Stranger in a familiar land

[Helena]

Talin Sedai

Talin weathered his stupid waste of energy. It was all very emotional and self-indulgent, though she noted with some minor interest that he slipped easily to the accent and portrayal. Blood speckled his lips. A coughing fit ensued, though he seemed pleased with the effort. Talin half-sighed but at least did him the favour of maintaining her attention. He was going to be argumentative. Not an admirable trait.

“I did not ask for a vow,” she said, when he had finally expired himself. She did not sympathise with the cost each word took. Clearly he accepted the price.

She could hardly presume intelligence in a skull that swore itself to the Shadow, and he was heated with so much vile hatred she could only imagine the original decision had little to do with logic. But he said what she required to hear. Survival was the most potent motivator, and so long as she remained useful, she understood her place in the transaction. The rest she swept away like leftover viscera.

“You were betrayed then.” She didn’t phrase it as a question. There would be plenty of time to discern mysteries from this puzzle, if she decided she was so inclined – or indeed if it seemed necessary to know. “You must understand that even with my help, your recovery to full health will take months. Save your ire for clawing from the grave, it will be better spent.”

Talin stood, and came closer. She was not overfamiliar, and though tall, did not loom in her presence. Clearly she did not relish the proximity. Even prone he felt dangerous, like some subconscious and primal part of her brain saw a predator despite the knowledge he could barely lift his head from the pillow.

“You should be quite dead. A little longer and your fevered blood would be the thing to kill you. Or at least the thing to kill you fastest. I could list the details of your injuries, but I assume you do not wish to know. It is customary to ask consent, and I must tell you first that this is unorthadox. You are an experiment. But I am the only real chance you have. Do you consent?"