Bonus Story:
The Lullaby of a Heartbeat
RISHE WORKED SWIFTLY AND DILIGENTLY in a bed chamber of the main palace. It was the middle of the afternoon, but the thick navy-blue curtains kept the room dim. She was setting up the perfect environment for a quiet sleep.
I’ve lit some calming perfumed oils, and the temperature in the room seems fine. It’s a bit too bright for sleeping, but I’m sure it won’t be much of a bother with the canopy shut.
She wasn’t preparing these chambers for herself, however. She looked toward the room’s owner and smiled. “Now then, Your Highness. Rest as much as you need to. I’ll stay as long as you want me.”
From the bed, Arnold scowled.
The previous day, Rishe had been abducted and imprisoned by Theodore, staying up all night. The two brothers had managed to settle some of their differences, and she had fallen asleep from relief.
Awakening just thirty or so minutes ago, she learned that Arnold had been up even longer, staying by her side the whole time. She had thanked him and urged Arnold to rest as well, but then he had shocked her by saying, “I’ll stay up until nightfall.”
Rishe was dumbstruck by his disregard. “But you’ve been up for nearly two days! Don’t tell me you’ve got a pile of work from yesterday.”
“Oh, I finished all of that while you were asleep,” he said, so nonchalant about important matters of state. If he didn’t have to work, why wouldn’t he rest?
When Rishe asked, he answered, “Because I can’t sleep during the day. I can hear everyone moving around the palace. I can sense them.”
She knew what he was referring too—she had felt it before herself. On the battlefield, your senses sharpened and you’d sit bolt upright at the slightest presence.
But that was just on the battlefield, Rishe reflected.
Rishe had apothecary skills, and she couldn’t just let him stay up the entire day because he couldn’t fall asleep. Especially since it was for her well-being that he’d kept himself awake. She needed to repay the favor.
“Your Highness,” she said to him, “Out of curiosity, do you find it easier to sleep in a room with a consistent brightness rather than one where the lights are incessantly switching on and off?”
“Well, yes. I suppose.”
“Sensing a presence should be the same. Detecting someone moving around at a distance prevents a swordsman from their slumber. But if someone remains nearby, it will drown out everyone else and make it easier to fall asleep.” Rishe put a hand to her chest as she spoke. “Therefore, I shall lull you to sleep.”
After a long silence, Arnold said, “What?”
And now here they were. Arnold lay in bed, pressing a hand to his forehead and saying, “You are extremely bizarre.”
“Must I remind you that you agreed to fulfill my wishes when you proposed to me? I’m taking advantage of your kindness for the good of your health.” Her pride as an apothecary was at stake.
Arnold opened his mouth to argue, apparently thought better of it, and returned his gaze to the canopy. Rishe placed a chair by the bed and sat down on it.
“Well? Can you sense anyone from a distance now?”
Arnold looked thoughtful. “You’re right that I’m focusing on you and not anyone else, yes.”
Well, that makes this suddenly more awkward.
But at least her tactic worked. The perfumed oils would likely help as well.
“Close your eyes and sleep,” she said in a whisper. To her surprise, Arnold obeyed.
Rishe stayed as still as possible to avoid disturbing him. In her fifth life, she’d gotten good at sitting without movement for an extended period of time.
She hoped he could at least get a short nap in. The gentle fragrance of the oils and a quiet, dim room. A bed fit for royalty. It should’ve been a more than suitable environment for someone who had stayed up all night.
But thirty minutes later, Arnold let out a sigh.
“No good?”
“It’s the same thing as always.” He didn’t sound sleepy at all.
“Are you not tired enough to sleep? Your breathing sounds slower than normal.”
“I’d much rather do something productive than just lie around wasting time.”
“No, no. You can’t get up.” She pressed Arnold back down to the bed.
I’m sure it must be because he can’t stop thinking. It’s hard to fall asleep when your body is tired, but your mind is still busy. I’ve got to find some way to distract him.
Patients needed rest. Her former teacher would’ve scolded her if she allowed him to leave.
She thought for a moment before she very quietly asked, “Shall I lie beside you for a bit?”
Arnold looked briefly annoyed, but he agreed. He wasn’t giving up yet, for her sake. Relieved, Rishe clambered up and flopped right down beside him. The bed was soft, and it didn’t creak at all when she bounced on it. Arnold was suddenly so close, and the two of them gazed at each other.
“Forgive me,” Rishe said, slowly reaching out her hand, searching for Arnold’s heartbeat. She patted his chest.
Pat, pat. Pat, pat. She kept going.
“What in the world are you doing?”
“It’s a soothing method. You simulate a heartbeat.” She had done it before for the young daughters of the family she served as a maid. “It helps babies fall asleep.”
“Babies,” Arnold repeated.
Silence fell between them, giving Rishe the time to reflect that comparing her fiancé to a baby was kind of rude.
But he was just looking at her. “You’re the only one who’d ever dare to treat me like this.” The tenderness in his voice lit a small fire in her heart, warmth spreading through her chest.