Even behind the shade of his eyelids, the sun burned at Lailsund’s eyes and caused his head to ache. His body felt leaden and stiff, and he didn’t want to move it as he drifted into consciousness. The only pleasantness in the situation was the sound of the voice sitting somewhere to his right. It was Leo’s soft baritone filling the room, his words tumbling effortlessly and enthusiastically from his mouth.
Lailsund longed to turn his head and watch the boy read aloud from the book he knew Leo held in his hands, but he feared it would make him stop so he lay still and quiet, listening intently to the tale of a knight’s valiant fight with a dragon. It wasn’t the type of thing he had ever desired to read but the longer he listened, the more it drew him in. By the time the brave knight was face to muzzle with the massive blue beast, Lailsund was fully invested in the outcome and silently rooting for the knight.
“The valiant knight brandished his longsword and drew his kite shield closer to his body, preparing for the inevitable strike…” The sound of soft rapping on the chamber door made Leo pause, and Lailsund couldn’t help but chew at his bottom lip in nervous anticipation as he heard movement beside him and footsteps leading away from his bed. The door opened, and a hushed conversation ensued. He couldn’t make out the whispering but a moment later, footfalls headed back toward him. He heard the amusement in Leo’s voice as he asked, “How long have you been awake?”
He couldn’t hide the smile that crept onto his lips as he answered, “Awhile.” His voice was weak and scratchy, and he still refused to open his eyes.
He heard something rattle, then slide across the bedside table. “Frustrated with me to the point where you refuse to look at me?” There was still amusement in Leo’s voice, but it was tinged with what Lailsund thought might be sorrow.
He winced, “No, it’s just… the sun hurts my head.”
“Why didn’t you say something?” Leo’s voice moved away from the bed, and Lailsund heard the rustling of heavy drapery before the room darkened.
Lailsund let his eyelids flutter open, and it took a moment for his bleary eyes to focus. “You were reading, and I didn’t want to disturb you.” Leo stood beside the bed looking down at him with a grin, and Lailsund felt his cheeks flush and his breath hitch as he quickly averted his eyes.
Leo chuckled—a sound Lailsund hadn’t heard in weeks, and he realized how much he missed it—then sat down on the edge of the bed. “Do you think you feel like eating? Romulus insisted on sending food up for you, even though you were unconscious.” His smile faded a bit as he watched the king’s reaction.
He sighed, “How long have I been out?”
Leo let his eyes fall to the bed as he answered quietly, “Almost two days.”
“What?!” He couldn’t manage much more than a squeak and hissed at the stiffness of his body and the throbbing in his head as he tried to sit up.
“Here, let me help you.” Leo’s arms were around him before Lailsund could protest, and he felt his whole face flush and his ears burn. Leo stuffed some pillows behind him and laid him back against them, so the king could sit up before pulling away. “Better?”
Lailsund couldn’t bring himself to look at him. “Two days?”
“The physician said the exhaustion might cause you to sleep for a few days, and that you should try to eat something when you finally woke. He’s been in a few times to check on you.”
He finally looked up at Leo and saw the worried expression a split second before the boy composed himself. Lailsund sighed in resignation, “I guess I could try to eat something.” The tray was on his lap within moments, and he nearly laughed at the enthusiastic grin Leo was giving him. “You would think I was eating to put food in your stomach.”
“I’m just glad to see you trying, my king.” He pulled the cover from the plate and the smell of roasted meat and vegetables wafted through the room.
His stomach rumbled at the aroma from the stew, and Leo laughed at the embarrassed flush in Lailsund’s cheeks. “Leo, I’m… sorry… for getting upset with you about my behavior these past few weeks.” He put up a hand to stop Leo from interrupting, then continued, “I know you were only concerned for my wellbeing and I should have appreciated that you care. I have few allies and even fewer friends, especially now, and I shouldn’t be trying to push you away. I was just…”
“I know, my king. I know how it feels to lose your family. I lost my mom and my sister when I was eight.” Lailsund felt his heart sink into his stomach. “They were all I really had. My father was a great soldier, but he was never the type of man to take time with his children unless it was weapons training. It was so much worse after Mom and Lilly were killed. I didn’t have anyone that cared enough to take care of me, and I thought… I just wanted to be here for you.”
“I’m sorry,” his throat constricted, and the words came out in a whisper as he fought to keep the tears at bay. “I didn’t know.” After a moment of silence, Lailsund asked, “What happened to them?” He thought better of the question as the last word slipped free of his tongue and he added, “You… don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”
Leo smiled mischievously at him, “I’ll make a deal with you. I’ll tell you about it if you eat.” He pointed at the forgotten tray in the king’s lap.
Lailsund smiled, “Fine, but I can’t promise I’ll finish it.”
Leo shook his head, “I’m not asking for a miracle. Besides, the physician said that eating too much would be counterproductive. Your body will need time to adjust to regular meals again.”
Lailsund nodded and picked up the spoon. The stew did smell really good, and he felt surprisingly better than he had in weeks. He watched Leo get up and cross the room to the table that held a pitcher as he put a spoonful of his dinner into his mouth. The warm, savory liquid flooded his tongue, and he remembered why his father kept Romulus as the royal cook for so long. The delicate balance between the fatty broth, succulent meat, and hearty vegetables was perfect, and there was no one else in the kingdom that knew more about herbs and spices. Lailsund smiled as he remembered his father’s incessant boasting to every visiting dignitary that his cook was the finest in all of Teyrhune.
“Is it that good?” Lailsund looked up at the grinning boy as he held a goblet out to him.
He took the cup from Leo. “The man has a gift. My father was always proud to have him in his service.” He started to raise the drink to his lips, and the other boy put his finger on the rim to stop him.
Leo winced at the confused expression on the king’s face, “I was told not to tell you, but it feels wrong not to. I don’t want to keep secrets from you, my king. The physician gave me medicine to place in your drink before meals and at bedtime to help you recover your appetite and to sleep. You will be tired for the next few days until you adjust.” He watched Lailsund closely as he removed his finger from the goblet.
Lailsund mulled over his words for a moment and something settled over him he hadn’t felt in a long while. All tension and nervousness eased from his body and he felt… safe. He trusted Leo, really trusted him. He smiled and lifted the cup to his lips, draining half the liquid as he realized just how much he needed it. It was one thing not to eat. He was used to denying himself food, but he was never careless with his need for fluids. He set the goblet on the tray, “Thank you, Leo, for telling me.”
Leo nodded and took his seat in the chair, as Lailsund alternated between eating the stew and drinking from the goblet. It didn’t take long for the discomfort of so much on his empty stomach to win out over his need for more. Lailsund put the spoon down and frowned at the bowl. It didn’t look as if he had eaten much at all but the ache in his belly told him he’d had enough. How long had it been since he ate a decent meal?
“If you’re done, I can take that away.” Silence stretched between them for a moment, then Lailsund nodded. “You will need to finish your drink, though.” He picked up the goblet as Leo removed the tray, took it to the table, and set it next to the pitcher.
Lailsund felt his stomach churn as he looked into the cup and he swallowed in an attempt to keep his stomach contents in place. “I think I might need a few minutes.” He looked up to find Leo watching him with concern. “I’m alright. I just… too much at once.” He let Leo take the goblet from him.
“It’s fine as long as you finish it soon.” He placed the cup on the bedside table and sat back in the chair.
Lailsund chewed at his bottom lip, fidgeting with the blanket in his lap, all too aware of Leo’s attentive gaze. He felt fluttering in his stomach which didn’t do much to help with the nausea, but he was happy to have him there, even if he was a little nervous to have him so close.
“My father has been a soldier since he was about your age.” Lailsund gave him an incredulous look, and Leo smiled, “A promise is a promise, right?” The king nodded, and the other boy continued, “He spent years fighting under your grandfather, quickly rising through the ranks, and when your father took off to Daekarr to attempt negotiations, my father went with him. He hated what your father was trying to do and tried to undermine him by leading raiding parties of his most loyal soldiers into the Daekarran villages. Your father found out and put a stop to it but by then, the damage had been done.
Since my father was always away, moving from outpost to outpost, we would go visit him every few months or so.” Leo clenched his jaw and stared down at his boots for a long moment before he continued, “He was in a good mood when we arrived, so we spent most of the day at the market together, buying new dresses for Mom and Lilly and having a sword commissioned for me since I would be joining the academy in a few weeks time. My father wanted to introduce me to some of the men, so we dropped Mom and Lilly off at the house and went to the barracks.
Apparently, a Daekarr from one of the raided villages recognized my father and followed us from the market. When my father and I left for the barracks, he took his revenge on my mom and sister. I found them…” Leo cleared his throat, as Lailsund’s seems to constrict with apprehension, “the man would have killed me, too, if my father hadn’t heard my screams. He took the Daekarr down, and the man laughed and bragged about what he had done. I thought my father would kill him outright, but he didn’t. The truth came out during the Daekarran’s trial about what my father had done and why the man had taken revenge. The Daekarr was sentenced to death, while my father got a slap on the wrist.”
Lailsund could hear the venom behind his words, and his heart hammered in his chest and his pulse thrummed in his ears. “You hate them…” he choked on the words. You hate me.
“No, it’s not… it’s not that simple. I don’t hate the people or even their country. My father bears the weight of responsibility for his role in what happened. His callous actions are the reason my mother and sister are dead, but still… I hate the power the Daekarr possess. It’s dark and dangerous, and I could never trust those magic wielders.”
His words were like a knife in the heart, and Lailsund could feel it twisting and burying deeper with each beat. He swallowed the lump in his throat, “I… think I should rest now.”
“Did I upset you?”
He couldn’t take his eyes from the blanket as he answered, “No, it’s just…” I’m a Daekarr, “complicated.” He hated himself for the lie that slipped from his lips, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it, to ruin the friendship they had built. I’m so selfish. He turned away and pulled the pillows from behind him, lying down with his back to Leo as the tears slid down his face. He grabbed the nearest abandoned pillow and tucked it to his chest before pulling his knees up as far as he could.
“I should leave so that you can sleep.”
“No. Please stay. I don’t want to be alone.” His words came out muffled as he cried out into the pillow, but he still heard the desperation in his own voice and it made him cringe. Lailsund didn’t know if it was that or just the statement itself but he heard Leo settle back into the chair. I’m so selfish. He staved off a sob as he asked, “Will you read to me?”
“Should I dust off one of your dull textbooks? I would’ve tried reading one of them earlier, but I was afraid in your current state you might actually die of boredom.” Lailsund heard the smile in his voice and couldn’t help but laugh.
“No. Your book is fine.”
“Mm hmm.” He could tell Leo wanted to tease him a little more but instead, he heard the flipping of pages before the boy started in where he had left off.
He was sure that Leo knew he was crying but the other boy just sat beside him and read until he fell asleep.
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