Alensar

  The days lingered. He slept a lot between meals or looked at the patch of sky he could see from the window. Things were hazy between the old imprisonment and this comfortable new one.

  He was getting stronger, but at an agonizing pace. He still needed help standing, dressing, and getting to the chamber pot. At least he could wear clothes again. They were soft and loose, richly colored and made with fabric too nice for pajamas.

  The doctor came to see him every morning. She re-dressed his wounds and administered several injections with little fanfare. He never admitted to any pain when she asked.

  He took an obscene number of pills. Sometimes, he considered complaining.

  ***

  One afternoon, Alensar attempted to make conversation with his jailor. "So Jason, tell me about yourself?"

  "Yes, Val D'Ambrosia?"

  "What do you like to do outside of work?"

  Jason paused. "I enjoy reading."

  "You enjoy doing that during work as well." Jason was never without a book while he guarded him.

  "Would you prefer I not read?" Jason asked with false innocence.

  "Yes, I like to be stared at for hours on end."

  "Of course, Val."

  Alensar rolled his eyes. "What do you like to read about?"

  "A bit of everything. Novels mostly. Would you like a recommendation, Val?"

  Alensar couldn't read Anglish.

  "Perhaps you could read to me." Alensar looked at the ceiling, feeling vulnerable about the request.

  "Of course. Do you have anything in particular in mind? Laude Elaine has a large library." Jason's voice betrayed nothing.

  "Something you would also enjoy… or something you think I would enjoy."

  "I'll go find something. Don't try to sneak off… if you don't mind, Val."

  Alensar smiled. "I swear I'll behave."

  Jason did a formal bow, perhaps to make up for his casual tone, and left.

  ***

  Alensar often fell asleep while Jason read, and then he had to re-read parts or explain what was happening. For a book called War Songs, it was surprisingly dull. But Alensar didn't complain. It was better than staring at the wall in silence.

  He tried to have a few more conversations with Jason, but Jason had a talent for saying almost nothing with extreme politeness. He never asked about Alensar either, though from time to time, he forgot himself and spoke in a casual tone.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  He was left alone at night, though it took a few weeks to realize this, since he was so often asleep. When he checked the door, it was locked. He was also on the second story. Before, he would have escaped without much effort, but now he didn't bother trying.

  ***

  Doctor Rika removed his bandages as usual, but instead of taking out new ones, she started laying out several injections on his bedside table. He covered himself with a blanket.

  "No more bandages?"

  The woman shook her head. "You should be strong enough to dress yourself now. So there's no need to worry about someone seeing you who shouldn't."

  "Can you leave some for my wrists?"

  "Your wrists don't need bandages."

  "I want to hide them better."

  She took out a roll of bandages and put them on the table. "Make sure to take it off at night and don't get it wet. You don't want to trap moisture there too long."

  She gestured to the injections. "You know how to administer these yourself, yes? You seem like the type."

  "Yes." He didn't quite know what she was implying. "What are they for, exactly?"

  "Stimulating muscle growth. You're young and have been recovering well, better than expected, so I think only another two weeks or so will be needed. The rest will need to be done the old-fashioned way–start moving around more, and keep eating."

  He made a noise of agreement.

  She handed him one. "Let me see you do it."

  He took the glass vial, removed the cap, and jabbed it into his thigh.

  "Good."

  She added a few brown bottles of pills to the table. "These you still need to take twice a day until they run out. This one is for pain; take it as needed."

  He considered asking about the purpose of the rest of the pills. But what was the point? He would take them regardless.

  "Let me know if there are any problems, and I'll be back for a checkup in a week."

  Alensar thanked her, and she left.

  Alone again, he stood and walked to the full-length mirror.

  His ribs still stuck out, and his hip bones seemed ready to pierce his skin. The scars traced his skin, most of his tattoos all rendered illegible except for the moons of Nekthor circling his navel. Even the torturers of Tragst did not dare risk angering a god.

  If only he could kill them all.

  But he could barely walk.

  He went to the bed and took a blanket from it, covering the mirror. What an expensive piece of trash.

  He stood for a moment, leaning against the wall, resting.

  There was a knock on the door. It sounded like Jason.

  "Give me a few minutes."

  He went to the wardrobe and grabbed whatever was easiest to reach. He needed a moment to rest before he could start putting them on.

  Jason knocked on the door again.

  "Wait."

  He had to take breaks between each article of clothing, but he managed to get it all on. Some buttons and ties were not done up, but that was fine. The jacket was in a crumpled pile on the bed.

  He put the concealer on the back of his neck just before yelling for Jason to come in.

  Jason looked him up and down.

  "I'm supposed to help you dress." He sounded more dismayed than Alensar thought he had any right to be. He even forgot to use Alensar's title.

  "I'm well enough to manage, mostly. It's a good sign of my recovery."

  "Well, of course, it's just... a personal servant is supposed to help his Val get dressed."

  "I'm a grown man. That's ridiculous." And he didn't want Jason to see him without the bandages. He didn't want anyone to see him.

  Jason picked up the jacket and smoothed it out. "I don't need to physically put the clothes on you."

  Alensar furrowed his brows. "Then what do you mean?"

  "Val D'Ambrosia, may I be frank?"

  "That would be a relief."

  "Your pants don't match the shirt, and neither of those matches the jacket. You look…."

  Alensar laughed and held a hand up. "It's okay. I get it. I don't know how to dress myself. You can choose the clothes."

  He wore a white shirt with black pants. Surely that was acceptable? Laude Elaine seemed so practical; he couldn't imagine her getting clothes that didn't match.

  Jason put away the jacket and brought out a burgundy one with black accents. It was made of a lighter fabric than the previous one.

  "This is more suited to the weather," Jason said and hung it on the wardrobe door. Jason glanced at the covered mirror, but he didn't comment. He was too professional for that.

  "Should I change what I'm wearing?"

  Jason looked him up and down. "It will be fine for today."

  "Since I don't go anywhere and see anyone," Alensar added for him.

  "Laude Elaine and Doctor Rika said you should start walking around the house."

  "Well then, help me put on my shoes, and we'll do that." He managed to say it without visibly cringing.