Rain and Night - A Glorybringer Story

Chapter 6

Deathbringer let out a low moan, alerting the healer near him. The healer — Mango — had told him a few hours ago to not touch his arm, because the poison had spread. It was almost sunset, two days after he had been stung. The sick feeling had intensified and the wound showed signs of infection, according to the healers. 

"Glory will be back soon with the antidote, right?" He overheard Mango say to another healer, Bullfrog. 

"Hopefully, I don't think he'll survive much longer without it," Bullfrog whispered. They both glanced at him, looking concerned. Both of them then went to check his temperature. "He's fine right now. I'm not sure if it can give you fever, though."

But, before Mango had time to answer, a familiar figure stepped into the healer's hut, and both the healers gasped. 

"Your Majesty!" Mango exclaimed. Glory was clutching two cacti in her arms, and she was sweaty and tired, but she still held her head high and tried not to pant. 

"Glory ... !" Deathbringer murmured, but his voice must have been very quiet because no one heard. However, Glory noticed his bad condition and hurried over, handing the cacti to Bullfrog and Mango. No obvious emotion registered on her face, but Deathbringer thought he saw concern and fear. 

"Glory," he whispered again. He reached out his uninjured talon and a moment later he felt the warmth of Glory's talon in his. Deathbringer opened his eyes and saw that there was a trace of pink on her scales. The pink of happiness. A smile formed on his lips. 

This time, she heard him and responded, "Yeah, I'm back." She paused before adding, "I got the antidote, by the way. In case you were curious."

"Oh, not curious at all," he managed to say. "I knew you'd have gotten it." He considered it for a moment before letting slip his usual mischievous personality. "Although I'm not quite sure why the queen wouldn't let an ordinary subject that she totally doesn't care about die."

"Oh, I guess it isn't a queen's duty to ensure the safety of her subjects, then," Glory responded calmly, but Deathbringer was surprised again to find her twining her tail around his. This wasn't normal for Glory, but he liked it anyways.  Surprisingly as well, she added quietly, "I'm glad you didn't die."

Then, Glory was gently pushed away by Bullfrog, who was carrying a jar with some water-like juice in it. 

"This is the cactus juice," he explained. "I'll apply it to your wound." The healer then leaned down, peeled away the bandage, and dripped some of the antidote onto his wound. Deathbringer couldn't help but sigh in relief. It numbed the pain quite a lot. 

"You're welcome," Glory said, almost smugly. He smiled in amusement. The relief was nice after the days of pain from the poison. Over the next few hours, the healers applied the antidote several times, until it was night and the healers went to bed. However, Glory posted herself by his bed, almost as if she was watching over him, until the rainforest was dead silent apart from the sounds of croaking frogs. 

She turned around suddenly and saw that he was awake. 

"Deathbringer ..." she murmured, her eyes glinting in the moonlight. She glanced down. " ... when I was trying to find the cactus for the antidote ... I, I was worried about you—you dying." He found a hint of embarrassed lighter pink on her ears. "I was scared."

Deathbringer assumed that she was saying that to him then because in the dead of night, she was able to drop her queenly mask without anyone looking. Anyone apart from Deathbringer. To him, it was a sign of trust. 

"Don't worry, I'll live, now that we have the antidote," he reassured her. Surprisingly yet again, Glory gave him an elusive smile. 

"Alright," she said, regal once more. "It's almost midnight. I have to go back to the audience room."

"Okay. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."