This love is like a curse (47)
A drop of sweat appeared on his forehead and rolled down, wetting the skin around his eyes.
This medicine may cause unbearable pain. Or maybe it’s even poisonous.
Unable to get rid of her doubts, Thalia finally unclenched her lips.
He tilted the bottle and the bitter liquid flowed into her mouth. When she instinctively turned her head away, coughing, he grabbed her chin tightly and pressed the bottle to her lips again.
Talia limply swallowed the liquid penetrating her mouth, not taking her eyes off him.
A glimmer of light flickered in his pale, veiled eyes. Trying to find at least some manifestation of feelings in those empty, doll-like eyes, Talia eventually went limp.
She tried with her last strength to maintain consciousness, straining her eyes, but her thoughts became more and more foggy, and her vision became more and more cloudy.
Blinking slowly, Thalia fell into a death-like silence.
Сколько прошло времени — невозможно сказать. Perhaps only a few seconds, or perhaps a lifetime.
She stared blankly at the ceiling, frowning when she heard the rhythmic clatter of hooves and the creaking of wheels.
As her blurred vision cleared, Thalia saw the dimly lit interior of the carriage.
For a moment it seemed to her that everything was just a dream. The terrible monster that came out of nowhere, Longboat that abandoned her for Ayla, the wyvern that almost tore her apart - all this may just be a nightmare from last night.
But the sharp pain that spread from the knees to the lower back dispelled this thought.
Thalia clenched her bottom lip and clutched her aching knee that felt like it was on fire.
Through the thin shirt she felt the rough fabric.
Feeling it with her fingers, Talia realized that her entire left leg was tightly wrapped in bandages, and her eyes widened.
Lifting the hem, she saw that the fabric on the thigh and side was wet with blood and ichor, leaving dirty stains.
Having felt all this with trembling hands, Talia again lowered the hem and raised her torso.
Inside the spacious carriage there were thick mats stuffed with cotton wool, and pillows and summer blankets were scattered everywhere.
Looking around, she grabbed the handle embedded in the wall and struggled to get up.
But her legs did not obey her, and it was impossible to get up.
Trying to straighten her legs, heavy as lead, the girl could not stand the pain that pierced her spine and sank to the floor with a dull thud. A muffled cry escaped from the sensation that permeated the entire body.
-Are you okay?!
Apparently having heard her, the carriage suddenly stopped and the door swung open.
Thalia narrowed her eyes, looking up at the man standing against the light. Her usually scruffy guard looked even more disheveled, and there was anxiety in his eyes.
He jumped into the carriage and began rummaging through a small chest in the corner.
- Is the pain unbearable? The healer left some painkillers. If you drink, then...
“Why didn’t they use healing magic on me?” - she interrupted sharply.
The man froze, then slowly turned around.
Talia pulled the blanket over herself, giving him a wary look.
— My “dear brother” ordered me not to be treated?
- N-no, of course not! — the knight hastily waved his hands. “The healer was able to connect the bones and partially heal the wounds, but... Your condition was too severe to cure everything at once.” He said that for the best outcome, it is better to entrust you to the masters at the palace...
Thalia, without taking her suspicious gaze off him, lowered her eyes to her leg.
A faint memory of a huge boulder crushing her knee and thigh came back to her mind.
Yes, without proper treatment she could remain crippled forever. But even realizing this, she could not contain her irritation.
“So you’re suggesting that I endure this all the time until we get to the palace?”
“I understand how hard it is for you, but I ask you to be patient a little.” We will take the shortest route to Gilliana [1].
Thalia glanced at him from under her brows, then turned her gaze out the window.
A long line of knights stretched out across the plain, bathed in soft sunlight.
In their ranks, Thalia involuntarily began to look for ash-golden hair, but she immediately shuddered and hastily closed the curtain.
Even this slight movement caused a wave of fatigue.
“It’s surprising that my brother still agreed to return to the palace.”
— After the attack of the wyverns, many people died. It is necessary to carry out the burial ceremony as soon as possible. It is unlikely that he could openly object...
Hearing the unexpectedly sarcastic note, Talia turned to him in surprise. He, realizing his harshness, immediately tried to change the subject:
- However, you don’t look well. Take your medicine first.
He handed her the bottle. Thalia looked at him indifferently and waved him off.
- No need. Get out. I want to rest.
“If you don’t trust me, I’ll call Sir Siekana.”
Thalia, already lying down on the pillows, stopped and looked at him with a cold expression. For a moment her heart sank painfully, as if she had been hit on the sly. As if hiding it, she smiled wryly, and then bitingly retorted:
- Do you think I trust him?
- But you, your highness...
“I don’t trust anyone,” she angrily interrupted him. And then, looking straight into his stubborn face, she began to speak slowly, pronouncing each word clearly. - Especially him.
-...
“So stop talking nonsense and get out.”
He seemed to want to argue something, but he just sighed, bit his tongue and went outside.
Soon the stopped carriage moved off again.
Talia pulled the light summer blanket up to her shoulders. The pain that had subsided became fierce again, as if the skin was being burned from the inside. She thrashed around in place, holding back moans, and eventually closed her eyes, as if hiding from suffering.
As the sun began to set, a plump magician came to her to cast a restoration spell.
Thalia silently allowed him to touch her. The feeling of someone else's hands on her body disgusted her, but she no longer had the strength to resist.
“I’ll light some incense to dull the pain.” It will become easier.
Apparently he was told that she refused to take the medicine. The magician took out a small incense burner, placed it at the entrance and set it on fire.
A thick aroma quickly filled the entire carriage. Thalia was about to abruptly order him to stop his nonsense, but suddenly she felt her tense nerves begin to relax. She allowed herself to lean back with relief.
The pain, as if piercing the bones, gradually subsided. Consciousness became foggy. Apparently, there was something in the incense with a soporific effect.
The approaching sleep turned out to be unexpectedly welcome. But it didn't last long. Soon the pain came with renewed vigor.
Talia woke up, groaning and broken, with difficulty opening her eyelids. It was necessary to call the magician to light new herbs.
Rubbing her throbbing temple, she somehow rose up - and suddenly her breath caught in her throat.
Her eyes widened, looking around in the pitch darkness.
She didn't understand what exactly alarmed her.
Note:
1. Gilliana is the capital of Roem.