought you’d sleep so long you would want lunch, not breakfast.”

  Kei grunted, speech not being a faculty that was working properly just yet, although his vision was, fortunately, no longer doubled. His head still hurt like all hells, but he wasn’t nauseous—just hollow. He moved a little and found Arman had a possessive arm around him. It still feels nice, Kei thought sadly. “I should get up.”

  “I should, at least. I must go to inspect the army preparations today, but I also wanted to be sure you were all right. How do you feel?”

  “I’m all right. I’ll have a headache for a while, but I’m not insane any more.”

  Arman smiled and brushed Kei’s cheek with the back of his hand. “You weren’t insane—just distressed. Everyone understands.”

  “That clerk in the reception hall doesn’t,” he muttered, struggling out of Arman’s grasp so he could sit up. Gods, his head ached.

  “Lord Meki’s not very happy with her, apparently. It’s refreshing to know the Prij don’t have a monopoly on mean-spirited servants.” Arman sat up and grinned at Kei. “Did you really threaten the woman?”

  Kei blinked, trying to remember what he’d done. “Um...I possibly threatened to shove her pen up her arse,” he mumbled, terribly embarrassed at his scattered memories of turning up at the Rulers’ House. The clerk’s outraged face was one of the clearer recollections.

  “That doesn’t sound like you.”

  “No, it sounds like Myka. Gods, she’s a bad influence on me.”

  “I’m sure you’ll survive. Now let me order breakfast, and then I can see about getting you moved to the rooms you and Reji will be staying in.”

  Kei nodded, depressed that the time to leave Arman had come so soon. He looked down and realised he was dressed in a nightshirt. “Where are my clothes?”

  “I sent them to be cleaned,” Arman called from the other room. “Mijli has arranged a clean set for you—they may be a bit short in the leg, she said, but they’ll do until Reji arrives with your pack.”

  Everything’s arranged, he thought unhappily. Nice and tidy, so Arman can slip out of my life again. He got up, and found the clean clothes placed neatly on the chair. He guessed the location of the wash-room and made hasty ablutions, conscious he smelled unpleasantly of sickness and sweat. What in hells had been wrong with him to have made such an almighty fuss? Common sense should have told him that if anything had been seriously wrong with Arman, someone would have come for him in person. There wouldn’t have been a note shoved under a door which might not be read for hours. He groaned in shame at what the Rulers must have made of it all. They would be thinking the villagers of Ai-Albon must all be touched if this was how their healer behaved when in the capital.

  He dressed and tried to appear calm as he went into the outer chamber, which was set up as an office. It looked like a Ruler’s room, perhaps one that had been out of use for a little while. It was as comfortable looking as a family home, somewhat shabby, and with the eclectic collection of ornaments and decorations that might come from a series of people inflicting their personal taste on it. It wasn’t as grand as Arman’s house, but he liked it all the more for it. He was glad the Rulers were treating Arman well—from the way he spoke, it seemed they were making every accommodation for him, and had given him a good deal of trust. As they damn well should.

  Arman was seated at the desk, where a tray of food had been set. “Come and eat—there should be something to tempt you.” He was being such a good, cheerful host, Kei thought irritably. Probably couldn’t wait to get his troublesome friend out of his way so he could attend to more important matters.

  The Rulers ate well, it seemed, and even with his headache, the sight of the fresh food whetted his appetite—he hadn’t eaten in well over a day and what he’d eaten before that, he recalled losing in several painful and humiliating bouts of nausea. Poor Reji. I’ve made so much trouble for him too. Arman watched him as he ate, sipping thoughtfully from a cup of tea, and nibbling on a bit of buttered bread. Kei only detected concern from him. “Tell me what’s happened since I saw you—and the plan, how am I supposed to help with the plan?”

  “Please don’t worry about that. While your wisdom and clear vision would be welcome, we have others who can advise us. Lord Meki was just being kind to me, I think.”

  “Oh.” Kei felt even more of a fool now, getting ideas above himself. “But they’re taking you seriously?”

  Arman smiled. “Oh yes. Now I know what I know, I know why I couldn’t know it before. You missed a wonderful show yesterday.”

  “Huh?”

  “Reis—the mind-mover, do you know him?” Kei nodded. “He picked up six Prijian ships and floated them into the harbour—when I say ‘float’, I mean in mid-air. I still can’t believe what I saw.” Arman’s voice was so full of wonder, Kei had to smile despite his depressed mood.

  “Now you see why lifting gren nuts doesn’t impress anyone.”

  “I don’t know—I always find the things you do impress me.”

  Kei flushed at the compliment. “It’s not like being able to do that,” he muttered. “So—the rescue. the Gifted have agreed to help?”

  “Some—more than enough, and we won’t take everyone who’s offered. Lady Jilki isn’t just talking about rescue anymore—she’s talking about a total peace settlement between the Prij and Darshian.”

  Kei stared. “But...does that mean you could go home? If we’re not at war, then you can’t be a traitor, can you? Does it mean that?”

  Arman nodded, but he wasn’t overjoyed. “Possibly. There would be those who’d see me as a traitor whatever happened, but legally...we’ll have to see. All I want is your people home. What happens to me is irrelevant.”
/>
  “It’s damn well not irrelevant,” Kei shouted, and then winced at the sharp pain this sent through his head. “It’s not—you have a right to be happy. You have a right to go home too.”

  “So you think I should go back to Utuk?”

  “It’s where you live. Karus too. People won’t stare at you there, or be rude.”

  Arman was still staring at him oddly. “True,” he said finally. “Have you had enough to eat? I really must get moving.”

  “Gods, sorry. Yes, of course. Don’t wait for me—just tell me where I have to go.”

  “I can wait long enough to see my friend settled,” Arman said mildly as he rose and rang the bell-pull. “I’ll be back this evening for certain, and should you need me urgently before then, have someone find me. We’ll speak several times before I go with the expedition. It’s not goodbye.”

  “Not yet,” Kei muttered. “I’m really sorry about the embarrassment I caused you.”

  “Please don’t ever, ever apologise to me again, Kei. I mean it, do you hear?” Arman’s stern gaze and the anger Kei sensed made it clear he was entirely serious.

  “Yes, all right. I just—” Arman held up his hand in warning. “All right.” He couldn’t do anything right this morning. “When is Reji coming?”

  “I’m not sure. He’s trying to clear everything so he can be free to look after you. I like him. I’m glad to find all the praise I’ve heard heaped upon him has been justified. It relieves me to know he’ll be with you.”

  Kei nearly snapped out an irritated comment about not needing a nursemaid, but after yesterday, perhaps he did. “He’s one of the best people I know.” He fidgeted with a piece of bread, wondering how long it would be before someone came to tell him where to go. It didn’t helping that Arman watched him intently, his expression and emotions giving nothing away of his thoughts.

  With some relief, Kei heard the knock on the door, announcing a maidservant. “Ev, this is Kei,” Arman said, standing to greet her. “I believe Mijli has arranged rooms for him?”

  “Yes, Arman—if you would come with me, Kei?”

  “Wait—Arman, what about the...you know, masters?”

  Arman nodded. “I’ll have them come to you this morning. I believe the healer will be down too. Go on, Kei. I’ll speak to you later.”

  Arman was obviously busy. Even as Kei stood to follow Ev, Arman was shuffling notes and getting them in order. He didn’t need Kei hanging around like a whiny child. “Goodbye, Arman.”

  Arman looked up with a polite smile. “I hope they can help you. If you need me, please send a message, understand?”

  Kei nodded, and thought he would cut his arm off before he disturbed Arman with any stupid request. Ev took him to the floor above Arman’s.

  “Where are we going?” he asked.

  “We have a few rooms that we maintain for visitors from the villages or Andon when they come to see the Rulers.”

  “Wait—I don’t need anything like that,” he protested.

  Ev gave him a dimpled smile. “Well, Kei, it’s either that or one of the Ruler’s rooms. Would you prefer one of those? I think we have one free.”

  “No! I meant, I don’t need anything fancy.”

  “Lord Meki was very specific. You and your friend are to have the best we have to offer—and the guest rooms are nicer than the Rulers’.”

  “Oh.” Kei’s face burned in embarrassment, but he was also intrigued by her comment. The truth of it was soon proved when she opened a door onto a large, bright, very clean apartment with fine furniture and well-maintained drapery. It was a much more elegant suite than Arman was using. “I can’t stay here,” he protested. “It’s too much.”

  “Hmm, I thought you villagers were supposed to have such nice manners. Would you behave like this if you were offered hospitality there?”

  Kei mumbled an apology, feeling every inch the country bumpkin. Ev wasn’t really annoyed though—she probably didn’t expect any better from him. She showed him where everything was, and told him to call if he wanted anything. “You can go anywhere in the House or the gardens, Lord Meki told me to tell you. Your clothes will be brought to you, and if you need to speak to the general, ring for someone to take a message. He was very specific on that point.”

  He thanked her and she left him to it, to his intense relief. He hardly dared to sit down—he’d only seen furniture of similar quality once before, in Arman’s house, although this was far more to his taste. Myka would adore it, he thought numbly.

  Finally he sat gingerly in a chair by the window and looked across the pretty gardens to the sea. He really shouldn’t be here. He was putting Arman to trouble, making the Rulers accommodate his needs when they were so busy with rescuing the hostages, and he wasn’t even needed for that. If he hadn’t been expecting the gift masters, he would have walked out and returned to the inn.

  He sat in a funk for a while, his head throbbing painfully, and feeling utterly miserable. When a knock came, he expected it to be the teachers from the academy, but instead it was a short, grey-haired man he’d never met before. “Good morning, Kei. I’m Loti—the healer.”

  Ah, Arman had said the healer was going to visit. “Thank you for coming. Loti. It wasn’t necessary to trouble yourself.”

  Loti smiled and came over to him, taking Kei’s chin in his hand without ceremony to check his eyes and pulse. “No trouble at all. I’m sorry I was late, but Lady Nera was worried about her daughter—she’s a little colicky and since the child is being fed from the bottle, she imagines everything is to do with that. I told her all babies are colicky sometimes. Hmm, you look fine. Head hurt?”

  “Like you can’t imagine.”

  “Can’t do much about that unless you want more pijn.” Kei shook his head. “Thought not—then it’s rest and cool cloths and time. You know the procedure.”

  He did indeed. “Lady Nera hasn’t been able to feed the child?”

  “No, sadly. Her milk dried within the month, but her daughter tolerates the jombeker milk well. She had a difficult birth and this on top of it—it’s made her a little cautious about the child’s health, but in truth, the baby is thriving.”

  “Good,” Kei said. He didn’t know the Lady, but it was always a relief when a child was successfully born and raised in Darshian.

  Loti checked Kei’s head injury and it hurt. “Sorry,” Loti said in response to Kei’s wince. “You’ll have a tidy little scar there, I think. You’re lucky it wasn’t worse. It would have been a tragedy to have lost Erte’s son so pointlessly after losing her.”

  “You knew my mother?” Of course he did. Everyone knew his mother.

  Loti nodded. “We studied together, and she mentioned you in her letters. She never said you had two gifts though.”

  How did...? “I honestly didn’t know it was important or unusual. There’s only the one other gifted in our village—I’ve not met that many before.”

  “Hmm, perhaps not important, but certainly unusual. Well, you seem fit, lad, although you need feeding—”

  Another knock at the door interrupted him and this time it was the gift masters. Kei stood hastily and bowed to the two men who’d briefly instructed him at the academy, and Loti made his excuses to leave.

  “No, healer,” Bikel said. “We’ll have need of you, please stay, if you would.”

  “Of course.” Loti sat down again.

  “This would be best done where you can lie down, Kei.”

  Kei pointed to the bedroom and was ordered to undress and get on the bed. “What are you going to do?” he asked politely.

  “We need to look inside your mind,” Bikel said impatiently, as Diza silently drew two chairs over to the bed. “It’s probably going to hurt a good deal and I’m going to ask Loti to dose you with pijn.”

  “Is that really necessary, Master Bikel?” Kei asked, pausing as he removed his trousers.

  Bikel gave him a severe look. “Would I suggest it if it were not? You’ll thank me later, I p
romise you.”

  Diza had slipped out of the room to speak to Loti, and returned with the healer in tow. Loti looked dubious. “How numb do you need him to be?”

  “Conscious, but only just. But he will want to sleep afterwards, I’ll warrant, so prepare a second dose, if you would, please.”

  Kei’s anxiety about what would happen was ratcheted up by the moment—and he thought it was most peculiar neither man had even asked what was wrong with him yet. Arman. He had to have given them all the details.

  Loti gave him the pijn to drink, and then, dressed only in his loincloth, Kei lay down on the fine soft bedspread. The pain in his head receded almost immediately, but simply lying down might have achieved that. Bikel sat at a chair near his head and watched him intently, one hand on his wrist, and the other on Diza’s arm. I want you to tell me when your sensitivity to pain is gone, Kei. When your head stops hurting completely.

  Kei nodded, already feeling drowsy. In a couple of minutes, he told Bikel he thought he was ready. All right—now, Diza is going to touch you. I’m warning you, it will still hurt, but it’s necessary. I’ll do what I can to ease it, but you need to be brave.

  Kei nodded again, and then had only a moment’s warning as Diza’s hand touched him. His mind exploded in agony and he screamed as he struggled futilely against the grip on him. He dimly heard people shouting but it was just a faint backdrop to the torture of his mind....

  He came to only slowly, and groaned. Immediately a cool cloth was laid on his head. “Don’t try to move,” someone said. Loti?

  He couldn’t have moved even if he wanted to. He opened his eyes. The light was very different from when he’d last been aware of things. “How long?”

  “It’s after lunch—you’ve been asleep for five hours.”

  Five? “Where...?” His mouth was dry. He swallowed. “Where’s Master Bikel? Everyone?”

  Loti moved where Kei could see him, and changed the cloth again. “Bikel is with Diza, who’s lying down in another room. He’s nearly as badly off as you are. Reji arrived earlier and was asked to go away until we send for him.”