Ahmose looked to Asten, who calmly replied, as if bleeding eyes happened every day, “It was merely one of the signs that we are getting close to the time of the full moon.”
I gave him an I-don’t-believe-a-word-you’re-saying look and turned to see what Dr. Hassan thought of this, but he wouldn’t make eye contact—a sign that he was also keeping something from me. “I don’t buy that for a second,” I finally said. “Do you think I’m just a docile female from your century who will believe anything a man tells her?”
Ahmose cocked his head and smiled. “I have never met a woman in any century who takes a man at his word. My experience has always been that women are generally more discerning and harder to deceive than men.”
I wagged my finger at Ahmose. “See? You’re quickly becoming my favorite brother. And as such, you will surely be willing to tell me the truth.”
Shrugging, Ahmose said, “I must defer to Asten’s understanding of the situation. He has been awake longer than I have.”
“Yeah, for less than a day!”
Turning to Asten, whose mouth was set in a stubborn line, Ahmose entreated, “Perhaps she needs to know.”
Asten folded his arms across his chest and sighed. “She will find out soon enough. I fear the blow may weaken her further.”
“I’m not weak.”
“You are weaker than you know.”
“Dr. Hassan, please tell them that I’m fine.”
Dr. Hassan stepped forward and took my hand. “There, there. All will be well. Perhaps we could continue this discussion after we find Amon?”
Amon was pretty much the only thing that would distract me. “Yes,” I acquiesced, remembering we’d left him in the hands of an evil priest. “Let’s get out of here and rescue Amon, and then the three of you have some explaining to do.”
Spinning, I scooped up my bag and threaded my arm through Dr. Hassan’s, waiting for him to guide us out. As he began to lead, I heard Ahmose whisper to Asten, “Oh, I like her.”
“I do as well,” Asten replied. Then he said more loudly, “Though she makes a poor devotee, and she has a bad habit of decidedly not swooning at my feet, as any female in her right mind should.”
“Then I like her even more.” The two brothers followed us.
“Stop,” he commanded.
“What? Did you see something?” I asked.
“You are injured.”
“Yeah. Some biloko demons got ahold of me.”
“Biloko?” Ahmose traded glances with his brother and then knelt down to inspect my leg. “I can heal this, but the other must wait until the three of us are united. Even then…”
“The other?”
Asten interjected. “Ahmose, just do what you can for her leg and arm.”
“Very well.” Ahmose nodded. “Please, take my hand, Lily.”
He had a very nice voice, deep and comforting. I placed my hand in his and he wrapped his big fingers around it, cupping the top of it with his other hand. Warmth trickled into my veins as little pulses of silver light lit his skin.
The soothing sensation traveled to the injury on my arm and flowed down to my leg, an itching, tickling tenderness washing over my damaged limbs. I gasped as the burning feel of the bite disappeared, leaving a warm, relaxed tingle, as if the two limbs had just been given a shiatsu massage.
Ahmose opened his eyes. “There. How does that feel?”
“It feels amazing! Thank you!”
“It was a small kindness to thank you for the sacrifice you are making in helping us.”
“Yes, she has done much.” Asten rushed in and took my arm, guiding me away from his brother, who tagged along behind us good-naturedly.
Winding our way through the ghoulish boulders, I glanced back, wondering why Asten was trying to keep his brother and me apart. His diversions would be obvious even if I weren’t an astute observer of people.