Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 129584 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 648(@200wpm)___ 518(@250wpm)___ 432(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129584 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 648(@200wpm)___ 518(@250wpm)___ 432(@300wpm)
“Talk to me about clan specialties,” Gunter urged, poised again to type.
Sora obliged, explaining one clan at a time. Gunter was an avid listener and took notes furiously. Really, he was at court-reporting speed, that was how quickly he typed. It brought up the topic of the Abe’s specialty, and it gave Sora a chance to ask a burning question.
“Is it alright if I offer my services here?”
Gunter blinked at him from behind his yellow-tinged glasses. “Of course! I’m not sure why you have to ask.”
“I don’t wish to impose or assume too much,” Sora explained. The idea of pushing his ideas onto someone else when they were unwanted made him squirm. It wasn’t polite to do that. “But I’ve seen several ailments in the clan, and I’d like to attend to them. The aged dragon with the severe cataracts, for instance.”
“Sandor? Yes, his eyes are growing progressively worse.” Gunter nodded in encouragement. “Please, do. Human medicine can’t help dragons very much. Our physiology makes it impossible.”
“Trust me, I’m well aware.” This was the more delicate question, and Sora tried to phrase it the right way. “I’ve heard hints that your king also has something ailing him?”
“If you’re talking about the injury he still suffers from, then yes. And please, please do something to help him if you can.” Gunter took off his glasses, rubbing at the bridge of his nose, his expression pained. “Our mages do all they can, but they’re just treating his pain. He has no strength in his left arm. He…he can’t fly.”
The final bit was soft and slightly choked. These weren’t the words of a clanmate or a loyal subject, but of someone who ached for his beloved friend.
Sora winced. “I didn’t realize it was so severe. Was this from the war?”
“Yes. His father took the brunt of an attack meant for him—it’s how we lost our former king. But Hoheit didn’t escape it unscathed. We were devastated then, and we’re pained by it now. Please, examine him. Hoheit won’t think to ask at this stage; he’s resigned to it. But surely an Abe can do something more than treat his pain.”
Sora had no doubt of that and nodded sharply. “I will certainly try. If nothing else, removing the scar tissue that is likely building up will ease a significant amount of his pain and should give him some mobility back.”
Gunter practically beamed at him. “You can do that without surgery?”
“I should be able to do it with light surgery, I should say. It depends how deeply the damage goes. But I’ll offer my help to King Alric and see how he responds.” Sora glanced at the clock and frowned. “Apologies, but can we resume later? I’ve promised to meet Ravi for lunch.”
It seemed Gunter only then realized the hour himself, and he blinked at the clock as if wondering where the time had gone. “Oh! Oh, it is that time. Sure, go ahead. Later this afternoon?”
“Sure.” Sora was half out of his chair when he realized Gunter was looking at him a bit strangely. “Is something…?”
“Huh? Oh, no. It’s hard for me to wrap my head around it, is all. Ravi being courted.”
Now that, Sora couldn’t leave be. “Why?”
Gunter’s head canted one direction, then another, as if he sought the words to explain.
“It’s not that I don’t see him as an adult. He’s five hundred and three years old, of course he is. It’s just that he’s always been everyone’s kid brother. We, as a clan, helped raise him. And he’s this jokester we don’t take seriously most of the time. Seeing a serious man like you courting him is breaking my brain on some level.”
How interesting. Sora could understand, in a way, how Gunter’s perception of Ravi colored his view of things. But he also felt a challenge in those words and couldn’t let it stand.
“It’s because of his spontaneity that I’m drawn to him.”
Gunter regarded him carefully. “Really. That’s why?”
“And he’s wickedly cute.” Sora winked and got a surprised smile out of Gunter. “But, yes, I think that’s what initially caught my interest. I’m too much the straight-man. It’s hard for me to be impulsive, as my nature doesn’t lend itself to that kind of behavior. But I enjoy it in other people and admire those who can be true to their emotions. Ravi is the epitome of that.”
Snorting, Gunter agreed. “He’s definitely that. We’ve all said for years that Ravi needed someone responsible as a mate, otherwise the world might burn. So, in that sense, Sora, I’m glad that you’re the one courting him. But, you understand what will happen if you hurt him?”
Sora blinked in surprise. Oh. A shovel talk? Really? He’d never been on the receiving end of one. It was a novel experience.
“I don’t think I’d come out unscathed. Or alive.”