Estuary by Lisa T. Bergren

Author:Lisa T. Bergren
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Fantasy, Christian
ISBN: 9798886050493
Publisher: Enclave Publishing
Published: 2023-05-16T00:00:00+00:00

15

Tiliani Forelli

I was sitting at my father’s side, helping him drink a cup of water, when Captain Valeri knocked on the open door. Six men still laid on blankets about the floor of my parents’ bedroom, twelve others in the adjoining rooms—all recovering, post-battle—and Nona and Chiara were tending to them all along with two maids and Padre Giovanni, the Forelli chaplain. The barber-surgeon from Monteriggioni had departed with the knights.

I watched as Captain Valeri’s sad eyes took on an even greater sorrow to see his friend, Salvatore, absent a leg. The man was still blessedly unconscious after my grandmother had amputated his leg last night, explaining that it was full of infection, and his only chance at survival. I was thankful for the poppy tincture she’d given him. I didn’t relish the idea of being in attendance when the man awakened.

Valentino’s eyes found me, sitting on the edge of the bed, and he gave me a slight tilt of his head in greeting.

“Captain Valeri, please, come and meet my father.”

Papa tried to lift himself up, but I gently pressed his shoulder back to the pillows. “You must remain still, Papa,” I reminded him in an undertone.

He let out a resigned sigh. “Here am I, advancing in years, and women are still directing my every move.”

“There are worse things, I hear, m’lord,” Valentino said with a slight smile. “I am relieved to see you recovering.”

“As am I.” Papa grasped Valentino’s arm with what weak strength he could muster. “I understand that you fought bravely alongside my daughter.”

“Seeing your daughter fight would inspire many a man,” Valentino said, giving me a slight smile. I liked it when he smiled. It made his sad eyes more wise than sorrowful. As if those green-brown orbs held a hundred stories he was bursting to tell.

“You saved my life, more than once, Captain,” I said. “I thank you.”

“As did you, mine,” he returned. “I thank you in kind.”

Papa lifted one brow. “Sounds like you two were quite the formidable force.”

“Oh, no,” I began as Valentino responded, “’Twasn’t quite like that.”

“The battle was long and we all worked . . . together,” I said, faltering with that last word, recognizing how inadequate it was, remembering how Valentino had stopped that knight’s strike just before it had reached my throat. I lifted a hand to my neck, belatedly realizing what I was doing.

Valentino clearly remembered the same moment. “God was gracious, to spare us both. Apparently, we have yet to do all he bids us.”

His tone was reverent, not glib. So he was a man of faith, no matter what he’d said about prayer. I tried to swallow but found my mouth dry. I wished I could take a drink from my father’s cup but resisted the urge. My father’s keen eyes were already taking in too much.

“Why have you come, Captain Valeri?” I asked abruptly.

His eyes widened slightly. “To bring you this.” He took a wooden chest from beneath his left arm and set it on the ground.

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