 “I’m fine,” Tristan lied, forcing a smile. Truthfully, he didn’t know how he felt. Everything had been a bit of a jumble lately, and that particular night wasn’t shaping up to be any different. He was still furious. He couldn’t remember many times when he had been quite so angry with a single person, excluding perhaps his missing mother. The truth of what just happened just kept pounding around in his head, some dick had just tried to kill his best friend. What made it worse was that, other than a few bruises, Tarquin was unlikely to suffer any consequences at all. Realising that he was thinking himself into a state again, Tristan took a deep breath and held out his good hand to Thoth so that he might help his friend to his feet.
“Come on,” he smiled managing to keep the ire out of his voice, “let’s get you dry.”
They dripped all over the tiles in the entranceway, leaving little puddles behind them. Tristan found himself half-hoping that Tarquin would wander through and slip in one of them. Taking care to skirt the more expensive carpets and avoid the more enquiring guards, Tristan led the way to the oak staircase which would take them back to the hospital wing.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Tristan pressed allowing his eyes to show his concern, “I mean its okay not to be.” He couldn’t quite understand how Thoth was so calm – he was the one who had been thrown out of a window, and he seemed to be taking it remarkably well.
“I’m going to have a word with that bitch of a nurse,” he announced as they neared the top landing, glancing back over his shoulder to make sure his friend hadn’t collapsed on the way up. “I could talk to Father,” Tris suggested as they continued their trudge along the corridor, “you could move back into your room instead - there are guards on that corridor, no one would bother you.”
His temper was starting to ebb, but it was slowly being replaced with something equally unpleasant; guilt.
“Thoth...” he began coming to a halt half way along the corridor and ignoring the urge to shuffle his feet in the awkward silence he had prompted. The prince took a deep breath and tried again. “Look, I’m really sorry I haven’t been to visit you very much. It’s a crap excuse, I know, but I really can’t stand the infirmary. I don’t want you to think I’ve forgotten you, or that I’m angry with you about what happened on Apeliotes.” He tried a smile again; “I’ve been a shit friend, but I’m going to get Tarquin back for you and I swear it will be spectacular.”
They resumed their walk along the corridor, descending into silence again. Tristan found it uncomfortable. He looked at his friend again and smirked. “The drowned rat look doesn’t really work for you” he teased good-naturedly, “we should probably get you a towel or something before someone sees.”
 |
|