CHAPTER 68 Actually Communicate

Keith

Keith had not been expecting to fall into Henrietta's arms and get carried to bed … but apparently, that was what happened.

The weight of his headache mixed with his exhaustion had caused him to nod off even before they arrived back at Gren's Keep.

He probably should have protested; he didn't, though. Henrietta had let him carry her around, so it only seemed fair.

It took him two full rest cycles before he woke up in the afternoon of the next day. A part of him regretted losing so much time, but he wouldn't have done anything differently.

Alright, maybe he would have drunk the potions sooner. Still, it wasn't his first near death from [Mana Burn], and it wouldn't be his last. With Chloe around, it didn't seem like too much trouble, aside from the headache.

He flinched when he remembered the anger in Ria's voice last night. He'd have to apologize.

The door to his room opened at the same time he tried to sit up.

Henrietta stood there, holding two cups of tea.

"Good morning … afternoon," Keith corrected himself. He awkwardly stuffed a stray lock of long black hair behind his ear. He realized that a portion of his hair had tangled around his horn, and he started to pull it all straight.

"How did you sleep?" Henrietta came forward and put the tea on the bedside table.

"Like the not-dead," Keith joked. He could tell it fell flat. He didn't know if that was cultural or if she was still angry at him. He would bet the latter. "Listen, Ria, I want to apologize for upsetting you yesterday."

"Just for upsetting me?" Ria sat down in the chair across from Keith and looked him square in the eyes. Her voice was calm and collected like a scholar, belaying any hurt or sarcasm. "What about how you didn't tell me you had [Mana Burn] and almost died, alone in a tent, mere inches away from me?" Here she let a small amount of frustration show. "I know how hard it is to show weakness, but I hope you know I'm not going to just stab you when you're down?"

"Actually, I do know that," he whispered softly. "Thank you."

Keith finished detangling the last of his hair and flipped it back over his shoulder. He threw the covers off and swung his legs over the side so he could sit facing her. One of the relationship counseling books Rufus had forced on him—and that he'd read six times—was very clear about this sort of situation.

"Let's talk about what happened and make a plan going forward," he told her, hoping communication was, indeed, the best course of action. "It's just that when you had an anxiety attack in the dungeon, I panicked. I moved to get us out of there faster than I've ever cleared a floor before, and I overdid it. I admit it. And afterward, I didn't want you to worry. I thought you were already kicking yourself to apologize for something you didn't need to apologize for."

Keith paused. He might have rambled on longer than necessary, but better to actually communicate now than risk misunderstandings later. He did add, "I thought that I could just refill some mana and go to the Noodle House, and it wouldn't be a big deal."

Henrietta took a deep breath. "Why does everyone in this kingdom think that dying isn't such a big deal?"

Keith lifted a finger to point out the obvious, but Henrietta pushed on. "There was no Chloe to [Resurrect] you if you died in that tent. What if something happened with one of my father's assassins? What if you didn't drink the potions in time? Were you just going to leave it to Fate?"

"Fate is one of my patron goddesses … but no," Keith admitted. "Honestly, in a worst-case scenario, I had trusted you might give me your Revive Potion. My minions are loyal, but the strongest reigns and all that …"

Henrietta crossed her arms. "Of course I would have. If I wasn't half way back to Gren's Keep with Lady Amy by then."

Keith pushed on. "And in the same vein, I wish that you'd told me before going into the dungeon that there might be difficulties if we encountered tight, dark spaces … but I understand why you didn't."

"So I didn't tell you I was … weak to dark spaces, and you didn't tell me you had [Mana Burn], so it's fair?" Henrietta picked up her cup of tea and blew on it.

"No." Keith shook his head. "All is fair between us because comparing like that won't help anyone."

"I was worried …" Henrietta sighed. "This is the first time we've inconvenienced each other. Thank you for not leaving when I was being less than fair."

"Inconvenience might not be the word I would use … but I think we both felt that way." Keith picked up his own tea. It was already prepared perfectly, and he smiled a bit as he took a sip. "So should we get to the planning part next?"

Henrietta smiled to herself, tapping her mug with one finger. The motion drew his eye, and he suddenly felt the urge to hold her hands. Something he'd been struggling with a lot lately.

"I let you know if something is bothering me before I go catatonic and stab you?" Henrietta teased. "And you let me know if you're on the verge of dying from overdoing things?"

Keith chuckled. "Do you think we'll actually be able to follow through with that?"

"We can try," Henrietta replied. "And if we fail, then we talk about it? That is … if you really are alright with my … struggles? You're sure?"

"Everyone is afraid of something," Keith said. He himself had been struggling with his own fears ever since Henrietta had showed up at his castle smelling like freshly baked scones and suddenly becoming a part of his everyday life. He would talk to her about that too. Soon. Probably.

When he figured things out and had answers.

Henrietta relaxed a bit. "And I'm still interested. In us … But I think there is one more thing you'll have to do as punishment."

"What is that?" Keith raised an eyebrow.

Henrietta smiled. "I'm not the only one who's going to get thrown in the dungeon when we get home."