Chapter 8: Both Ways

I woke to a burning ache across my shoulder and a very large man trying to move without waking me.

"Stop," I said into the pillow.

"I did not mean to wake you."

"You're lifting your arm like it's made of glass. What did you do to it?"

"Nothing. I have drawn a bow. I do not know what the ache means."

"It means you pulled something. Put it down."

He put it down.

I rolled over and found him propped on one elbow, grey eyes on my face.

The early light came through the window onto his scars.

I had never seen him look so awake.

"You are watching me," I said.

"I am learning your mornings."

"You're doing a very bad job. I've had four hours of sleep."

"Then sleep more."

"I can't. Your shoulder's killing me."

"I will lie still."

"You couldn't if you tried."

"I will try."

He lay on his back and stared at the ceiling.

After a minute he said, "It still aches."

"Of course it does."

"It is a very strange feeling."

Under the ache I could feel the warmth of the night still sitting in him, steady as a coal.

It had come through the bond with the pain, and neither of us had asked it to.

"It's a normal feeling. It's what everyone has."

"I know." He turned his head on the pillow. "I am only now finding out how much."

I put my hand flat on his chest.

His heart was going hard and even under my palm.

"We need to learn the rules of this," I said.

"I agree."

"How far does it reach?"

"I have no idea."

"Then we test it."

We tested it that morning.

Finola rode with me through the fort gate, and Orrin rode with Aldric to the top of the watchtower.

Keep reading free with an account. Start Oops, I Tamed the Commander Everyone Dreaded from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.