Part 21 (1/2)

TWENTY-FOUR.

Liliana winced as she felt the cold cloth rest against one of her wounds.

”I'm sorry, draga. I know it must be very painful.”

The woman (she'd said her name was Samina) had a very soothing voice. It reminded Liliana of her mother. An intense bout of homesickness crept up on her in that moment. These past few months, she'd tried to stay strong, especially for Eryn, but now that she had found a moment of solace, the heartache was beginning to affect her resilient facade. She wanted to go home so badly. She wanted to feel her mother's arms around her and argue with Kristoph again.

”The hide was made from an alpaca. It's our softest.” Samina continued to make light conversation. Liliana heard her ringing the cloth free of the excess water into a bowl on a nearby table. ”Unfortunately, the wounds must be cleaned. It's to prevent infection. Because, believe me, an infection would be much worse than the pain you're feeling now.”

”Here, let me.” The gruff voice came from Gabriel. ”I'll tend to her.”

He'd been told to wait outside of the tent while Samina attended Liliana's wounds, but he clearly hadn't listened.

Liliana's body immediately tensed upon hearing the voice. ”I'd rather you didn't,” she openly said to him.

Gabriel ignored her request. ”Go,” he commanded Samina. When the woman was hesitant to leave, he rea.s.sured her by saying, ”I won't hurt her. I promise. Now go.”

Samina obeyed and quietly departed.

”Tell me if I'm using too much pressure,” Gabriel spoke in a soft voice. He picked up the cloth Samina had been using from the bowl of water and rang it out. ”The water is mixed with herbs, which should cool some of the stinging. Or so I heard Samina mention.”

Liliana remained quiet as he cleansed her wounds.

”Does that hurt?” he asked as he lightly dabbed.

”No,” Liliana answered. She didn't like that he was being so nice. It didn't seem to match up with the persona of a Constantin.

Very softly, he asked, ”Why didn't you tell me, Lily?”

”Because you're a Constantin,” Liliana answered honestly. ”You should have told me that when I first met you. That's probably why you were out in those woods in the first place, wasn't it?”

He decided to be just as honest. ”Yes,” he answered her. ”There were men sent with orders to kill all abandoners. My brothers and I were at the top of their list.”

”Why?”

Gabriel snorted. ”There are several answers for your question, Lily.”

Her body tensed as his cloth touched a very tender spot.

”Are you okay?” he asked.

”I'll be fine.”

She eventually relaxed again and he continued on. She seemed so different now, very calm and serene. It was so unexpected, especially after the fiery rage she'd directed towards Ralph earlier that day. ”They killed my mother,” he told her suddenly. He hadn't expected to share this with the girl. But it was too late to take it back now.

”Who did?” Liliana asked, confused.

”Salazar Bonjara. He was the reigning king at the time. He was just one of many corrupt Royals. Her death was the main reason I chose to abandon them.”

He waited for her reaction. When she didn't say anything, he continued his story. ”She was a good, decent woman. She wanted to implement a more even disburs.e.m.e.nt of the wealth amongst the gypsy tribes. Salazar decided to shut her up by killing her off...he did it with poison. I watched as she choked on it.”

Gabriel's voice was low, emotionless. But buried deep within, he felt a pang of the emotions he'd been tortured with as he watched his own mother die.

He suddenly wondered why he was wasting his time telling the gypsy girl. She wouldn't understand. She'd made up her mind to hate him.

After he was finished, Gabe set the cloth down and headed out of the tent. ”I'll send Samira in to a.s.sist with your bandages,” he said over his shoulder.

Later on that night, Liliana showed up in Gabriel's tent, surprising him completely. She carried a plate of food in her hands. Her complexion wasn't as pale and lifeless as it was earlier. The color was back in her cheeks. She appeared very calm and demure.

”Why do you not dine with the others?” she asked him curiously.

”I usually do.”

She fidgeted for a moment before moving towards him. ”I've brought you something to eat.” She handed him the plate. ”May I sit?”

Gabriel nodded. He didn't know what to make of her newfound easiness around him. She'd made it very clear earlier she wanted nothing to do with him. Carefully, she set the plate on the table, and then took a seat on the pillow across from him.

”I spoke with your brother, Dragos, over supper. He told me about your family histories. He told me more about your mother and how she died. I'm very sorry for your loss.”

Gabriel shrugged. ”It was a long time ago.”

He watched her intensely. Apart from her apparent pity, she seemed nervous. He was suddenly very curious to find out what her reason was for being here.

”All my life, I've been told the Constantins are a band of murderers--”

Gabriel cut her off before she could tarnish his family's name. ”Most of the deaths we've been accused of weren't our doing. Though I'll admit I killed Bonjara. The b.a.s.t.a.r.d deserved to die.”

Liliana merely nodded in understanding.

”Let me finish,” she pleaded with him quietly. ”As I was saying, all my life I've been told your family is a band of murderers...but I think I may have been very wrong. And I apologize for my misjudgment. I could see it in the way that Dragos's people adore him. And I know who you are, Gabriel. I know the kindness in your heart. Today, you only further proved it. But I let your name blind me and for that I am truly sorry.”

He was taken aback by her sudden change of heart. He didn't even know if he deserved to hear this.

”Lady, I am not as good as you think. I have done things I'm ashamed of.”

”Haven't we all?” She smiled and then let out a small sigh. ”And I think I've told you before that my name is Liliana.”

Gabriel exhaled also. It was almost as if he'd been holding his breath ever since he'd lost the girl the first time. And now here she was, sitting across from him. He could breathe again.

”Remind me to thank Dragos later,” Gabriel told her.

”For enlightening me with the truth?”