Chapter 41 Recovery

Chapter 41 Recovery
“What wound?” Zeidan demanded, turning to look her over. Aizurah rolled her eyes. She had been so eager to fuck him that he hadn’t been given a chance to assess her for injuries.

“It’s a small cut, Zeidan, it’s nothing,” she insisted, waving dismissively and following Sir Stonewell.

“She’s doing well,” Kyrus said, clearly impressed with Aizurah’s grit and determination since her arrival.

“How could she not?” Zeidan asked with a proud grin. “While we were absent from court for some time, her father’s council meetings and teaching were clearly not wasted on her.”

“She has more skill with a blade than I would have expected,” Taevar added, his brow rising, “I must say I’m very proud of my niece.”

Zeidan was proud of her, too, fiercely so. He watched as she followed Sir Arden through the camp, and his concern got the better of him. He nodded to the men around the table and followed his wife toward their tent.

The cut was definitely not nothing. The slice itself had been smooth, but deeper than she had realized. She sat on their cot and swung her feet as Arden located the healer to come rinse and stitch the wound.

“It’s nothing?” Zeidan repeated snidely as he stepped into the tent and caught sight of the state of her arm. Luckily, it was her left arm, and she could still properly wield her sword. If she had been wounded on her right, she doubted Zeidan would have let her stay in the Summer Isles at all.

“Yes, nothing,” Aizurah insisted in a hard voice. “Wounds happen on the battlefield, Zeidan. It’s hardly crippling.” Despite her assurances, her husband remained and watched with crossed arms and concern in his eyes.

It was determined that Zeidan and Varynx would lead the first patrol over the islands that evening. Aizurah offered, but the prince insisted she remain in camp and recuperate.

After being cut, she had an odd feeling in her gut that he was going to keep her away from as much fighting as he could. So instead of readying Starlyght at sunset, the princess kissed her husband goodbye and went to find a bowl of stew and a cup of ale to keep her occupied…

Aizurah never tired of finding Warryk by the fire. She found his candor and disposition calming on her own nerves.

He was caked in blood and dirt, as most of the men in the camp were, and the moment he saw her, he scooted over, allowing her to join him.

The fire burned brightly and warmed her bones as she settled in the dirt. Her limbs ached, and her stitches stung like hell, but something about sitting around the fire with her men made her feel at ease.

“Princess,” Sir Stonewell handed her a bowl and a cup, then went to fetch nourishment for himself. When he returned, he sat beside the princess and ate along with her, listening to Aizurah’s conversation with Warryk.

“So, what about before you joined the fleet?” Aizurah asked. “Any women? Children?”

“There was a girl who was sweet on me,” he replied with a small smile. “Perhaps when this war is over, I’ll return to the Glenns and see her again.” He took a sip of his ale as he pondered to himself.

“And you, Arden? Surely, your father has arranged a betrothal for you by now? You are to inherit his lands, after all?”

“I’m not sure, princess. My father has been busy as of late. Advisor to the King and all that.” Aizurah smiled.

“Perhaps that’s a fine thing, for now. I’m not sure how I would have fared today without you,” she told him with a grin. He smiled at her, a silent agreement. Arden had plenty of time to go home and marry; for now, she needed him at her side.

“What about you, princess?” Warryk asked, “I’m sure you and Prince Zeidan would love to add to the royal line.”

Aizurah bit her lip, and Arden stiffened beside her. Warryk noticed immediately. “Have I spoken out of turn, princess?” She shook her head sadly.

“No, that’s quite all right.” There was a long silence before she had collected herself enough to speak again. “I… Lost a babe less than a year ago…” she confessed.

“Oh, fuck, I’m sorry!” he immediately exclaimed, eyes wide with horror.

“It’s alright, really,” Aizurah insisted with a tight smile. The topic effectively ruined the conversation, and the trio sank into a calm silence, eating and drinking their ale.

They were still sitting around the fire when Aizurah heard Varynx’s unmistakable whistle overhead and immediately rose from her spot, nodding at her companions. She needed to make sure Zeidan was unharmed.

Maerus had already agreed to take the second patrol, leaving Aizurah useless for the rest of the night. She watched as her cousin readied Astra while Zeidan dismounted. He was covered in soot, and she breathed a sigh of relief. Every time he came back unscathed, she felt the tightness in her chest relax.

“How was your watch?” she asked with a small cough after Astra had successfully covered the area in a cloud of dust during her liftoff.

“As expected, we burned five boats before the pirates realized that resupplying would be useless tonight.”

Aizurah pulled him into her arms and clenched his shirt tightly, wanting to be as close to him as possible. She breathed in his scent. While smoke and iron were more prominent, beneath them he simply smelled like he always did, like home.

“Come on, love,” he insisted, giving her a small push on her back, “You need a good bath.” She brightened at the idea.

They had been using the water basin for days, and she desperately needed to wash her hair. When the bath was finally ready, she sank into the steaming tub, and Zeidan settled in behind her. The saltwater they used made her wound sting. After a few minutes, it soothed her screaming muscles.

“You did well today, Aizurah,” he murmured in her ear. “But you must be more careful. You cannot allow the dragons, or anything else, to distract you in the midst of battle.”

She hummed her agreement and lay back against his chest, far too tired to attempt any sort of defense. The couple took their time washing each other, and when they were finally clean and dressed in their small clothes, they slipped beneath the furs in the cot.

Until that moment, the princess hadn’t realized just how exhausted she was. Aizurah cuddled as close as she could to his chest and, feeling safe and warm, was asleep in minutes…