Alaire had figured out my mission through the Dark Wood had something to do with Tallis. That was information I didn’t want Alaire to know. Of course, the more I thought about it, the more I realized it was fairly obvious that my errand had something to do with the enormous, brooding Scot, especially since I was in the Dark Wood.
I decided not to answer Alaire and, instead, replaced Bill’s phone in my fanny pack. I returned to the carcass that would soon become my dinner and decided to put Alaire’s explicit instructions to use.
“We crossed the circle to the other bank”
– Dante’s Inferno
FOUR
Tallis was still unconscious.
I sat in front of the fire, after having eaten half of the creature the Grevels procured for my dinner. I was saving the other half for Tallis, in case he decided to wake up anytime soon. Even though I wasn’t full, my stomach was no longer growling and was now contentedly digesting whatever creature I’d just eaten. For that much, I was grateful.
As for my insentient companion, I had a feeling he was returning to consciousness. It wasn’t as though he’d suddenly opened his eyes and started talking, or anything obvious like that, but his demeanor was substantially different than it had been mere hours ago. Instead of remaining comatose, for the last hour, he’d been thrashing around, moaning and groaning, while straining against the ropes that held him to the bed. And his sweating had increased tenfold. True, these weren’t necessarily good things, but I figured any sign of life was better than no sign at all.
“Donnchadh.” Tallis’s voice was a mere whisper but I could distinctly make out the name of the warrior spirit inside him.
It was the first time Tallis had said anything since my trusty sword had put him into this vegetative state. I immediately approached him, throwing all caution to the wind. Then, I remembered it might very well be Donnchadh at the wheel, rather than Tallis. As soon as that thought crossed my mind, I held myself back. I studied Tallis for a second or two longer, trying to determine whether or not it was safe to approach him.
He suddenly threw his head from side to side and a grimace distorted his face, suggesting that he was in serious pain. Beads of perspiration poured from his forehead, and another unhappy moan escaped his mouth as he struggled against his bindings.
“Tallis,” I said in a soft voice, trying to reassure him but at the same time trying to reassure myself that this was, in fact, Tallis whom I was dealing with. Taking a few tentative steps toward him, I checked the ropes to be sure they were still holding him firmly. They appeared to be doing a pretty good job so I figured I’d probably be safe if it was Donnchadh who suddenly awoke.
“It’s just me … Lily,” I said, leaning down and placing my hand on Tallis’s forehead. This time, he felt hot. Although I obviously wasn’t a doctor, even I knew that hot wasn’t good.
Previously, while zoning out on nothing in particular, owing to all the time I’d had, I’d noticed a scrap of fabric wedged into a hole in the wall just beyond Tallis’s head. Standing up, I retrieved the piece of what looked like muslin and took it to the sink basin. Reaching for the jug of cold water, I doused the piece of muslin in the water, wringing it out gently. Then I approached Tallis again, hoping the cold compress might lower his temperature.
He was still groaning and mumbling incoherently, tossing his head from this side to that, but this time, his cheeks appeared pink, as though he’d been outside in the sun too long. Leaning over him, I ran the cold, wet compress across his forehead, sopping up the sweat that beaded along his hairline. As soon as I touched him with the wet muslin, he immediately quieted down and stopped thrashing. I couldn’t help but notice the acerbic smell of whiskey which was now thicker in the air than it had been. I assumed Tallis must have been going through
I decided not to answer Alaire and, instead, replaced Bill’s phone in my fanny pack. I returned to the carcass that would soon become my dinner and decided to put Alaire’s explicit instructions to use.
“We crossed the circle to the other bank”
– Dante’s Inferno
FOUR
Tallis was still unconscious.
I sat in front of the fire, after having eaten half of the creature the Grevels procured for my dinner. I was saving the other half for Tallis, in case he decided to wake up anytime soon. Even though I wasn’t full, my stomach was no longer growling and was now contentedly digesting whatever creature I’d just eaten. For that much, I was grateful.
As for my insentient companion, I had a feeling he was returning to consciousness. It wasn’t as though he’d suddenly opened his eyes and started talking, or anything obvious like that, but his demeanor was substantially different than it had been mere hours ago. Instead of remaining comatose, for the last hour, he’d been thrashing around, moaning and groaning, while straining against the ropes that held him to the bed. And his sweating had increased tenfold. True, these weren’t necessarily good things, but I figured any sign of life was better than no sign at all.
“Donnchadh.” Tallis’s voice was a mere whisper but I could distinctly make out the name of the warrior spirit inside him.
It was the first time Tallis had said anything since my trusty sword had put him into this vegetative state. I immediately approached him, throwing all caution to the wind. Then, I remembered it might very well be Donnchadh at the wheel, rather than Tallis. As soon as that thought crossed my mind, I held myself back. I studied Tallis for a second or two longer, trying to determine whether or not it was safe to approach him.
He suddenly threw his head from side to side and a grimace distorted his face, suggesting that he was in serious pain. Beads of perspiration poured from his forehead, and another unhappy moan escaped his mouth as he struggled against his bindings.
“Tallis,” I said in a soft voice, trying to reassure him but at the same time trying to reassure myself that this was, in fact, Tallis whom I was dealing with. Taking a few tentative steps toward him, I checked the ropes to be sure they were still holding him firmly. They appeared to be doing a pretty good job so I figured I’d probably be safe if it was Donnchadh who suddenly awoke.
“It’s just me … Lily,” I said, leaning down and placing my hand on Tallis’s forehead. This time, he felt hot. Although I obviously wasn’t a doctor, even I knew that hot wasn’t good.
Previously, while zoning out on nothing in particular, owing to all the time I’d had, I’d noticed a scrap of fabric wedged into a hole in the wall just beyond Tallis’s head. Standing up, I retrieved the piece of what looked like muslin and took it to the sink basin. Reaching for the jug of cold water, I doused the piece of muslin in the water, wringing it out gently. Then I approached Tallis again, hoping the cold compress might lower his temperature.
He was still groaning and mumbling incoherently, tossing his head from this side to that, but this time, his cheeks appeared pink, as though he’d been outside in the sun too long. Leaning over him, I ran the cold, wet compress across his forehead, sopping up the sweat that beaded along his hairline. As soon as I touched him with the wet muslin, he immediately quieted down and stopped thrashing. I couldn’t help but notice the acerbic smell of whiskey which was now thicker in the air than it had been. I assumed Tallis must have been going through
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