Crystal nodded, and then she turned to a servant. "Go and cook a large pot of porridge and keep it hot. If he does not eat now, maybe he will eat later." Then she took wet clothing that was on the night table and wiped off the blood around Nathan's mouth.
"I tried to do that," one of the servants said apologetically, "But he wouldn't let me. He even spat blood on my uniform. It should be easier now that he is asleep."
Crystal turned and saw that it was true. He was asleep, after all. "Nathan. Nathan, Nathan," she murmured. Then, she sighed and said, "You are such a troublemaker. And so stubborn too." She knew that he would not let either of them bathe him while he was awake, so she quickly fetched a new basin of water and began to unbutton his clothes. Once he was naked, she started to clean his body.
Suddenly, as she was scrubbing his legs, he woke up, and he grabbed her wrist.
