24
Jza fingers were stiff as she slid another stitch into soft flesh and pulled it out carefully. She tried to keep her actions tiny and precise hoping the pain was as minimal as possible but she could not assume anything. Tarquin had his eyes closed and she could almost pretend he was sleeping but his hand would clench and unclench occasionally leaving her sick to her core. It was one thing to nearly beat an aggressor to death in a fit of passion but another to painstakingly inflict such torment on another.
The Princess was on her knees now, looming over her patient. She had hung the lantern on the torch holder helpfully built into the wall. The shoulder wound was the last of injuries she needed to contain but it was higher up then the others. She was glad she left it last because her hands were less clumsy now.
There was a sudden grumbling sound from deep within the castle which shook the tunnel walls. Jza took a deep breath to keep her hand steady.
"It's the harem isn't it," Jza broke the silence, "They're certainly busy. They seem to have survived. I hope."
"You're concerned for them?" Tarquin spat out the leather band, voice hoarse from disuse. How many hours had it been since they had conversed. Jza's back twinged from stiffness every time she moved indicating the passage of time.
"Of course I am. It is a dangerous task they have undertaken. I doubt I could ever perform with such ferocity. I commend them for taking the initiative to fight for what they believe is right," Jza said truthfully. They may may not be on the same side but she would give credit where credit was due.
"Why? You survived on your own under enemy lines. How different is it from what you've done?" Tarquin asked curiously. His eyes wandered over her handiwork before resting on her wane face. He briefly tensed up with another needle stroke.
"I had no choice while they chose their path to glory. I was just mistakenly left behind. There will be no valor awards for me for sharing your bed," The Princess' lips were a grim line as she spoke almost to herself. Her hair now truly hung loose and she never did realise how they gently caressed Tarquin's face every now and then.
"I'm certain Vladimir has something to say for your valour," The injured man chuckled making Jza glare at him for moving her hand with his careless movement.
"They go for the attack without any hesitation. I am surprised, for they seemed like women of leisure," Jza ignored his comment about her time in his captivity. She did not feel proud to have been so compliant and harmless.
"They were bored and had the free time to learn something new. I gave them a few lessons but they eventually rid of me to pursue their specialities. My harem was never as active as it was in Ivan's time. They had to submit to no one but me and that too at their own leisure unlike earlier times."
Jza suddenly felt embarrassed by the frankness of his words. Their transactions were not something she wished to hear about but she was still curious about his allusion to the past.
"Back then anyone could just walk in and..." Jza made a pained face. She did not have the stomach to complete her sentence.
"Choose a harem member for their pleasure? Yes. Anyone important at least. If a bargain was worthy Ivan would offer the harem to them like cattle. Nobody was safe from his eyes," The man spoke with bitterness tinging his speech. There was a certain rigidness in his shoulders that appeared that even a needle could not provoke and Jza was now even more horrified by her next line of thought.
"You were in the harem too. Surely he would have kept his son as an exception..."
"There were unpleasant incidents throughout my life but they only forced me to show a prowess for warfare earlier than most. Ivan began to encourage his political rivals' attentions to my strange and exotic face just to see them be disembowled. I killed my first man when I was ten," Tarquin's voice was stony as he touched upon his childhood.
His life history explained many things about his blood thirsty personality. She had also wondered why he had never touched her beyond his manner of teasing. He had no reason to show restraint. She had seen the parallels with his mother's story but it seemed his own experiences sealed the deal to how he treated her. In his own brusque way he had protected her not just from his army but from himself.
Her eyes drifted to the chain dangling on his bandaged chest momentarily. His gaze was steadfast when she met his. There was no doubt in her mind they both knew what her chain was. It was odd she clould read him so well with one shared look.
"You know the purpose of this chain. Yes?" He asked. She unraveled the bandage and applied it to his shoulder as best as she could.
"Of course," Jza gave a measured reply, "I shan't ask about it if you give me the same courtesy although I have a fair chance at guessing who you are hiding in your chain. I hope she's doing well."
"I hope so too. If you think to weaponise the situation then remember she is a broken women who barely recognises her own son. My mother is nor aware of anything useful," His words were very precise and biting. After a very long time the Princess could feel a true threat emanating from him.
"Of course not," She replied cooly, "I will keep your secret safe. The war is not meant to attack the innocents."
"I seem to remember King Galios had a different ethos."
"King Samuel is not like his ancestors. He is the guardian of the weak and indigent. His army is routinely reminded to have mercy on the unarmed. He would be disappointed to see me use your mother for his political gains," Jza continued encircling his shoulder with the protective cover until she was certain the wound was safe.
"That's why he lost," Tarquin scoffed.
"No," Jza's voice was forecful, "It was because we had traitors in the midst. Not one but many. You are not having much luck in Goridion castle are you?"
"It is tougher terrain," The patient looked away with a brief frown.
"Don't insult my intelligence. I went through your correspondence. I can read military jargon well enough to understand your continued defeat," Jza finished the procedure and adjusted the bandage around his forhead.
"You're certainly knowledgeable about healing methods and warfare terms," The injured man asked. It was clear the instinct to uncover all her secrets never dissolved like he had his throne.
"We were under seige. I could not sit behind and wait for the menfolk to fight our battles. I was in the infirmary as much as I could," The Princess settled down on the sheets with a thud. She cracked her knuckles with a grimace and only stopped when she found her companion grinning at her. Why did all her actions amuse him so. She was distracted by another explosion that rattled the tunnel.
"Do you truly mean to never go back?" Jza asked with cough. This explosion had been closer and the dust long settled in the tunnel bore down them.
"Of course not. The Somerlians disgust me. I thought after all these years I would learn to tolerate them but the night of the ball made it very clear I did not care whether they lived or died. It's a waste of time to pretend I care," Tarquin sneered. He took the opportunity to lean against Jza who wanted to push him off but did not want to jostle his wounds.
"I did not think you were the person to give up so soon," She asked with a wry smile.
"Oh, I'm not giving up anything. My end goals have changed. I will get what I want even if it takes me an eternity," He said gregariously and Jza found that a very curious comment. What could more important than a crown.
The sat in a comfortable silence for while hearing the consistent booms echoing in tunnel walls. It was a surpise the tunnel hadn't collapsed on them.
"I need to leave before dawn breaks. I should not have let the girls go. You need more care," Jza wet her lips and gave his shoulder a nudge indicating he needed move. The man instead let her bear more of his weight.
"You should take me with you. I am aimless for now," The girl gave him a horrifed look causing her patient more amusement. She felt his shoulders shaking with mirth.
"What about your new goal. How will you achieve it clinging to my side?" The Princess finally shoved him aside and forced him to face her, " I mean it when I say I am farm bound."
"I'll be here all alone. What if Sofiya doesn't find me? What if I bleed to my death. How would you feel but, oh no, you would not feel since you too would be dead," Talk of their mutual deaths positively delighted the Lord.
"You don't fool me," Jza wanted to be unconcerned since the manipulation was obvious as the sun that would rise soon.
"But there's a chance isn't there. To leave a wounded man all alone... What would king Samuel say. Tsk tsk," Tarquin mock pouted giving her a very sultry look. The Princess could instantly see some of the learnt behaviour from the harem. His face instantly lost all gaiety as he spoke further, "What better way to regain King Samuel's favour than to offer me as your prisoner?"
Jza froze at his proposition. The temptation was so great she feared she would burst. She would regain her honour, her home, her father back all in one go. Could she dare to hope for all she had thought she had long lost.
"You are going to be the death of me," She uttered, giving him a disdainful look. Jza had made her decision.
"You know as well as I do that it's the complete opposite," He replied with an unconcerned shrug.
