C. Bryant - Broken

“I am sorry as well.” She carefully cut a slit in the gown near the neckline, put the knife down and tore the fabric, exposing Kira’s back down to her waist.

Octavion cringed at the sight of swollen welts and open wounds. Even though they’d cleansed and medicated them before and most were scabbed over and healing, two of the deeper gashes were red and swollen, oozing yellow puss. Cleaning them would be painful. He looked at Ussay. “Are you sure you can do this?”

“Yes.” She went to the bureau and retrieved a piece of rolled leather tied with a thin strip of black cord. She laid it on the bed, pulled the cord and unrolled it. Inside were several small divided sections, each holding a metal instrument. She chose one with a dull edge. “I do not want to cut her. This should work to remove the infection. Do you have a tight hold?”

“Yes, but before you begin, hold it in the flame of that candle.” He’d learned about bacteria in Kira’s world.

“You want me to burn her?”

“No, but the heat from the flame will sterilize it. Trust me. I will explain later.”

She followed his instructions and carefully removed the puss from the infected areas. She was meticulous about her work. With each scrape of the tool, Kira tensed. Her painful sighs soon gave way to pleas for Zerek to stop torturing her. When she cried out for Toran and began sobbing, Octavion told Ussay to stop. She’d had enough. The majority of the infection had been removed-the gods willing, the salve would do the rest.

“I am sorry it caused her so much pain,” Ussay said.

“You were very gentle. You should be a physician.”

She blushed. “You know it is not allowed. But I do enjoy assisting Gregor.” She cleaned the small tool and put it back in the pouch.

“Ussay, may I ask a great favor?”

She paused and looked at him. “Of course.”

“I know you have already devoted a great deal of your time seeing to Kira's needs, but I would like to make the position permanent. I need someone I can trust. Would you consider it?” Kira’s shivering body began to stir again. He pulled the covers up around her shoulders, gently brushed her hair from her face and pressed his lips against her warm forehead. She responded by curling one side of her mouth into a smile.

“I would be eternally grateful,” he added.

“I have been tending to my mother’s needs when I am not working with the children in the castle. . but perhaps my aunt could take on the task. May I see to that before I commit?”

“Of course. It will be dark soon-go now and make the preparations. I will sit with Kira until you return.”

Ussay’s eyes widened. “Shall I send for someone to be with you?”

Octavion smiled. “I do not need a chaperone. Now go. And give instructions we are not to be disturbed.”

Ussay pulled the drapes closed and left a single candle burning on the table next to the bed. She stirred the fire and added three logs before leaving. He’d hoped the subdued light would bring a peaceful atmosphere so Kira could rest, but his efforts were in vain.

As the fever raged through her body, every detail of her torture came to light. Over and over he listened as she begged her captors to stop their sadistic behavior. Her words twisted his heart as if someone held it in their clenched fist. He’d dreamed of holding her in his arms again-how much joy it would bring for both of them. But this was far from what he’d imagined. His very soul ached from the pain she’d endured.

Normally, he kept his emotions in check, but not this time. The tears burned his eyes and washed over his face. He made no attempt to hold them back. Long after the wounds healed, she would still remember her captors’ faces, their ruthless taunting and most of all, the fact that he wasn't there to protect her. The love of his life was broken and because of his promise to King Ramla, he wouldn’t be around to help heal the emotional wounds that lingered. The thought nearly ripped in in two.

The fire and the candle burned out hours before any sign of light seeped through the cracks in the drapes. He’d held her in darkness, reluctant to move in fear of sparking another bout of terrifying memories. Her body felt cool against his. Her fever had finally ended.

When Ussay returned with her things, she pulled back the drapes, revealing sunshine and a day will-started, then ordered Octavion out of the room. She insisted he bathe.

“You will need to bathe her as well and change her linens.” He slid out from under Kira and made sure she rested comfortably.

“Building. . a fire,” she mumbled.

He pulled the covers up around her shoulders and gently kissed her swollen cheek above where Shandira's blade gouged her flesh. “Yes, my love. I am building a fire.” Maybe the memories of them together would give her the comfort she needed.

“Please send for me when she wakes,” he instructed Ussay.

“Of course,” she said. “Perhaps you should eat something. You look pale.”

He glanced at Kira’s broken and beaten body. “I will eat. . when she eats.” Then he left the room.

It had been seven days since Kira arrived in Xantara. Her physical wounds were healing nicely and the infected areas of her back were mending as well. Octavion spent every moment either by her side or in his lair trying to create something to bring her out of sleep. Nothing worked, and he hesitated giving her anything else for fear of making the situation worse.

Octavion worried constantly. Kira had gone too long without any kind of real nourishment and what little liquid they’d managed to get into her system hadn’t helped her condition. Each time she called out his name he’d go to her side and plead with the gods that she’d finally come back to him, but instead he was left with a sinking feeling in his heart. It didn’t help to know Lydia suffered as well. Though his father had managed to get her to take some liquids, she also remained unconscious and continued to show increased weekness.

Late on the evening of the eighth day, Octavion’s father came to Kira’s chambers and asked to have a word with him. It wasn’t the first time. The king had demanded several times to know the price he’d paid Ramla, but Octavion refused to tell him.

Reluctant to leave Kira’s side again, he agreed to speak with him in the hall. “What is it, Father?” Octavion leaned against the door. The past few days had taken its toll and exhaustion leached at his strength.

“I am concerned for you. This needs to stop,” Belesgar said.

Octavion shook his head in disgust. “And what do you suggest I do?”

The king pulled the journey stone from a black pouch and presented it to Octavion. “I want you to take her back.” I want you to take both of them back.

“What? Are you mad?”

“Hear me out, son. You’ve told me of the advanced medicine in Kira’s world. Perhaps if you took her there, they would be able to bring her out of this.” Your sister's condition has not changed. It may rid her of the evil that has taken her from us.

The idea wasn’t new to him. He’d run through every possible scenario the past few days and taking Kira back to her world was one of them. Octavion shook his head. “With Kira’s injuries, there would be questions, and rumors would spread of her torture. They have communication there-newspapers and television-things you do not understand. Shandira and her men would find her. It is how they learned she possessed the Crystor. I will not take that chance. And as far as Ly-” Lydia. Her blood is different than a human's. They would know she is not of their world. He put his hands up and refused to take the journey stone from his father.