Defender of Walls by Tanya Bird

Author:Tanya Bird [Bird, Tanya]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tanya Bird

Chapter 23

They were not so much dreams as hallucinations.

Harlan was face down in the water, too weak to swim, to roll over. Too weak to draw breath. He could not feel his arms or legs. Then he felt too much all at once. Water roared in his ears, and blood stained his vision.

Open sea in all directions.

Waves with no pattern.

The first time he was able to anchor himself in reality might have been hours later or months. He had no sense of time. He was not sure what had actually occurred and what his mind had conjured up. The first thing he did was check that he had both arms and legs.

His arms were bandaged but still attached. The effort of wriggling his toes was enormous, but it confirmed both legs were still there.

‘Is he actually awake this time?’ Astin said from somewhere in the room. ‘Because we've had a few false starts.’

Harlan turned his head, searching for his friend through blurry vision.

‘Give him a moment’ came the familiar voice of the physician. He swirled into Harlan’s view and picked up his hand, pressing two fingers to his wrist. ‘Much better. Happy with the colour of those wounds too.’

Harlan wanted to speak, but it felt like someone had glued his tongue to the roof of his mouth while he slept.

Astin stepped into view. ‘Blink if your brain is still working.’

Harlan could not have laughed if he wanted to.

‘Fletcher has visited you every day for the past two weeks,’ the physician said, tutting. ‘He is all bravado now that you are awake.’

Harlan dislodged his tongue and swallowed. ‘Did he weep?’ His voice was scratchy and raw.

‘I wept from laughter when you pissed the bed,’ Astin said. ‘Does that count?’

The physician moved between them, head shaking. ‘Let us get you sitting up, shall we? We need to get some water and broth into you. See if we cannot have you walking by the end of the week.’

Astin stepped up to fluff his pillow for comedic value while the physician helped Harlan up. It took a moment for the dizziness to settle.

‘I shall be back shortly,’ the physician said before leaving the room.

Astin filled a cup with water and brought it to Harlan’s mouth without making a joke.

‘Has it really been weeks?’ Harlan asked, leaning his head back.

Astin nodded and dragged a chair next to the bed. ‘No one thought you would live. The blood loss alone should have killed you. Then there were the injuries, including damage to one of your lungs. And the physician couldn’t get your temperature back up for the longest time.’ He leaned his elbows on his knees. ‘Your father’s been dropping in too, in case you’re wondering. Hasn’t said much, but he keeps showing up.’

Harlan let his eyes close. ‘Did the recruits make it?’

‘They hid like frightened dogs, so they may wish they hadn’t when you’re back on your feet.’

‘And Thornton?’

‘Who?’

Harlan’s eyes opened. ‘He was with me in the water. I sent him ashore.’

‘Ah.’ Astin nodded. ‘Yes. Quite the hero.

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