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.Every time Aive looked at Sobal, he was alarmed to find further signs of distress.There were deep purple bags under his eyes that appeared sunken, hollow almost, above cheekbones that jutted out, sharply angled; his lips were dry and cracked.His skin was gray tinged and reminded Aive of a corpse.At least there were no cuts or injuries to the skin itself.He placed his hand on Sobal's back between the wings and relaxed when he felt the slight rise and fall of breath.The angel returned with another, also in a dressing gown.She rushed to Sobal and began running her hands all over his emaciated body and tattered wings."What are you doing?" Aive moved to stop her, but the other angel pulled him back."That's Isela," the angel said."She's a doctor.He needs her." Aive watched her very closely."Where did you find him?" Isela spared a moment from her examination to look at Aive."Cave." Aive still struggled to move towards Sobal, but the angel held his arm and he couldn't move forward far enough."We lost track of him over a year ago," the angel holding his arm said.Aive stopped trying to reach Sobal and looked at the angel."Forgive my rudeness, but who exactly are you?""Jolden.I'm the official ambassador in High City.""I'm honored to be in your presence, your eminence." Aive's mother would have been so proud at him parroting the correct greeting, even while watching Isela.Jolden picked up Aive's left hand and inspected the marking, turning it this way and that."You don't need to be so formal in private.You're Sobal's husband.You are part of our family."Aive yanked his hand out of Jolden's grip and shrugged, trying to appear unaffected.Husband? How could he forget something so important? "I don't remember." This man, who in his dreams, loved Aive, cared for Aive, put Aive's wishes above his own.This man who Aive didn't know and yet loved more than the air he breathed.This man was apparently his husband and Aive remembered nothing.Jolden raised an eyebrow.He opened his mouth, and Aive mentally braced himself for the onslaught of questions sure to come.But then Isela finished whatever she was doing and straightened up, distracting Jolden.A small wrinkle of concern marred her pale brow and the deep frown looked wrong on her perfect angel face."His wings are broken in three places.I want to clean them before setting them.Other than that? Open skies, food, water.The … real damage won't be apparent until he heals.""What damage?" Aive asked.Jolden gripped Aive's shoulder."You're tired.I'll have some food sent up.Eat something.Help Isela clean Sobal's wings and try to get him to eat.When he's patched and you're rested, we can talk about things that aren't quite so pressing."Aive huffed in frustration.After being awake for over a day and carrying Sobal around, he didn't have the energy to argue or demand to know what they weren't telling him.He was tired, and he wanted to help Sobal."Okay.But tomorrow, I want real answers."*~*~*The next day, Aive found himself on a short stool next to a large, shallow porcelain tub half filled with water.The tub was made so that a person could lie front-down and be immersed in a small depth.He poured another bucket full of warm water over Sobal's head, wings, and back.The water had turned deep brown with grime.Sobal's hair had lightened considerably to an almost white, but his wings were still brownish-gray.Isela rubbed the feathers carefully, dislodging rocks, sand, and other debris.The bathing chamber attached to the bedroom, and it too had no ceiling.The sun was at the highest point in the sky, and though the season was turning cool with the coming winter, the room had grown warm and almost too hot under the bright sun.Aive scooted his chair so that he cast a shadow over Sobal's back.He'd been through so much discomfort already, a sunburn would be like rubbing salt in a wound."If you're shadowing him so he doesn't burn, it’s not necessary.We don't burn."One more thing Aive hadn't known about Sobal.How long would it take until he felt like he knew this man? He watched Isela's hands work, studying the simple but beautiful tattoos on her own hands, and his gaze wandered up her arms to her wings."Your wings are so white."She looked up at him quickly and gave him a reassuring smile."Don't worry.His will be.Once he molts they'll come back in white.""Molts?" That was … really strange.Birds molted.Angels did, too? That seemed too messy for something that was supposed to be God's most holy creation."Of course.We can't keep the same feathers our whole life.They break and fall out.We'd be grounded by age ten." That made sense."I think we've done as much as we can for these." Isela rubbed a dingy gray feather between her fingers."Do you remember when he last molted?""I don't remember anything about Sobal."Isela set Sobal's wing gently down."Nothing?""I woke up back home and a year was missing from my memories.The only reason I came here was because the dreams led me here.Everything I know is from the dreams, which amounts to almost nothing.Except flying is fun."Isela gave a light laugh."Indeed it is.Perhaps after Sobal is settled and healing we can talk about your missing memories, see if anything can be done." She briskly wiped her hands on her apron."Two more buckets and then we'll dry him and move him back to the bed."Aive didn't bother telling her it would be no use.He'd seen doctors back home, and they couldn't help him.The lost year was no longer the terrifying hole in Aive's life [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]