Page 46 of Vexing Valmir
I point at the leather curtain that closes off Veronica's private quarters from the healing alcove.
He shakes the chime to announce his arrival, and the healer emerges with a startled squeak. "Oh my god, Bek! You're dripping blood everywhere!"
The male sighs as if aggrieved. "There is not that much blood. It is a tiny wound, but my mate wanted me to have you look at it." He holds his hand out, but his expression tells me that he fears this is an overreaction. "Please check it for me and put her concerns to rest."
"Tiny wound? You nearly sliced your finger off." She examines his hand and shakes her head. Then Veronica points at the floor. "Sit down next to Valmir and I'll get some bandages."
He sits where she indicates, still holding his hand to his chest as the healer disappears inside the other portion of the hut. We stare at each other.
"It's a small wound," he says grudgingly again.
"You don't have to explain yourself, friend."
He harrumphs, as if my response irks him. I seem to be irking everyone today. "When you are mated, you will understand."
"That's a keffing relief, because right now, I don't understand females at all."
"I didn't say you would understand them," he admits. "They are impossible to understand sometimes. But you will want to please them at all times because making your mate happy is what you want most." He waves his good hand at the surroundings. "And that means letting the healer fuss over you."
Veronica returns, setting down a stool between us. She squats on it while she tends to Bek's hand, and the other hunter is silent. His words are echoing in my ears, though. Here is a male who admits he doesn't understand his mate, but he loves her anyhow. Is this something that I should be aware of? Am I supposed to be constantly confused by my female? Or is there some other information I'm missing entirely?
All is quiet in the healing hut, the only sound that of breathing and my occasional tail thump.
"There," Veronica finally says. "All better. Try not to get it wet for the rest of the day."
"Why?" Bek asks, and he sounds as surly as I do when I am told something without an explanation.
"Because you don't want it to get infected?" She gives the wrapping covering his wound a little pat.
"You just healed it."
She points at the soft leather wrap. "And I put a bandage on it, and you don't want a wet bandage on a wound?"
"Why wouldn't I take the bandage off?"
She sighs and pulls the wrap off. "I'm sure you would. I'm just advising you, all right? It's my job to look after everyone's health. Do as you like. Be a stubborn goat."
He grunts and gets to his feet. "My thanks for the healing, even if it wasn't necessary. It was a small prick of the knife. Nothing, really." With one last glance at me, he turns and leaves.
Veronica just shakes her head.
I get to my feet. "You know what? I think I'll take a walk. Try out the new ankle."
"Oh good!" The healer seems pleased at this announcement. "Just walk carefully if you head down to the beach. Some of the rocks can turn an ankle. And no climbing. And don't stay out too long."
"Anything else?" It's on the tip of my tongue to comment something sarcastic, but this female has been very patient with my injury and tending to me. Even I know not to bite the hand of the healer.
She pauses, clasping her hands in front of her. "I think that's all. If it starts to hurt, come back. The khui helps things set very fast, but with two breaks in the same spot, your bones are weak."
"My bones are incredible," I inform her, insulted.
Her hands flutter to her forehead. "That's not what I meant...you know what? Never mind. Go walk. If anything falls off, I'll fix it."
When I get to my feet, I'm aching and sore all over, as if I've run for days instead of lying around on my tail for the last several. Everything hurts, but I would never admit this to anyone. I move slowly and adjust my gait so I don't show a limp and head out after Bek.
I want to talk to him. Find out more about how he is with his mate. Find out if it is common for human females to be utterly baffling to their males. Perhaps he will have advice for me. Kef knows I could use some. Every time I think I have an idea of what is going on, April proves me wrong.
I trail after Bek, following at a safe distance as he moves across the camp, and as I walk, I try to decide how to phrase my questions. Do I ask specifics? Or do I try a broader approach? I don't know him well enough to calculate this. Actually, I don't knowanyonein the camp well enough to determine this. Perhaps Corvak.
