The Jewel of Turmish - Mel Odom [104]
Haarn sat back against the rock wall and took deep breaths. His body shook, but he gave thanks to Silvanus for providing him the power to heal. When he opened his eyes, Druz was looking at him.
"Are you all right?" she asked.
Haarn resented the question. She always seemed to be prying, trying to find the weak and uncertain parts of him.
"Why would I not be all right?"
A hard look flashed through her eyes and she said, "Gods, but you're a stubborn man, Haarn Brightoak. I was only asking because I'm worried about you. You were injured as well, and you've spent every waking moment taking care of us-your father, Broadfoot, and me-though I can take care of myself."
Anger flickered in Haarn's stomach and he considered reminding her how he'd had to show her where to find nuts, berries, and edible mushrooms. He refrained through a supreme effort of will.
"There's no reason to worry about me," he said.
She wanted to object-he saw that in her face-but she didn't. Instead, she drew her knees up higher and wrapped her arms around them.
"I know that," she said. "I guess what bothers me most is that I feel like a burden."
The sudden change in her thinking caught Haarn off-balance. He didn't know what to say.
"I'm not used to feeling like that," Druz went on. "Fm a good sellsword. No one has ever said they didn't get what they paid for."
She stopped herself and shrugged.
"Well, hardly anyone," she continued, "and that was through no fault of my own. I fought for those people and bled for those people, but winning what they wanted wasn't possible."
Haarn leaned forward and fed the campfire from a small pile of sticks and broken branches they'd gathered the day before.
"You're not a burden."
She looked up at him. Haarn felt uncomfortable. "If it weren't for you," he explained, "I wouldn't have been able to rest while tending to my father." "You've rested very little."
"I wouldn't have rested at all if you hadn't been here."
Druz nodded and said, Thank you."
Haarn watched her for a while, expecting more questions. Broadfoot's and Ettrian's breathing filled the overhang over the snap and crackle of the campfire. After a time, the sound lulled Haarn. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. He couldn't have had them closed for very long at all before the woman spoke again.
"What happened to your mother?" she asked.
Slowly, Haarn opened his eyes and looked at her. An uncomfortable expression filled her face.
"I mean, if you don't mind saying. It's just that your conversation with your father made me curious. Staying quiet all the time… I'm used to having someplace to go, people to talk with, but I've just been sitting here for the last day and a half."
Haarn tried to think of what to say, whether to answer her question or to tell her it was none of her business.
"I'm sorry," Druz said. "Obviously I've stepped over a line here. You go on back to sleep and I'll watch the fire."
Irritation filled Haarn. He wanted nothing more than for the woman to be quiet. Problems already danced in his head regarding his father's health and what the return of Borran Kiosk might herald. He didn't need to rake over the coals of past hurts, but he didn't like the fact that she sat there feeling alone. He knew how to keep the peace within himself, but she was out of her element and not necessarily among friends.
"My mother," Haarn said, "deserted us."
"Why?"
Haarn hesitated.
"Maybe that wasn't a good question," she said quickly.
Haarn knew she wanted to know, and he wanted her to know. He looked at her, realizing she was more like his mother than he wanted to admit.
"I don't know," he said.
Druz nodded.
Haarn drew in a deep breath and assembled his thoughts. He'd never talked to anyone about bis feelings regarding his mother, and he'd never had the opportunity to talk to someone so like her.
"My mother was a warrior. I don't even know where she hailed from."
His father never told him and he couldn't remember his mother ever saying. A twinge of guilt shot through him, but he walled it away with other thoughts and feelings of