Trinket (Reverse Harem)

Another Morning, Another Bed

 I was back in my own bed.

My head pounded. That became instantly clear the moment I tried to sit up. I succeeded in sitting up but my head tried to explode.

Once that stopped, my leg reminded me it had three cut marks in it.

And then I processed I just felt... weak.

I hadn't lost that much blood.

There was a cup next to my bed. I nearly dropped it convincing my fingers to grip it, then I coughed on the foul taste.

Well, that was a rude surprise.

I forced myself to drink all of it, even though it tasted like rot. Couldn't be precious about water, and if my consorts had served me sludgy water, it was because it was what we had. My stomach didn't appreciate it, though.

Was it not going to stay down?

No, I was fine.

Terrible taste in my mouth, though.

Ormiss came around the door.

"Are you wearing pants?" I blurted out.

He looked down at himself, then gave me his private, charming smile. "I do know how to dress like a land-dweller."

He had on pants and a shirt. I'd either seen him naked or in skirts of varying types, but never land-dweller clothes, and not in a dark, forest green trimmed with brown leather. Which looked incredibly handsome on him, but odd all the same.

"Wasn't I in Korr's bed?" I asked, confused and still working on untangling myself from the blankets.

"You were. We brought you back to your own."

"What--what days it is?"

"If your last memory is being in Korr's bed, it is the day after that." He pulled the blankets off me, and leaned down as I moved my legs over the side.

"What?"

"I suppose we just exhausted you," Ormiss said mischievously, his face close to mine. His hair was braided away from his face in a very conventional land-dweller style. The only necklace he wore was his trinket, which rested against the open lacings of his shirt.

"Asund didn't bleed me that much, did he?" It hadn't looked like that much. "How is Korr? What's going on in Haven? Has anyone told Deliah and Yanice and--Marcus is still in the other house."

"Oddly, yes, he is. Soir hasn't recalled him, and I've told him he can stay. Just to keep the bird confused. Not sure what diplomatic game Soir and I are playing, but I'm certain I am winning." Ormiss' lips curved into a bladed smile. "War has not broken out. Haven is very confused."

He looked down at my arms.

"Oh," I said. That's why my arms were sore. I had hand-shaped bruises from where Ethat had grabbed me.

Ormiss ground his teeth.

"Oh, don't," I begged him. "I don't want to fight about it. Tell me about the ravens instead."

"You mean the constant spies that heard Korr screaming? They're doing what ravens do."

"And... where is Ethat?"

"Staying out of our sight."

"What a time for me to pass out. What...nevermind."

"Slowly." Ormiss steadied me while I stood and all my blood felt like it redistributed itself. It took a few heartbeats, and then all my pieces felt like they rearranged themselves.