The Thorn in My Shed-Chapter 37: It’s Good to Be Home

A group of maids surrounded Lord Evans’ bed as he laid there in his white silk pajamas. His hair was cleaned from the bath he’d just taken, and the dirt from his travels to Viraaz had been scrubbed away.

Bandages were wrapped around his wrists with a salve that soothed the rash that had formed from the chains as well.

The maids were each busy tending to him.

Two were massaging his feet, another two massaged his hands, one fanned him and the final one was feeding him his dinner.

"My Lord, you have unjustly been through a great ordeal. That must’ve been so hard for you." Said Marie, the ginger maid who was serving him.

Lord Evans grunted, "I’m not some weak peasant who can’t handle a little hardship. It’s the fact that I had to at all. Someone of my stature should never be put in the position I was in."

"That’s right, my Lord, you never should’ve been put in that position." Leslie, a black-haired maid who was massaging his left hand, said softly.

"It’s good to be home, away from those wretches." Lord Evans said before accepting the bite of quail that Marie offered him.

"Is it good, my Lord?" She questioned before getting another piece of it.

"Yes. It is satisfac-!"

His eyebrows furrowed as he stared down at the two maids who were massaging his feet, "Be careful! Don’t you have eyes and brains? Can’t you tell I’m in critical condition?"

"Yes my Lord!" They said in unison, nearly tearing up.

Marie, Leslie and the other two maids shot them both warning glances as they continued their own jobs.

"My Lord what would you like a bite of next? Or would you prefer something to drink instead?" Marie asked with caution.

Lord Evans stared at her.

Marie tensed, then smiled, "It’s been a while since you last had something to drink. I’m sure you must be thirsty."

She placed the fork down and grabbed him a glass of water, which she held to his lips.

Just then, one of the maids that was massaging his feet, hit a particularly sore spot.

Lord Evans yelped and jumped. His arm tore out of Leslie’s hand and hit Marie, causing her to drop the glass on him and stumble backwards. She grabbed onto the nightstand for balance and flipped the plate, sending food flying onto Lord Evan’s bed.

He screamed and grabbed at his back which had started to spasm from the sudden movement.

The maids immediately scrambled to clean up. Leslie began to scoop the excess food off the bed while Marie ran to get him clean clothes.

"I said to be careful!" He screamed as she shoved the tips of his fingers into his spasming flesh and rubbed, trying to relieve some of his pain.

After the group of maids cleaned up, Lord Evans limped painfully back into the room in his gold silk, dry, pajamas.

The maids pulled back the blankets of his fresh bedding and pulled the blankets up to his buttocks once he slowly climbed in.

He winced and grunted as he lowered himself down on his stomach. The pain in his lower back was not only sharp and throbbing, but it was starting to spread down his thighs and up to his rib cage as well.

It felt as if someone were grabbing his muscles and stretching them apart like taffy.

Leslie placed steaming hot towels down on his lower back and began to give him a massage alongside Marie.

The other maids had been dismissed, leaving only the three of them.

"My Lord, let us know if you need the temperature or pressure adjusted." Marie said as she slid her thumb along his back hip.

"I won’t forgive General Marix," he said bitterly, ignoring her, "First thing in the morning I want someone to send correspondence to King Solus on my behalf!"

"Yes, my Lord." Leslie and Marie said in unison as they shot each other nervous glances.

Meanwhile, back in Viraaz, Eilownia also lay in bed.

She wore a pair of simple medical grade pajamas provided by Dr. Lein, and was tucked carefully underneath Marix’s new comforter, which so far, had not been stained with blood.

Her fever was still running high. Sweat dripped down her forehead and she panted in her restless sleep.

Marix patted her face, neck and chest with a cold damp cloth as Dr. Lein applied stronger ointments to her wounds.

"She should be getting better by now." Dr. Lein muttered as he shook his head, "Perhaps this environment isn’t sterile enough."

The two had been back and forth on the matter so much, Marix had learned to ignore his comments.

"I will make sure she gets better. Don’t worry about that, I have it covered."

Dr. Lein bit his lower lip and jutted out his jaw before releasing it, "General, do you call this having it covered? The poor girl is practically cooking to death."

Marix raised an eyebrow and glared at Dr. Lein with his head tilted, "I called you didn’t I?"

Dr. Lein scoffed as he forcefully threw a used gauze into the wastebin which let out a loud shuffling sound.

"I’m not sure why, when you hardly listen to me."

Marix turned his attention back to Eilownia and placed a new cold cloth on her forehead, "I listen to you plenty. Her medicine should arrive any second."

"Make SURE she takes it. It’s going to be extremely bitter, super potent. I had no other choice considering her condition. So if she raises any complaints about it, I don’t care what you have to do, make her take it."

Marix stared at him, "Do you think that I have any issue making someone do something I need or want them to do? Of course I will make her drink it. Her life is on the line."

Just then, Jinya arrived with a bowl of the medicinal soup. It smelled flat, almost like stagnant water, but sour and peppermint-y as well.

Marix’s nose twitched at the scent while Jinya was visibly tearing up as she placed it on the nightstand.

She moved to stand by the doorway and pressed her index finger underneath her nose, pressing upward slightly to help deter the scent from infiltrating her nostrils.

"Jinya." Marix said.

"Yes?" She replied, stepping forward.

"That straw clump on the dresser," He motioned to it with his index finger, "Find a plush toy that looks like this. If you can’t find one then have one made and ensure it’s in the same color."

Jinya grabbed Strawbunny off his dresser, "This?"

"Yes."

She furrowed her eyebrows, "Are you aware this has mold all over it?"

"Yes, that’s why I instructed you not to touch it when you came in here to clean. I knew you’d throw it out. Now, take it and do as I say."

"Would you like it returned?" She questioned with a worried look on her face.

"No. Throw it away if and when you have completed my request."

"Yes sir." Jinya said with a nod before departing.

Dr. Lein rubbed his forehead as he packed his medical bag back up, "Lord. You’ve had a mold covered thing here this whole time? Wanting her in here is one thing but to have something covered in mold?!"

Marix placed his index finger against his own lips, warning Dr. Lein to lower his volume.

"She needs it. I know what she needs now," He brushed some of her hair out of her face, "I know now that she’s not a spy, that she is strong, and her days of suffering are over. Just like I know how much she needs that straw clump. That’s why I’m having it replaced."

But, despite his efforts and his faith, Eilownia was still struggling, her fever was running high. Marix could feel her skin burning through the fabric of her clothes.

He grabbed the soup bowl off the nightstand and carefully poured medicine in her mouth, but she wouldn’t swallow.

"Come on, Whin. Swallow." He whispered as Dr. Lein left the room, shaking his head.

The medicinal soup poured out of the corner of her mouth. Marix quickly covered her mouth with his own as he gently rubbed her throat, encouraging her to swallow.

Once she did, he furrowed his brows, reluctant to pull away.

After a few lingering moments, he did, and placed some more of it in her mouth.

"You have to drink it. Let’s overcome this, Whin. Little Flower." He whispered quietly as more spilled from her lips.

He grabbed a napkin off the nightstand and wiped the spillage.

For the next few spoonfuls he fed it to her by mouth. With each press of their lips together, he prayed she’d make a full recovery.

But, as he pressed his lips against hers a final time, he felt her hand weakly grip his sleeve. Her lips were starting to move against his.

Marix held her tighter, pressing his lips deeper against hers. He could feel the heat of her fever slightly beginning to dissipate.

He knew he shouldn’t be allowing this and he had to force himself to pull away, but as he did so he heard her quietly utter his name.

"Mar.....ix?"