Songs of the Earth Read Online Free PDF Page A

really good. I felt abraded and raw, chilled to the bone. The heat radiating from the bodies surrounding me was like a blazing fire.
    I tried to remember why there would be more than one person in bed with me and nothing came to mind. I couldn't remember why I felt so bad.
    I slowly opened my eyes and it took me a moment to recognize my bedroom. There were symbols decorating the walls and ceiling. Some of them were so old, their meaning had been long lost and forgotten. Each character was about the size of my hand and painted in blue . I tried reading what I could see, but because I could only make out every other word I could only surmise it was a healing incantation.
    The body on my right moved, the breathing becoming deeper. I turned my throbbing head and looked at Gregori's sleeping form. His loose red hair fell in long waves across his chest. Dark blue circled his resting eyes, sharply contrasting with his alabaster skin. Ushna was on my left, breathing softly into my hair.
    What had happened? I tried to think and my head throbbed with pain. I remembered Ushna had been shot. I remembered my rage and apprehension as I sang to the bullet in his chest. Someone had come to kidnap him… the Magi… I killed the Magi who… no, wait there'd been a snake. I had the Emblem of Enki on my chest. Ushna, he had one too. The snakes had come alive because I'd felt threatened when the warriors invaded my home.
    I was a prince.
I smelled the burning incense coming from the altar under the eastern window of my room. Its smoky sage smell was familiar and comforting.
"He has been vigilant," said a soft, hushed voice.
I opened my eyes again and looked to the corner. A woman sat there with a loom in front of her, her hand deftly continuing to weave as she looked at me over its wooden edge. She was sort of plain and unassuming, with almondcolored skin. She had a large nose that was a little too flat, lips a little too plump, eyes a little too large and far apart. Her shining black hair was plaited in braids that were wrapped around her head in a crown. But when she smiled, she went from plain to striking.
"He wouldn't let anyone touch or move you. He stayed and held you until this one," she indicated Gregori, "convinced him to eat and rest. He has not left this room. He will make you a good consort."
I wanted to ask how long I'd been asleep, but my mouth and throat were so parched nothing came out. She seemed to know what I wanted, though.
"Four days. You've been asleep four days. Any longer and they would've had to call a doctor. It is not healthy to go so long without sustenance, even for a Lycan such as yourself."
I tried again to remember what had happened , but the pain from the effort was excruciating, as if my mind had been burned from the inside out. My body was heavy and not responding to my desire to sit up. I must have made some small noise because Ushna was immediately awake and hovering over me, concerned but happy eyes looking into mine.
"Hey there. Nice of you to finally join us." His voice was cracked and hoarse. I noticed the red rim to his eyes and tried to touch his face, but only made it half of the way before the weight of it exhausted me too much. Ushna caught my hand with his and brought it the rest of the way, cupping my hand to his face.
I licked my dry lips, trying to moisten my mouth so I could talk to him, but the action did nothing. Gregori sat up and ran a soothing hand over my hair.
"Here," said the soft, accented voice. The woman handed Gregori a large coffee cup. "As many of these as he can stand to drink. It will help to replace his essential fluids and his physical energy."
Carefully, Gregori and Ushna maneuvered me into a sitting position between Ushna's legs, my back on his chest. Gregori knelt at our side and helped me drink the hot liquid from the cup. It was an interesting mix of herbs that tasted like citrus and honey. After my first swallow, I greedily gulped the rest of it. Gregori refilled the cup