“He indicates that he left her very…um…clear instructions upon his departure that she was not to follow him. That, as usual, she shames him by acting like the…uh…” He swallowed hard under Anjali’s steely gaze and continued, “…by acting like the untamed brat that she is, even though she is now old enough to know how to behave properly.” Anjali had the feeling Georgs was editing the more colorful phrases.
“He asks if Miss Swenda…uh…has…um…recently checked her groin to ensure that she has not recently grown a set of…oh dear…testicles. And if she has not, perhaps she may wish to acquire some since she…uh…insists on behaving as if she had been born a man. A man, like Dr. Nariovsky-Trent is. A fact that he believes Miss Swenda has forgotten.”
Anjali didn’t know whether to laugh at the ridiculously prissy translation Georgs had provided, or if she should kick Michael back to Parnaas to see if he’d prefer it there after all.
Sophie and Michael were locked in a furious staring contest. Sophie took a deep breath and spoke icily in Orlisian. The Rev and Anjali turned to Georgs again for the play-by-play.
“Miss Swenda says it is refreshing to see that Dr. Nariovsky-Trent has not changed during his time in captivity, but I believe she is employing sarcasm in this case.” Anjali rolled her eyes at the Rev. “She also says that she understands how frightened he feels upon finding her in this place of danger. Because she has been similarly angry and frightened for the last several months while Dr. Nariovsky-Trent, too, was in harm’s way.
“She thanks God that Dr. Nariovsky-Trent is alive and still able to shout like the sexist…um…there is no translation for that word…individual that he is. Miss Swenda says she loves Dr. Nariovsky-Trent more than her own life, but that if he addresses her thusly again, she will…your pardon…acquire the testicles he referred to earlier from Dr. Nariovsky-Trent personally. With force.”
Anjali snorted with laughter. Even the Rev chuckled. Michael still stood there, but the anger had faded from his face. He looked lost. Sophie’s expression softened, and she patted the bed beside her. He limped over to lie down beside her. In minutes, he’d fallen back into a restless sleep, the fever sending him into another bout of violent chills.
They applauded from the doorway, and Sophie blushed. She busied herself with pulling the blanket up over Michael’s shivering form. But Anjali stepped forward to stop her, a loose IV line hanging from her hand.
“He can’t keep taking his IV lines out,” Anjali said. “We’re going to run out of veins. Nor can we keep him sedated around the clock. And I think restraints would be very bad for him psychologically, given what he’s been through.” Everyone in the room shuddered at the thought of Michael waking up delirious to find himself strapped to the bed.
“Sophie, why don’t you move back to your room?” Anjali’s voice was gentle. “You don’t need to be here anymore. Maybe then he’ll stop trying to come to you every time he wakes.”
“No. I won’t leave him,” Sophie said instantly. “If I need to, I’ll sit beside his bed all night to prevent him from wandering, but I won’t leave him.” She looked down at his sleeping form lying against her. “I’m not ready to let him out of my sight yet.”
That night, Sophie slept with Michael in the narrow hospital bed. No amount of arguing from Anjali or the rest of the medical staff could convince her otherwise.
She awoke before dawn the next morning, gradually becoming aware that her chest and one shoulder were wet. Is the IV dripping on me? But before she could check, Michael took a deep breath, gasped, and started coughing.
“It’s okay,” she murmured. “You’re safe. I’m here. Don’t be afraid.” She started to move the arm that she had wrapped around his body, when she suddenly realized Michael’s skin was no longer blistering with heat.
His fever had broken, and she was soaked with his sweat. Sophie felt a huge wave of relief wash over her, then nearly jumped out of her skin as she heard a cracked, feeble voice break the silence.
“Mana mila, why do you speak to me as if I were a child?”
For a moment, Sophie thought she was dreaming. Heart racing, she released him and slid out of bed. She walked around the bed and crouched down in the dimness so she could see his face. Instead of the blank, unresponsive gaze she’d seen for the last few days, Michael – the real, aware Michael – looked back at her.
“It’s you, isn’t it?” She flipped on a small lamp, relief pounding through her blood. Michael scowled at her, then lifted his arm and stared in amazement at the battlefield of puncture marks on it. The IV looked like it had been secured with an entire roll of tape.
“Of course it is,” he whispered crossly. “Who were you expecting?”
“It’s been hard to tell lately.” She headed toward the door. Michael gasped in pain, and Sophie turned back to see him attempting to sit up. She opened her mouth to tell him to lie back down, then thought better of it.
“Where are you going?” he croaked.
“To get someone from the medical team.” She saw his blank look. “I want someone to check on you.” She started out the door once more.