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. I.I can t.I just need.do you mind?Did he mind what? No. Whatever Kei was asking, he didn t mind. Water? Kei sarm went carefully under his shoulder, and helped him up a little, which hurt like all sixhells, before holding a mug of water to his lips.The water was very cold, delicious. Don twear yourself out. I m needed, Arman.Kei helped him rest again and wiped his face with a cool cloth, before laying his handon Arman s forehead.He felt faint tremors going through it, or maybe it was the drugs andconfusion which made him think that.Kei sat like that for a long time, just holding his hand, wiping Arman s face from timeto time until he slipped into unconsciousness again.When he woke, he was alone again.~~~~~~~~Vikis would probably live, Kei decided, rubbing eyes that felt like they were full ofsand.The crisis had passed, finally it had been several days, though, since his fever hadbegun to spike as he fought the injury and the infection.Kei had done all he could to reducethe spread of that, keeping the wound cleaned and drained, monitoring the injury with hisgift.Why was there nothing they could do to fight infections once they took hold? Kei hada few remedies which limited infections a little, and Nev was using a tea made of isekleaves the academy had recently recommended as being of some use.It was somewhathelpful, if only in stopping the sick man from becoming completely dehydrated, andperhaps all of the remedies they had offered Vikis together had helped a good deal.Butthere was no single effective drug they could give to someone with a severe woundinfection that would stop it spreading through their body.They always had to rely almostentirely on the strength of the patient themselves in fighting it, and do what they could torelieve the symptoms.Vikis was strong, but the battle exhausted him and the healers trying to help him.Nowhe was a little more comfortable, Kei could leave Perik, the other medic, watching him andthe other patients.He crawled onto his cot to get a few hours sleep.He woke to the sound of an agonised cry, and with shock, realised it was Arman cryingout, not Vikis.The sound drove him to his feet before he was completely awake.Tiko hadhis hands on Arman, whose face was contorted in pain as he struggled with the captain. Let him go! Kei shouted, running over to the two men.He grabbed Tiko back by hiscollar, managing to pull the man to his feet. You will not hurt my patients!Tiko grabbed his wrist and pulled his hand off him. Will you calm down? he said ina low, angry voice. Get out of the infirmary! I never said you could talk to him, let alone torture him!Tiko grabbed his shoulders. Move, now.Outside.Kei had little chance of fighting the grasp of a fully fit, trained soldier, and so inmoments he found himself out in the cold air on the verandah outside the infirmary.Somewhere along the way, it had become day again, he noted with a small part of his mind.The other part was concerned with the angry man glaring at him at close quarters. Let mego, he said through gritted teeth, Tiko s anger battering at him.He shoved him back. Stopit!Tiko was so surprised at his vehemence he did in fact take his hands off Kei and stepback. What in hells is wrong with you? I m a damn soul-toucher, Kei spat, and I don t want to feel your anger or what youwant to do to my patients.Have we Darshianese become like the Prij, harming people inour charge? I wasn t harming anyone, you damn fool! I dropped in to see how Vikis and the otherswere doing, and the general looked uncomfortable.I offered to help him sit up but I think Ihurt his leg.How in hells.? He moved closer to Kei to peer at him worriedly. What didthey do to you that you would think a prisoner would be treated like that? Were youtortured?Kei moved back against the wall. No.not exactly.Gods, I m sorry, I just. Hewiped his face with his hand, feeling like all kinds of a fool. I was asleep.Maybe I wasdreaming. He was having such bad nightmares again.Tiko put his hand on Kei s shoulder, but when Kei winced, even Tiko s concernrubbing him a little raw, he let him go again. You should get more rest, healer, and not inthe infirmary.I don t know what happened to you in Utuk, but I think it must have beenbad if you weren t here, we d have to manage.Let Nev and Perik take over, that s anorder.Kei glared at him. I don t take orders from anyone any more I m not in the armyand I m damn well not a slave either.If I weren t here, those men would be dead, includingtwo of our own, and I am here so I have a responsibility to them
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