He quickly settled Hudson in the bed next to the closed off cell. Within minutes, Roy had stripped his friend of the heavy animal hides that wrapped his cold frail body and covered him with a mound of thick soft fleece blankets.
"The wounds on his arms and shoulders look like they are infected, it will do him no good to leave that festering," the healer remarked with a worried frown.
"Healer Patricia will know exactly what to do to help." She bent down and stroked Hudson's forehead in a motherly gesture. "Goddess willing, this one will make a full recovery."
Roy nodded. He continued to be accomodating until the elderly healer suggested that he and his men take his leave before the sun sets.
Roy shook his head then. "No," he said, "One of ours will stay to guard Hudson until he recovers. Your healers will not be permitted to feed him any food or drink until it has been tested by one of your own, in front of our soldiers," he added in a firm voice.
It was very obvious from the surprised look on the healer's face that she was not used to being contradicted. "You are a very suspicious male, Warrior Roy," she said, frowning. "This is a sacred place, protected by the Goddess herself and for us to provide help for the unfortunate. No harm shall be fall your friend."
Roy shrugged his shoulders with a nonchalant expression on his face. The healer then continued to ask, "And if I do not accept the conditions you have set, my lord?"
"You won't turn Hudson away," he countered, "The vows you have taken in the shrine and before the Goddess won't let you."
Her bright amused smile surprised him. "I can see you are as every bit as stubborn as I am," she said, "We will both spend some time down in purgatory for that flaw in our natures. I accept your conditions."
Hudson's sudden moan in his sleep drew both their attentions. The healer gently tucked the covers around the warrior, whispering soft words of comfort all the while.
When his face had finally relaxed and he had fallen back into deep slumber, the healer left Hudson's side. Drawing the partitioning close, she went in search of Healer Patricia.
The minute the head healer turned to leave, Roy had motioned to Bryant and Hudson's second in command. The two soldiers immediately followed the healer to the doorway and took up their positions on either side of the entrance.
No one but a healer would be allowed inside the chamber until Hudson had made a full recovery.
While Roy waited for the healer to return, he decided it was time to appease his curiosity about Timo. He wanted to see for himself if the Margay soldier was truly dying and too ill to be a threat to Hudson.
Roy wasn't about to take for granted anything the Margay informant had told him until he personally confirmed it.
He walked to the other side of Hudson's bed, and was just about to push the curtain away, when someone pulled it back from the other side.
Roy suddenly found himself shoulders to face with the King's requested prize, Princess Eris. Her indrawn breath told him that she was even more surprised by their encounter than he was.
He assumed she thought he'd left with the healer, knowing full well that she would've heard his whole conversation clearly from the inside of the cell.
They stood no more than a foot apart. A light fragrant of roses wafting into his nose from her direction caught his attention.
Goddess, she was lovely; and, he hoped, frightened. Her eyes were wide with what he suspected was fear.
Yes, he decided, she was afraid. Roy thought that would be the most intelligent reaction, or a retaliation. Princess Eris after all, had lied in order to gain temporary freesom. Soon, however, it would be his turn to retaliate.
Neither of them said a word for several moments. Roy towered over her and waited for the small female to cower.
Princess Eris, waited until she could control her temper.
The longer she stared at him, the more furious she became. How dare this ill disciplined brute of a male venture inside her beloved brother's sickroom?
With her eyes flashing and fists clenching, her chin came up in an instinctive act of defiance.
Roy quit smiling.
She was not afraid of him. That realisation alone stunned him. It was followed by a sinful thought. Goddess, how easy it would be to toss her over his shoulder and stride out of the Shrine at this very instance.
It was a terribly sinful thought because she was currently under the Shrine's protection now. But, it was no more sinful that the sudden burst of desire he felt for her at this moment.
If a male's preferences were slender honey-eyed Margays, then Eris would certainly be his first choice, hands down.
Roy schooled himself and told himself that his preferences did not run in that direction. As he, continued thinking, he realised he would be lying to himself. Hell, he could be content spending the rest of his days staring at her and wanting more, at this point.
Her mouth was too appealing to give him any peace of mind. All he wanted to think about was what she would taste like.
Thankfully, Roy's discipline saved him from grabbing hold of her and finding out then and there. He took a deep claming breath.
He forced himself to put his lust aside and concentrate on staring the female to her knees. Defiance was all very well and good under certain circumstances, but this was not one of them.
She needed to be afraid now. With fear came caution, he reasoned. Eris had already caused quite enough havoc. It was time for her to surrender.
He was determined to make her realise just whom she was up against. He was her conquerer, and she was the prize. The sooner she came to terms with that fact, the easier her life would be.
Roy knew he was good at intimidation. The scar on his face helped immensely, of course.
Odd, it didn't seem to be helping him now. No matter how fierce his scowl became, she still didn't cower, not even a sound.
He couldn't help but be impressed by this courageous female. Roy took a step forward. The tips of his boots touched the toes of her shoes. She still didn't back away.
Her head was tilted all the way back so she could continue to hold his gaze, and if he didn't know any better, he would've thought there was a sparkle in her eyes.
Dared she mock him?
Eris was having difficulty remembering how to breathe at this point. In truth, she was more furious at herself than with the warlord frowning so furiously down at her.
Her reaction to the warrior was unexplainable. Sure, she attacked him with her sling shot, lied to his face and left the holding without his permission. However, her reaction to his male was unexplainable.
Eris couldn't stop staring at him. He had the most beautiful deep purple eyes, though why in Goddess's name had she taken the time to notice the appealing trait was simply beyond her comprehension.
He was trying to intimidate her.
She wasn't going to let him.
The warrior was too damn handsome. Damn his hide and damn her own for noticing. What was the matter with her?
He was her enemy, the invader of her tribe. She was supposed to hate him, wasn't she?
He obviously wasn't having any trouble hating her. His dark expression told her of his displeasure. Her back straightened in reaction.
"I should have killed you when I had the chance," she whispered.
He raised an eyebrow, "And when was that?" he asked, in a soft moking tone.