"You are doing so much better, I believe you can return to your room tonight. Although I am not sure what I will do about drying the laundry…"
"Use the storage room. I tire of your short bed."
"I am sure you do at that."
"Where do you sleep, as I have taken your place? When you are not in the chair at my side, that is." Although, come to think of it, he had never managed to catch her even dozing.
"Your bed. The laundry is high above and the dampness not near the bed itself."
"My…bed…" This turn of events had not occurred to him.
"Was that wrong? Ought I not to have done that?"
"No, no. Of course you did the right thing. Where else is there, the floor? The kitchen counter?"
"That would have been most uncomfortable."
"I do have a question for my nurse," he said. They were once again in his study, she was cleaning, he was sitting at his desk trying to gather his thoughts.
"Yes?"
"I have been finally able to perform some of my duties, I would like to return to all of them as quickly as possible."
"I am uncertain what you are referring to…"
"The village. I need to go to Rechka. You said that there have been deaths. I must attend them."
"As soon as you are well enough."
"And when will that be?"
"When it is."
"Have you no more definite of an idea?"
"Not swooning after the Hours would be an excellent indicator, Father Gavril."
"I do not swoon."
"Waver? Wobble?"
"Peace!" he finally cried, holding up his hands and laughing. "I did so prefer you obedient."
"No, you did not."
"You're right," he replied with a rueful grin. "I did not, and I do not."
"The starosta said your assistant was wise. You should listen to this assistant."
"Hm. Perhaps the starosta is growing enfeebled with age."
"Considering this assistant is the one solely responsible for your care, you had best to hope otherwise."
"Peace!" he cried, laughing. "I will be a patient and obedient little boy, and wait upon your word."
"And now it is you who is learning wisdom."
"We must be running low on supplies. It will give you an opportunity to replenish them."
"I suppose you are right in that," she said, bending over to reach beneath his desk. He quickly averted his gaze. "I have managed to forage a bit to supplement, but the state of our provisions is not what I would like."
"So then it is settled. We will go to Rechka as soon as possible."
"No, Father Gavril. I will go to Rechka tomorrow. You will stay here."
"I will not."
"I cannot carry you, and you will exhaust yourself to be sure."
"The strength I have regained is not so insignificant," he protested. "I will be fine."
Straightening, she considered him for a long moment with an eye grown practiced at gauging his physical state. He stared back, wide-eyed and trying to look as healthy as possible.
"Very well," she finally relented. "We will go tomorrow, but you will dress very warmly and we will go slowly. And this is provided the weather is fine."
"Ah! Blessings be upon you, tovarichka. You know I enjoy your company, and love this chapel, but these walls are beginning to make me mad."
"But no chopping wood for several more weeks," she said sternly. "Besides which, you laid in a store that will last us through to next winter!"
"As you say, tovarichka," he said meekly.
She gazed at him a moment longer, suspicious at the sudden compliance, but found nothing else to say regarding the matter.
"I have finished in here, is there ought you need from me before I prepare our respective rooms?"
"No, thank you."
With a nod she left the room.
He wilted into his chair. He was not actually sure he was up to the walk to the village, but he had no choice. The situation was quickly becoming intolerable. He did not know when his mind and body would truly be healed, and the urges and yearnings created in his confused state were growing stronger rather than diminishing.
But the truth was if he did not act immediately he would lose the ability to act at all.