The King's Guard

Chapter 39

The medic’s wing was quieter than Kael expected. A row of oil lamps burned low against the walls, their flames steady but dim, filling the air with the faint smell of ash and dried herbs. He sat on the narrow bed closest to the wall, tunic half torn where a blade had cut across his side. Reyna was there before the medic had even finished checking him, rolling her sleeves back as if she’d done this a hundred times.

“Sit still,” she said, dipping a cloth into a shallow basin.

“I am.”

“You’re fidgeting.”

“That’s breathing,” Kael replied.

She gave him a look, one eyebrow arched, and pressed the damp cloth to the wound. The sting forced a sharp breath through his teeth.

“Not so tough now,” she murmured.

Kael didn’t answer at once. The cool water mixed with the warmth of her hand, and though her touch was steady, he could feel how close she was leaning in. His mind was still scattered from the fight at the pass, the chaos of blades and shouting, but now all he could hear was the quiet rhythm of water dripping into the basin.

Reyna rinsed the cloth again. “You took the strike for Jared. Why?”

Kael exhaled slowly. “It was instinct.”

“Instinct doesn’t put you in front of a sword meant for someone else.”

He looked at her. “Would you have preferred I let him take it?”

Her lips pressed into a line. “That’s not what I’m saying.” She dabbed the cloth more gently this time. “But you can’t keep throwing yourself in front of everyone. Even him.”

Kael shrugged, though it hurt. “We needed him standing to finish the fight.”

“And he needed you bleeding for that?”

The words lingered. He wanted to argue, but she wasn’t wrong. He stayed quiet, letting her work.

The medic returned briefly, handed Reyna a roll of bandages, and moved on to check another trainee across the wing. Reyna started winding the fabric around his torso. Her fingers brushed his ribs as she tightened the wrap.

Kael winced. “That’s tighter than necessary.”

“You’ll thank me tomorrow.”

He studied her face in the lamplight. “You don’t say much when we’re out there. Orders, strategy, fine. But here, you don’t hold back.”

“That’s because here, you actually listen.”

He let out the faintest laugh, which turned into a cough. “Maybe I do.”

For a moment they worked in silence. She tied off the bandage and sat back slightly, studying her work. Kael realised her hand was still resting against his side, light and unthinking. He didn’t move it.

“You’re reckless,” she said quietly.

“You’re stubborn.”

Her eyes flicked up, meeting his. “Maybe that’s why we keep ending up side by side.”

The words weren’t playful, but they weren’t sharp either. Kael felt something in his chest tighten, not from the wound. He wanted to say something, to test what she meant, but nothing clear came.

Instead, he asked, “Do you ever think about what happens if we don’t make it through?”

She tilted her head. “All the time. Doesn’t change how I fight.”

“Doesn’t it?”

“No.” She leaned back against the edge of the bed across from him, arms folding loosely. “Fear’s there. Always. But it doesn’t own me.”

He nodded slowly. “I wish I had that.”

“You do. You just don’t see it.”

Kael lowered his gaze, fingers brushing the edge of the bandage. “I don’t see a lot of things.”

Reyna gave a faint smile. “That’s true. You didn’t even notice you’re bleeding onto the floor.”

He glanced down, startled, before realising she was joking. She smirked at his reaction.

“Not funny,” he muttered.

“A little funny.”

Her laugh was soft, and the sound stayed with him longer than it should have.

The door to the wing creaked then, breaking the quiet. Jared’s voice carried in before his body did.

“Well, well. Look at this.” He strolled inside, bruised but grinning, a strip of cloth tied around his arm. “The war hero and his loyal nurse.”

Reyna straightened immediately. “What do you want, Jared?”

“Checking on my squadmate.” Jared gestured lazily at Kael. “Can’t have him dying of a scratch after saving my life, can we?”

Kael met his gaze, steady. “You’re welcome.”

Jared smirked. “You say that like I asked for it.”

“You didn’t need to,” Kael replied. “You froze. Just wrap it up, nigga.”

That wiped the smile briefly from Jared’s face. He covered it with a laugh. “Everyone hesitates once. Better me than you.”

Reyna stepped in. “He covered for you. Maybe acknowledge that.”

“Oh, I do.” Jared leaned against the bedpost, far too close. “But let’s not pretend it was charity. Maybe Kael just wanted the glory of bleeding in front of everyone. Makes a better story.”

Kael didn’t move. “Is that what you think?”

“I think,” Jared said slowly, eyes flicking between Kael and Reyna, “that some of us like playing the martyr. And some of us like watching.”

Reyna’s expression hardened. “You’re out of line.”

“Am I?” Jared’s grin returned, sharp now. “I walk in and find the two of you, lights low, hands all over bandages. If I didn’t know better…”

Kael stood, ignoring the pull at his side. “You don’t know better.”

For a moment the air grew tight. Jared’s hand brushed against his own hilt, not quite drawing it. His eyes glinted, half amusement, half challenge.

Reyna’s voice cut through. “Enough. Both of you.”

Kael didn’t sit back down. Neither did Jared back away. They stood in that quiet standoff, the only sound the faint crackle of oil lamps.

Finally Jared chuckled and stepped back. “Relax. If you want her to patch you up in secret, that’s your business. Just don’t let it distract you next time we’re out there. I can’t cover for both of you.”

Reyna’s jaw clenched. “You didn’t cover for anyone today.”

“Details.” Jared tipped an imaginary hat and turned toward the door. “Goodnight, sweet squad. Don’t bleed out before breakfast.”

The door shut behind him.

Reyna exhaled hard. “He’s insufferable.”

Kael lowered himself back onto the bed. “He’s calculating.”

“Same thing.”

“No.” Kael stared at the dark wood of the door. “He meant every word. He’s watching.”

Reyna’s eyes narrowed. “Then let him. He’ll slip before we do.”

Silence stretched between them again. The medic passed once more down the hall, murmuring to an assistant, then left.

Reyna sat on the bed opposite, quieter now. “Don’t let him get in your head, Kael. That’s how he wins.”

Kael gave a short nod. “I’ll try.”

They didn’t speak much after that. Reyna leaned back, arms crossed, gaze on the ceiling beams. Kael lay down slowly, staring at the shadowed corner of the wing.

Neither admitted it, but Jared’s words had unsettled them both, not just because of the mockery, but because of what they left unspoken.

Kael’s last thought before sleep pulled him under was the brief weight of Reyna’s hand on his ribs, steadying him.

And how easily Jared had seen it too.