I watched Kesar leave the room, sad but knowing he had his own things to do. Beside me, Verah cleaned the table, humming to herself. I listened, not having heard the sound before. I liked it. I wanted to ask what she was humming, but didn't know how. So, I sat, watching her.
A few minutes later, she disappeared through a doorway then returned with a large piece of white cloth. It looked like the one Einnig helped me with before he slapped me. What were they called?
"I have a bath waiting. Ready to get cleaned up?"
I looked down at my broken leg, remembering how I ended up on the floor before Kesar appeared this morning. I glanced at the nurse with a worried look.
Verah smiled. "I'll help you. Don't worry, Jose. I won't let you fall."
I nod, happy she was going to help, even though I was confused why anyone bothered. Verah walked over as I moved the blankets off. She helped me slide my legs to one side and slowly stand up. I hissed out a breath when I put pressure on my broken one.
"Don't use that one," Verah said. "Hop on your good leg and I'll keep you from falling."
I blinked at her. She sat me back down and began to hop one foot. I nodded, somewhat excited to try this. She came back and I only used my good leg, holding onto the nurse for support. I began to hop.
Forty-five minutes later, I returned to bed, exhausted. Verah sat behind me, brushing my hair as I played with the strings of the flimsy dress I wore. I didn't like it, but Verah said it was only while I stayed I stayed in the infirmary. Once I was released, I would get real clothes.
After a few minutes, the door opened and the girl who was kissing the scary black-winged dragon came in, her arms full of books. She set them on the tray and hugged. "Remind me to get fewer next time!" she gasped.
Verah giggled. "Or maybe one's not so big?"
The girl looked at her stack and nodded. "You're right." She turned and smiled at me. "Feel better after your bath?"
I nodded.
She sat down. "I know I introduced myself earlier, but I'm going to do it again. I am Thelia. I was asked to keep you company and answer any questions you have."
I pointed to the window, wanting to go outside.
Thelia furrowed her brows. I took my pad and pen and drew myself outside.
When the girl saw it, she smiled. "Not today, but I would certainly love to take you out and show you around when you're better."
I pointed to the books.
"I thought you might like something to do. Being here doesn't seem fun." Thelia grabbed one and handed it to me. I opened it and saw it was full of scribbles Kesar called writing. I closed it and shook my head. "Do you know how to read?"
I shrugged.
Thelia sighed. Thought for a long time, then grabbed her own pen and paper. She drew something then showed it to me. I recognized it as my name. I smiled and pointed to myself.
Thelia nodded. "Good. Do you know the letters?"
I blinked at her.
Thelia smiled and came closer. Pointing to the first figure, she said, "J." She moved to the next. "O." "S." "E."
I had never known what each figure meant, but knew combined, they made one bigger figure.
I drew on my pad and showed her. Thelia grinned. "Kesar."
I did another one.
Thelia frowned. "Komlak?"
I nod.
"Who is Komlak?"
I drew my mistress holding a thick rope that held the mutts at the other end.
Thelia turned white when she saw the picture. "Jose, she was your master, wasn't she?"
I nod.
Thelia drew something and showed it to me. "Citron was my master. He didn't have dogs though."
I frowned and pointed to my broken leg then to her.
She nodded. "Yes, he hurt me. If I did something wrong, he would hit and kick until I couldn't stand."
I drew her dragon and pointed to my leg.
Thelia smiled. "You're a wonderful artist, Jose. But Zargis has only hurt me once. He has never done it again."
I curl my lip in a silent snarl.
Thelia laughed. "It was my own fault, Jose. I did something I knew would make him mad and he slapped me for it. After, though, we both apologized. He never raises a hand to hurt me again."
Her story of the dragon was both scary and heart warming. I drew Kesar in question.
"Kesar has never hurt women or children. Not even those on enemy lines." Thelia shook her head slowly. "He is a gentle dragon. It is a quality we all love about him, but it is his greatest weakness."
I frowned. I could see Kesar was soft. But what I wasn't sure about was how he would be if I made him angry.
"This is how Zargis's name looks." Thelia showed me her dragon's name. I put it into my memory.
I point to her, then to her drawing, then to me.
She smiled. "Of course I can. I will help you with anything!"
With that, Thelia began to teach me the letters then how to "write" them. We started with simple words like names, then began to put them into sentences. I mouthed each word, saying them under my breath, learning their formation in my mouth, learning how to move my tongue, learning how to ask for what I wanted when the time came that I began to speak.
It was late when the door to the infirmary opened. We both looked up to see the male Thelia said whose name was Otreg.
"Zargis needs you," he said to Thelia.
"What for?"
"It's about the searches."
"Where is Kesar?"
"With him. He has information that could help. You're the only one whose good with this kind of stuff."
Thelia sighed, putting her pen down. She turned to me and smiled. "If I don't return tonight, I'll be back tomorrow, okay?"
I write a word down. "Wrong"
Thelia shook her head. "It's hard to explain and I need to go. Don't worry about it though. Have a good night, Jose."
She set all the books and her materials under my bed then hurriedly left with Otreg. I was left alone, nothing to do, and no one to talk to.
I fell asleep waiting for someone to come talk to me, and woke up to the feeling of falling backwards. I jerked upwards, furiously looking around. "It's okay,"said a familiar voice. I saw Verah beside me, the light dim. "I was just laying you back so you were comfortable."
I nod, feeling my eyes grow heavy again. But I wanted to stay awake. So, I grab my pen and paper and write"Kesar"
Verah read it and shook her head. "I'm not sure where he is, Jose. I can go ask if you wish?"
I nod, wanting to go find him myself, but knew I couldn't."
Verah left, promising to be back soon.