Chereads / The Artificer and the Capricious Capital / Chapter 14 - Violence and Affection

Chapter 14 - Violence and Affection

When Kiava woke, the room was in hushed chaos. Tension made the air heavy as muffled voices rose and fell behind Theon's closed office door. She sat up and looked around to find several Healers around the bed next hers, curious she glanced around their figures and felt her heart stutter in her chest.

"Kleid?" she shouted worriedly, the bruised and bloodied face was older now, of course, but he had been her best friend when they were young and she would always recognize him.

His eyes fluttered open briefly and his lips curled, "I'll be okay," he mouthed before his eyes closed again.

The office door opened and Theon, Archeus, and Perrin entered the room. Theon offered Kiava a brief smile but rushed past her and to the other bed, discussing Kleids condition with the men and woman that was treating the injured man. Archeus and Perrin approached Kiava's bed, the mage sat in one of the chairs available on the side of the bed closest to the office while the duke used the winch to recline her bed.

Theon had done the same thing but he'd felt less like he was looming over her than the duke, who was both taller and broader than his friend. She thanked him for his help, it wasn't his fault he was large, but her voice came out smaller than she wanted.

Best to take the route of distraction, "What happened to Kleid?" she asked, looking over at her friend's bed once more, Kleid's eyes remained closed but she could see he was breathing evenly.

"He was on his way here to ask you a question about Artificery when someone or more likely a group attacked him," Perrin responded, his voice was colder than she remembered it and the young woman shifted to meet his blue eyes consciously for the first time.

The duke was not mad, he was furious. As soon as she met his eyes she could see the cold anger he was trying to hold back, "Silas is arranging the hunt for them now."

Kiava was certain that there was more than they were telling her, but didn't press. She knew that all of them were involved with city security at various levels and she was just a recent immigrant that kept getting caught up in things. Really, she'd read the adventure story periodicals in papers that made it out to Hentra, but had assumed all the drama and danger in the capital was fantasy. Now that she had come here she was beginning to think maybe the stories had underestimated the danger.

Too late to back out now though, she had already arranged for her shop with the Artificer's Office and everything. Her gaze moved to Kleid and she was relieved to see a lot of the color was returning to his face already. Plus, now she knew that there was someone she trusted in the city.

A fear that had gripped her since her near death experience eased; now there was someone who cared about her nearby, a person who would be worried if she went missing.

"I wish Sir Iaska well in his hunt," Kiava said at last with deep sincerity.

Perrin smiled slightly at that while Archeus grinned from his seat before saying, "Perrin will remind them why it's unwise to touch Duke Levast's people."

"That I will," Perrin agreed, "how are you feeling Miss Kiava?" She was a bit surprised by the change of subject, but she wanted the distraction from the low chants coming from the bed beside them.

"I am still tired and sore, but Healer Theon said this morning that I will be cleared for discharge tomorrow." Her eyes shifted to Archeus, "I understand that you are the one who dispelled the entropy spell, do you happen to know the languages it can be cast in?"

The mechanism for magic is language. Not all languages are magical of course, you don't want commonly used vernacular accidentally conveying spells. Some dialects work better for one type of casting than another, for instance, Kiava is fluent in multiple languages that lend themselves well to Artificery, of the six she knows only two work for mage spells, but three are also commonly used in alchemy.

"Ah, Theon actually let me know you were curious about that and I picked this up for you. It won't teach you any of the killing spells, but this is what I learned the basics of entropy dispels from so perhaps it can help you," the mage handed her a small cloth-bound book with cold letter embossed the the cover and spine, "Practical Uses of Entropy Magic". "We can discuss it after you are done reading, if you like." He gave her a hopeful look and she swallowed her initial 'no' with some difficulty.

"I'd be happy to talk to you about magic-craft," she touched the book lightly and gave him a genuine full smile, warmed that Theon had thought to mention it and pleasantly grateful that the mage had brought it, "I'd like to chat after reading it, thank you so much."

Archeus' was just staring with his mouth slightly agape. Perrin cleared his throat, "When you are released I was hoping you could house Kleid for a few days? I will be giving him some time off from his duties to recuperate and he would likely appreciate his rehabilitation taking place away from his home."

"Of course! We can catch up while he helps me set up my shop!" Kiava agreed, still smiling, not thinking anything about putting the man under the tender ministration of healers as they spoke to work. He said he'll be okay.

"I am thankful for your ready agreement," Perrin's smooth voice now full of the smile he was wearing sent thrills down her spine again. "I'll have my butler arrange for your kitchen to be stocked, as payment for housing a member of my staff."

Kiava opened her mouth to protest until he laid it out as payment. It would save her the trouble of finding out where to buy groceries for the time being. Then, when she did need to buy foodstuffs she would have an able-bodied Kleid to help her navigate.

"Thank you, Duke Levast, for your consideration for me and Kleid. I'm pleased to know he has such a thoughtful employer," her stomach grumbled at the end of her sentence, for emphasis.

"Gentlemen, visiting hours are over, Sir Kleid needs his rest and Miss Kiava needs to eat before doing the same," Theon said from the other bed, looking decidedly drained, "Miss Kiava, I am going off shift, you will be attended by High Healer Othia until your discharge."

A beautiful woman with strong features stepped forward and smiled at the patient warmly, "It is my pleasure to meet you Miss Kiava, I've heard tales of your heroism."

Kiava flushed and looked down at her comforter self-consciously, "I was just doing the right thing."

"Indeed, you were," Healer Othia agreed kindly. "Now, everyone who is not me or a patient needs to go," the healer said to the others in the room with a strict tone and commanding aura.

The other healers who had treated Kleid had left as soon as their work was finished, Othia was only talking to the three friends. Kiava was impressed that the older woman seemed unphased by the three, she felt like her blush was trying to discover new shades.

With Healer Theon alone it was easier because although he was very attractive he had obviously spent a lot of time learning how to make people feel less intimidated, none of his friends had done the same. But the buffer of his personality was lost when any of his friends were in his company, his muted charisma came into play as if to not lose to his friends' glamorous feel.

She could tell the men were exhausted and they still looked charming. As a woman she felt it was truly unfair and she promised herself she would begin the stylist's skin and hair regime in earnest after she was released. Kiava was a little mollified that she no longer looked like she was about to die, proper healing and plenty of food and rest had her almost looking like herself again.

"Of course, rest well Miss Kiava," Perrin said, leaning down to grab her hand and kissing the back of it before walking out.

"Yes, I look forward to hearing from you, Kleid has my directions," directions for what? Archeon said, looking cheerful, as if his earlier slack-jawed expression had been her illusion.

"I will miss your discharge, but I expect I will see you again, Miss Kiava." The healer said last, offering her a kind smile before he also leaned down and kissed the back of her hand, "it has been a pleasure."

When Kiava was alone with Othia she gave the woman a desperate look. The healer brought her a glass of water and a pat on the back.

"I'm afraid you're going to have to get used to it dear, I don't think their interest in you will be brief." Othia told the gray haired woman sagely. Kiava felt that was an ominous premonition.