More of Glory

I've had an odd day. I took some pills this morning for a cold, and they knocked me out. I've felt odd and out of touch with things for the rest of the day, and I don't think I dare take anything else for a while.

I can't say that I have a real brain right now, either. There are a few cells bouncing around in there, but mostly they're just kind of waving at each other in passing. It's unfortunate, since I do have a lot of things that need to be done.

Russ might come home this weekend. We suspect, given how badly the weather has gone, that it won't happen. But on the off, odd chance that it does, I need to have things cleared out so I can spend time with him and not worry about FM updates or DAZ newsletters.

I just need to focus, and that's not happening today. Gah. It's not really happening. I've been working on this little note for a couple hours now, and I get a line or two written and then my mind wanders off to something else.

I guess I'll just drop another snippet of Glory here and call it good. I hope you like it.




"I must take a shower," Talis said. He pushed himself up from the chair and tottered on his feet for a moment, balancing with one hand against the wall.

"Do you need help?" Glory asked -- and blushed.

He laughed. She thought she ought to be annoyed at his reaction as well as her own, but then she laughed as well.

"As soon as I'm in the water, I will be much better," he assured her as he stumbled past.

"I hope the pipes still work," she said.

"If there is a problem, it will not last for long."

"Good. Be quick. I want a shower, too."

He paused for a moment and she almost thought he might suggest they share the shower. She didn't know what she would say if he did. Instead he shook his head, grabbed some clothing from the closet by the door, and headed into the bathroom.

She stood there, feeling... relieved?

Not really.

Hell.

She had work to do. Glory moved her shoulder bag and the drawer to the side of the bed, within easy reach. She began taking things out of the secret compartment of her suitcase, preparing for the night's work. She stacked them on the table beside the bed, moved the suitcase back to the floor, and sat down to wait.

Talis didn't take long, and he certainly looked better for it afterwards, even without a shirt on. She winced at the sight of the bruises and the red, puffy area of the arrow wound.

He'd taken his hair out of the braid, too. It dripped a little water still at the end, but the shower's blower had nearly dried it to a fine, long cloak of waves.

"That hair is incredible," Glory said, shaking her head as she stood and circled him. He looked amused again. The hair seemed to roll and fall down to his waist. She had never seen such nice looking hair on anyone, man or woman, and had to stop herself from reaching out and petting it.

"In my place, such hair is a sign of..." He started to say something and stopped. "Of station."

"Has it ever been cut?"

"No. Those who brought me here say that they will cut it off if I do not cooperate, but I think they know if they try, I'll be far too angry to deal with."

She nodded. "Do you want me to braid it for you?"

"Only after you shower. I just got all the soot out."

She looked at her hands. Soot, dirt, and his blood... She shivered at the sight as the horror of the night came back. Nearly losing Talis...

"Go shower, Gloryanna," he said softly. She looked at him, marveling that he had survived, and how he seemed concerned for her. "You'll feel better."

Glory nodded and moved, though slowly, and wincing at aches and pains that had already settled into her muscles. She knelt and grabbed clean clothes out of her suitcase and headed for the shower.

And did feel better for it. The warm water pulsed against the back of her neck, loosening muscles that had almost turned to stone with stress. She wondered if Talis had done something magical with the water. Or perhaps she began to relax because she realized they had survived one hell of a hard day, and while nothing had been remotely settled yet, they had not failed. That counted for a lot in this madness.

And she had answers. Not the final answer they would need to defeat Amam, but they had taken a good many steps along the way.

Fearing she might fall asleep, she turned off the water and turned on the air to a soft warmth, letting water slip away, taking the last of the grime with it. She pulled on loose, comfortable lounge clothing, and came back out to find Talis standing by the window, a shirt pulled on, but not buttoned. It had begun to rain outside.

"Did you do that?"

"No. It's natural here, though perhaps some of my earlier work might have brought this into play. I'm not sure."

"Come and sit down in the chair," she said, tapping the back of the seat. "I'll braid your hair, and then you need to get some sleep."

He looked at her for a moment. She couldn't imagine what she saw in that shadowy stare, though. Then he nodded, as though he had made some important decision. "Yes, you are right."

Talis pulled a chair around and sat down, and she got to play with his lovely, long hair. Odd. She'd never liked doing anything with her own -- obviously why she kept it so short. But she remembered spending hours with her sister's hair when she was younger, and with doll hair.

She laughed.

"What?"

"Oh sorry. I think I've just found my inner beautician. Maybe I should have taken up hairdressing as a job. My life would have been a lot calmer today."