another swim in the cold, rapidly moving water.
*
Gemma stood outside the large habitat where the patients worst affected by the poison and exposure to the wilderness were cared for. She had worked nonstop since they returned from the caves, and so had Ciel and the other physicians. Several of the elderly had almost had kidney failure, but dialysis and herbal remedies that Gemma knew nothing about seemed to work instantly. Ciel had tried to explain about her dried roots, but all Gemma really cared to know about at this point was results.
“Gemma?” Ciel showed up next to her and pushed a mug into her hands. Its mouthwatering smell was familiar. Of course. The miracle soup. “One of the marine privates is starting a campfire over there.” She pointed further to the southern side of the camp. “Since we don’t have habitats for everybody, we’ve moved them closer and set up a new perimeter.” Ciel made a funny face. “See, I’m even getting good at this military-speak.”
“Sounds like a good idea. The closer they are, the better access if we need to assist them.”
“How are we going to get them out of here?” Ciel gestured around them, indicating the refugees.
“High-altitude airlift. All of them.”
“Oh. Us too?”
Gemma smiled over the rim of the mug. “You’re really not keen on going back into that river, are you?”
“Gods of Gantharat. No!” Ciel shuddered. “Are you? You were the one hurt, not me.”
“But you hated the cold water more than I did.”
“True.”
Gemma sipped her soup and, unless she was imagining things, she was feeling calm and reassured, and more at ease than she’d been in…months. This woman. This damn soup. Ciel. Not thinking about work or any other repercussions, she gently cupped Ciel’s cheek. “You’re such an amazing woman. So strong, so beautiful.”
Closing her eyes for a moment, Ciel then opened them slowly and gazed down at her. She slid a hand up along Gemma’s arm and held her hand against her face. “I don’t know what makes you say this, since I feel I can’t compare even remotely to you.”
“You must be joking.” Gemma smiled now, seeing the warmth in Ciel’s eyes reflected toward her as the distant campfire reflected in them. “You’re not the vain type, nor am I, but the way you carry yourself, how you deal with horrible situations…I’m in awe of you.”
“Gemma. Am I reading too much into what you’re saying? If I am, please tell me now.” Ciel pressed her lips into Gemma’s palm. “I know the place and the situation aren’t ideal, but I’ve learned the hard way that if I wait for the right time, most likely I’ll lose my chance forever.”
Gemma’s heart thundered, struggled against her ribs like a caged animal. Ciel’s eyes spoke of passion, desire, even, and—more? “What do you want to say?” Afraid to ask, but even more afraid to lose her own opportunities to find something more than work in store for her down the road, Gemma held her breath.
“I need to know if you can see yourself caring more for me than an appreciated colleague. Do you find me attractive and worthwhile enough to keep seeing me after we get back to the capital?”
Gemma dropped the mug, and what was left in it splashed on top of her boots. “Ciel.” She lifted her free hand and pushed it into Ciel’s hair, under her braid. To her amazement, Ciel was trembling and it dawned on her that Ciel was perhaps even more nervous or apprehensive than she was. And still so brave, speaking first of deeper feelings, and in the midst of a mission at that. “I can see that.” Gemma whispered against Ciel’s jawline, suddenly standing close together. “I can see us spending a lot of time together. Exploring Gantharat…and each other.” Her bold words, so unlike her and yet so deeply honest, made Ciel visibly shiver.
“I want to show you the area I come from. I don’t have any relatives left after the occupation, but the scenery is
*
Gemma stood outside the large habitat where the patients worst affected by the poison and exposure to the wilderness were cared for. She had worked nonstop since they returned from the caves, and so had Ciel and the other physicians. Several of the elderly had almost had kidney failure, but dialysis and herbal remedies that Gemma knew nothing about seemed to work instantly. Ciel had tried to explain about her dried roots, but all Gemma really cared to know about at this point was results.
“Gemma?” Ciel showed up next to her and pushed a mug into her hands. Its mouthwatering smell was familiar. Of course. The miracle soup. “One of the marine privates is starting a campfire over there.” She pointed further to the southern side of the camp. “Since we don’t have habitats for everybody, we’ve moved them closer and set up a new perimeter.” Ciel made a funny face. “See, I’m even getting good at this military-speak.”
“Sounds like a good idea. The closer they are, the better access if we need to assist them.”
“How are we going to get them out of here?” Ciel gestured around them, indicating the refugees.
“High-altitude airlift. All of them.”
“Oh. Us too?”
Gemma smiled over the rim of the mug. “You’re really not keen on going back into that river, are you?”
“Gods of Gantharat. No!” Ciel shuddered. “Are you? You were the one hurt, not me.”
“But you hated the cold water more than I did.”
“True.”
Gemma sipped her soup and, unless she was imagining things, she was feeling calm and reassured, and more at ease than she’d been in…months. This woman. This damn soup. Ciel. Not thinking about work or any other repercussions, she gently cupped Ciel’s cheek. “You’re such an amazing woman. So strong, so beautiful.”
Closing her eyes for a moment, Ciel then opened them slowly and gazed down at her. She slid a hand up along Gemma’s arm and held her hand against her face. “I don’t know what makes you say this, since I feel I can’t compare even remotely to you.”
“You must be joking.” Gemma smiled now, seeing the warmth in Ciel’s eyes reflected toward her as the distant campfire reflected in them. “You’re not the vain type, nor am I, but the way you carry yourself, how you deal with horrible situations…I’m in awe of you.”
“Gemma. Am I reading too much into what you’re saying? If I am, please tell me now.” Ciel pressed her lips into Gemma’s palm. “I know the place and the situation aren’t ideal, but I’ve learned the hard way that if I wait for the right time, most likely I’ll lose my chance forever.”
Gemma’s heart thundered, struggled against her ribs like a caged animal. Ciel’s eyes spoke of passion, desire, even, and—more? “What do you want to say?” Afraid to ask, but even more afraid to lose her own opportunities to find something more than work in store for her down the road, Gemma held her breath.
“I need to know if you can see yourself caring more for me than an appreciated colleague. Do you find me attractive and worthwhile enough to keep seeing me after we get back to the capital?”
Gemma dropped the mug, and what was left in it splashed on top of her boots. “Ciel.” She lifted her free hand and pushed it into Ciel’s hair, under her braid. To her amazement, Ciel was trembling and it dawned on her that Ciel was perhaps even more nervous or apprehensive than she was. And still so brave, speaking first of deeper feelings, and in the midst of a mission at that. “I can see that.” Gemma whispered against Ciel’s jawline, suddenly standing close together. “I can see us spending a lot of time together. Exploring Gantharat…and each other.” Her bold words, so unlike her and yet so deeply honest, made Ciel visibly shiver.
“I want to show you the area I come from. I don’t have any relatives left after the occupation, but the scenery is
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