20. Karul

Iopen my eyes to the soft, diffused glow of dawn seeping through the cracks of the cramped room where we sought shelter. Immediately, I turn to check on Jasmine lying next to me and, to my dismay, she remains unmoving, her breathing shallow.

"Jasmine?" I give her shoulder a gentle shake. No response. Worry gnaws at my gut because her fever raged dangerously high through the night despite my efforts to keep her cool and hydrated. Carefully, I gather her limp form into my arms. She feels impossibly light, her head lolling limply against my chest. I have to get her to a healer.

After packing up and preparing myself, I step outside and I"m greeted by the cheerful, melodious morning birdsong, which seems to mock our current predicament. I walk for hours, following the road and scanning for any town or village where I might find help.

All the while, Jasmine doesn"t stir once, lost in unconsciousness. "Hold on, please," I murmur, periodically pressing my palm to her clammy forehead. The fever still burns. With her limp body cradled against my chest, I strike out along the rutted forest road as the morning sun peeks over the trees. My mind whirls with fear for her as I trek for hours with no town in sight.

Yet the road winds and winds. Endlessly through the hushed woods. Endlessly draining my resolve. I can't lose her; the beauty of nature dapples the surrounding ground, wildlife calling out from the branches, all of it heedless of my urgency. And still, my sweet Jasmine remains still and silent in my arms except for her shallow, ragged breathing.

Curse the gods, high and low.

Are they not entertained by my plight?

For me, falling over this pitiful little human?

As we walk further into midday, my feet are aching, and my arms are burned from carrying her continuous dead weight. But I cannot stop. I murmur encouragements to her unresponsive form and pray we come across a village soon.

The road seems to go on forever, with no end in sight, and as the afternoon drags into evening, I despair. There's nothing to do but despair. Jasmine"s skin is scalding to the touch, her breath rattling weakly in her chest.

As I reach the point of exhaustion, the density of trees lessens, revealing a cluster of buildings in the distance. New adrenaline surges through my exhausted body and I take off running with her in my arms, ignoring the screaming protest of my muscles and at long last, I reach the outskirts of a village.

Just as the sun sinks below the horizon. Just as I had resolved to keel over and die, after enduring twelve hours of non-stop hiking through rugged terrain, I am pushed to the brink of exhaustion. But none of that matters now that we"ve made it and Jasmine can get the help she desperately needs.

I stumble into the center of the unfamiliar village as dusk falls, clutching Jasmine"s limp body to my heaving chest. My legs tremble and buckle from exertion, and I cry out with what little voice I have left:

"Healer! Please, I need a healer!"

My shout comes out as little more than a cracked, desperate rasp. My throat is bone dry after hours of walking without water. I swallow with difficulty, trying to work some moisture into my ragged vocal cords. "Help her, please!" I call again, forcing the volume into my parched throat.

The edges of my vision go dark and spotty from sheer exhaustion and panic. As I stumble down the street, a door creaks open, revealing an older woman who cautiously peeks outside. With an unsteady gait, I lurch towards her, desperation evident in my voice. "My friend is sick, burning with fever," I manage to choke out. "Please, she desperately needs a healer before it's too late!"

The woman's eyes widen as she takes in Jasmine's limp form and notices my bedraggled, frenzied state. Without uttering a single word, she beckons me inside. Grateful for the invitation, I shuffle into the blessedly warm house, feeling a wave of relief so strong that my knees almost buckle.

The woman directs me to lay Jasmine down on a cot, where she immediately begins examining her and mixing poultices. I hover anxiously as she works, adrenaline and fear having carried me this far. But now that Jasmine is receiving care, the weight of the day"s ordeal crashes over me. I sway on my feet, the room tilting dangerously.

"Just wake up... please. I thought you were my strong, brave girl. Don't prove me wrong." I take her slender hand in both of mine. Her skin still feels overly warm, but the deadly fire of fever has passed.

"You have to get better. Do you hear me?" My voice catches. "I can't lose you, too. Not after..."

Not after you've somehow found a way into my heart is what I cannot bring myself to say aloud. But it's true. This sweet, tenacious girl has quietly taken root in my soul before I even realized it was happening.

"You changed me, Jasmine," I confess. "I don't know how, but you melted my bitterness and made me feel again." I press a fervent kiss to her knuckles. "You still have more work to do, my dear." I gently stroke her hair back, trying to keep my voice steady. "And the Seven know I have more work, as well."

I exhale a shaky breath, the weight of my revelations heavy on my mind. "I don't know how you did it, but you've given me a second chance. I'm not sure I deserve it." I squeeze her hand. "But I mean to earn it, to be the man you seem to believe I can be."

Eventually, strong hands grasp my shoulders, guiding me into a chair. "Rest easy now, son," a gravelly voice says. "She's in good hands." Exhaustion pulls at me after the harrowing events of the day. Still clasping Jasmine's hand, I lay my head down upon her chest, listening to the blessedly steady beat of her heart. My eyes drift closed as I match my breathing to the rise and fall beneath my cheek.

"Just keep resting and get your strength back," I murmur, already sliding toward sleep. "I'll be right here... always..." The tension slides from my body as I let slumber take me, keeping me tethered to this precious girl. As the darkness engulfs me, I once more allow my eyes to rest — I have no choice. Shortly after, I come to my senses with a sudden jolt, gasping for air, briefly unsure of my surroundings.

As my vision clears, I look around in a fog to see the healer woman leaning over Jasmine. "Her fever has broken," she says, turning to me with a kind smile. "But you should rest. There is nothing else we can do." Her skin is still flushed and damp, but the terrifying fire of illness has left her.

Taking a rag from the basin, I gently begin bathing her face, arms, and body, wiping away the sweat and grime of our frantic journey. My hands shake as I smooth back her hair, reassured by the soft sound of her breathing.

My heart pounds against my ribs like a caged bird. I was so close to losing her. "Thank you," I whisper to the healer, my voice thick with emotion. I don"t know what I would have done if Jasmine"s light had gone out.

As I gaze down at Jasmine"s resting face, taking in her delicate features, a realization washes over me, a realization that leaves me reeling — I really have fallen for this girl. Somehow, she has crept into my battered heart and taken root.

My decades of solitude and stoic loneliness seem to have evaporated, leaving only quiet tenderness and protectiveness where once there was only vengeance and grief. I sigh and rub a hand over my face. Surely, I must be going mad! How can I possibly justify these feelings blooming for Jasmine when my sworn duty is still to my murdered first love, Isa?

"Jasmine? Can you hear me?"

Her eyelids flutter open, revealing those piercing blue eyes that make my traitorous heart skip.

"Karul?" she croaks out in a weak rasp.

I laugh in pure, dizzying relief. She"s awake, she"s speaking - she"s going to be alright. On impulse, I bring her hand to my lips, not even caring how the gesture exposes me.

"You"re fine," I breathe. "Thank the spirits, you"re going to be just fine."

Jasmine gives me a faint smile. And despite all my conflicting emotions and staunch denial, I feel something settle into place at the sight, some fundamental truth clicking home.

I enfold her in a careful embrace, tears stinging my eyes. "You came back to me," I whisper.

Her answering smile, though still weak, seems to lift the immense weight that has been pressing down on my heart. I press fervent kisses to her palms, heedless of propriety. She's recovering. My strong, brave girl. My world is right again. It feels as if a massive, agonizing splinter has been pulled from my heart.

"Of course I did…" she says, barely over a whisper.

"About time you wake up… there I was, utterly distraught as you slept away, heedless of my turmoil!" I exclaim. "Absolutely selfish. I thought you were better than that!"

She swats my chest, unable to can"t contain her smile. And just like that, the lingering shadows retreat, leaving only playful affection glowing between us.

Recovery and revelry await.

"We must be off. But first, I insist you eat," I say seriously. "We"ll need your energy for all the trouble I have planned."