Page 21 of Family Found

“My throat is okay, really. Humans just make strange noises sometimes.” Uh-oh. Was that something I should be saying about humans in general? It wasn’t the most favorable thing, probably, but saying favorable things was not my strong suit. My eyes followed the thermometer. “Wait, where do you want to put that? You really don’t have to. I just blush sometimes. It means nothing.”

Inkiri raised a brow and almost grinned, clearly amused. Huh.

Gesango clicked and took the thermometer from the nurse. “I would prefer to make sure. Human physiology is new to me, but I will do what I can. Open your mouth, please.”

I did. The door opened, and Vergis poked his head inside. Gesango looked at Vergis and clicked once.

The nurse said something in that way all nurses have when their patients are disturbed, or started to, but Vergis simply glared at him to shut him up.

“Princess, I’m taking Daddy home, but then I’ll be back. Maybe don’t do anything stupid until then.” He grinned. “You look good with your mouth full. Bye.”

I squeaked indignantly, but that helped exactly nothing. I was already turning a deeper shade of billet bean red, Gesango clicked again, probably thinking I needed to be put on the transplant list or something, and my mate was no help whatsoever, just standing by with amusement lighting up his eyes.

Gesango sighed and shook his head as if to clear it. “If I may, I’d like to check your pulse, sir?”

“Uure, uut am eally eyne,” I said around the thermometer.

Gesango tilted his head.

“He says it’s fine, you can touch him and do a thorough exam,” Weirdo Mate said, and I was almost positive he was purposefully misunderstanding me.

Gesango took my left wrist and found the pulse point there.

“Ehy’s uour English o ood?” I asked the healer doctor.

Inkiri clicked. “My mate is asking how come your English is so good.” He understood me perfectly. Even if I had something in my mouth. He smiled and clicked at me when I tried a reproachful look, and I melted.

“Thank you for asking, sir. I trained at the Uëskona Raiken and learned the language there, and I will be going with the reinforcements to Earth. I am looking much forward to it, although today shows we will need hangua doctors there beside me.” He pulled the thermometer out of my mouth. “Fene-etto, perfectly normal. As is your pulse. Without any pain or symptoms, I have to conclude you are well, sir.”

I crossed my arms. “That’s what I said.”

Inkiri nodded. “And now we can feel more certain of it.” He turned to the doctor. “When he uses much of his magic, it weakens him. He was brave, fighting like a protector mage today.”

Gesango nodded as he handed the thermometer off to the nurse to be cleaned. “I had heard of your mate and what he did here in Esaka. It seems logical to let him rest.” Gesango tilted his head. “Olden mages were also healers sometimes. I regret we cannot offer your mate that level of care.”

Inkiri clicked and put his hand on my back. “My mate has the power to heal.”

“Yeah, although that really takes it out of me unless, like, it’s Nokim getting shot again,” I said. “But if any of the hangua need me to try, I’ll try. Really, whatever they need.”

Gesango regarded me for a long moment. He had dark silver eyes and an easy smile. “I will keep that in mind and call you if our medicine cannot help, but if magic weakens you, you should not waste it.”

“He is quite strong,” Inkiri went on, and I wondered why when we could already leave.

Then it hit me. This was it. He was seeing me as a trophy mate! When you had one of those, you showed them off and told everyone how awesome they were, didn’t you?

I smiled. “I try.”

“For the hangua you helped rescue, you have succeeded.” Gesango inclined his head. “Make sure he rests and eats, and keep an eye on him, just in case.”

Inkiri grunted and nodded eagerly. “Of course.”

I was good with Inkiri keeping an eye on me, actually. “We should go now, right? The survivors… I’m sure they need a doctor more than I do?”

Gesango tilted his head. “Survivors? The hangua you saved?”

I nodded. “Although Kinnek saved most everyone, actually. We just got there in time to bring them all here. But yeah. Some of them are in bad shape. And pregnant.”

Gesango nodded. “Yes. But I am hangu-na, and it is best, in this situation, to have hangua treat hangua. You need not worry for them. This Raiken here does see many battle wounds, but they know well to handle a patient’s needs beyond that. Abortions if the hangua wish it, or whatever care might be needed. It is a value to have a mage who can heal though. The hangua have suffered much. We will not add to their suffering here.”