Sanguine Dawn by Elizabeth A. Freeman (best classic books txt) 📕

this wound.. Um... What do I call you?” Arlen asked tentatively. The red-head considered him for a long moment before giving him a nod to proceed with stitching the wound closed.

“Gil. My name is Gil.” he finally answered, then set his teeth as Arlen began to stitch the wound closed. The blonde worked as quickly and neatly as he could, closing the wound and tying off the thread. With that done he coated the wound in ointment and set about washing the other wounds.

“What happened to my Bolide?” Gil rasped finally, his golden eyes following the movements of Arlen's hands with fascination.

“Bolide..? You mean that big creature that was in the crater too?” Arlen answered, canting his head to one side. Gil gave a nod and Arlen's face fell, averting his eyes once more to his work.

“It... died.” Arlen whispered mournfully. Gil gave a soft sigh, shaking his head before regarding the saddened blond.

“It's not your fault. I should never have pushed the poor creature as far as I did.” Gil murmured, trying to soothe the feelings of his benefactor. Arlen chewed his lip a moment, busying himself with applying the ointment to the last of the other man's wounds and bandaging them before he regarded Gil once more.

“So... Care to tell me what happened?” Arlen asked, offering a blanket to Gil and then sitting a bit straighter on the stool. Gil's eyes flickered nervously at the question before finally focusing on a point somewhere behind Arlen.

“I was.. Running away from someone. Some bad things happened and I had to leave or else my own life would've been at stake.” Gil explained hesitantly. Arlen frowned slightly at the other man's vague response but refrained from pressing the issue, instead turning to a question that had been bothering him since he first found the man.

“If you don't want to talk about why that's fine. I'm not here to judge anyone. However there is one thing I just have to ask. It looked like what I can only presume was you and the Bolide fall from the sky?” Arlen leaned forward, his eyes bright with curiosity.

“You would be correct in that observation. I'm not from this world...” Gil intoned evenly, his gaze finally falling on Arlen.

“Oh! I haven't properly introduced myself! Where is my head asking you all these questions before I even told you my name? I'm Arlen. Or wait.. did I already tell you that? Don't mind me, I'm a bit scatterbrained at the moment.” the alchemist announced cheerily. Gil arched an eyebrow at Arlen in silent wonder that the blond seemed unfazed by his claim of originating from somewhere outside this world.

“Why did you rescue me?” Gil exhaled the words, his eyes flickering with exhaustion.

“Why not? After all, if the villagers somehow found you they're so superstitious they might have done something ridiculous. Besides, it's just not in me to leave an injured man to die.” Arlen laughed, shrugged and then glanced down at his blood stained hands adding, “You look pretty exhausted. We can discuss more in the morning. For now I'm going to go get washed up and let you get your rest.”

Gil watched the blond silently as Arlen set about cleaning up, finally letting his eyes slip closed as Arlen padded outside to get washed up. Arlen couldn't suppress the grin that lit his face as he peeled off his bloodied clothing and began to wash himself off using rainwater that he collected in a barrel up on his deck. He had always believed in paranormal things and powers greater than the villagers cared to acknowledge but he had never imagined he'd find a man from another world. With the blood cleaned from his skin he left the dirty clothes outside on the railing of the deck to wash in the morning, heading inside and extinguishing all but one of the lamps. He briefly stood and watched Gil sleep, the red head twitching fitfully now and then, before settling himself on a rug on the floor with a spare blanket.

Three

Arlen blinked hazily awake, the rays of sunlight poured in through the cabin windows illuminating its interior in warm light. The memories of the night before poured back into his mind and he turned to peer over the edge of the bed. Gil slept soundly, his long wavy crimson hair mussed into a wild tangle about his pale face. Trying to be as quiet as possible, Arlen dressed himself in clean clothes and then slipped outside. The clothing he'd taken off the night before still hung from the railing of the deck alongside Gil's outfit. He set about the task of washing the clothing and then hanging it to dry. With that done he gathered a few fresh vegetables from the small garden he maintained beside his cabin, washed them clean and carried them inside.

“There you are.” Gil rasped, his amber eyes locked on Arlen as the blonde entered the cabin. Arlen pivoted on his heel to peer at the other man, a warm smile playing across his lips.

“Oh, you're awake. How are you feeling?” Arlen queried, carrying the vegetables to a table by the fireplace.

“Sore. I suppose that's to be expected with my injuries though. I'm starving too.” Gil answered, shifting to prop himself upright with a groan.

“Well, I don't know that there's a lot I can do about the soreness but the hunger I can definitely take care of. I was just getting ready to make some soup.” Arlen stated brightly. Despite himself he found his eyes drawn to Gil's torso when the sheet fell away as he had sat up. The red headed man was muscular but lean, his skin pale like a porcelain doll's. Were it not for the bruises and lacerations marring his ribcage and abdomen the skin would have been flawless.

“Now that I have my wits about me, um...” Gil paused in thought, “Arlen. Tell me a bit more about yourself.”

“I don't know how much there is to tell. I'm an alchemist by profession. That doesn't really sit right with the rest of the villagers in the town I grew up in so after my parents died I moved out here on my own. The villagers are so superstitious, they don't like anything to do with practical science or anything of the sort. I also enjoy tinkering with inventions.” Arlen rambled on, adjusting his glasses and turning his focus to the task of cutting up the vegetables he'd brought inside.

“People often balk at change.” Gil agreed, his eyes turned to gaze through the window.

“I suppose I shouldn't make it too spicy, eh?” Arlen asked, taking a glance over his shoulder as he put the vegetables into a iron pot and added water to it.

“I'm not really familiar with what you're making. Just make it like you normally would.” Gil replied softly. Arlen gave a nod and then returned his focus to the soup, adding spices as he typically would and some dried meat for flavor. After hanging the pot from a hook over the fireplace he added some fresh logs to the smoldering embers .

“I've got to go feed the animals while this heats up but then I'll be right back.” Arlen told the red head, picking up a sack of grain and corn from beside the door and stepping outside. Descending from the deck he made his way to the paddocks where he kept the animals. Dispensing the grain to the chickens, goats, sheep, and the single milk cow and horse he had. After checking to make sure their water supply was filled and that there was sufficient hay he made his way back toward his home. Opening the door he found Gil inspecting his telescope, wearing little more than one of the blankets from the bed wrapped about his waist.

“This is one of your inventions, right?” Gil asked, glancing over at Arlen who had paused in the doorway.

“Uh.. Oh, yes. Yes I actually finished making it last night. You really shouldn't be out of bed with your wounds, you're going to start bleeding again if you move around too much.” Arlen chastised, ushering the other man back to the bed.

“It's fine, I was very careful.” Gil frowned at the slight scolding, though he returned to the bed without resistance and covered himself from the waist down with the sheets once more.

“I just don't want you to get hurt. You suffered quite a bit of blood loss, you could get lightheaded and fall. Enough of my nagging though, it's not like your a child who doesn't know all that already,” Arlen glanced back at the telescope once more, “As for that. It's sort of like a spyglass only it can see for much greater distances. I was using it to look at the moon and stars when I saw you fall from the sky.”

“It's an interesting device. We don't have anything like it on my world.” Gil regarded the telescope curiously as he spoke.

“Perhaps you can tell me more about where you come from after you eat. The soup is ready now.” Arlen's voice mirrored the excitement worn on his face at the prospect of getting to know more about his guest. Removing the pot from the fire he ladled the soup into two bowls, offering one of them and a spoon to Gil before seating himself at the table with his own. Gil peered at the soup for a long moment in consideration, inhaling the scent deeply before taking up the spoon and sipping at it.

“Is it good?” Arlen asked worriedly, watching Gil closely for a reaction.

“No, it's wonderful. This is really good!” the red head answered with a look of awe on his face. Arlen smiled at the response, taking his own bowl in hand and beginning to eat. They ate in silence, Arlen watching as Gil devoured the soup hastily. Lowering his empty bowl and spoon to his lap, Gil regarded Arlen once more.

“Thank you for the meal. I was going to tell you more about my own world after I finished. It's... a bit more developed than this world. Most of my people live in large cities. We don't have need of many devices though, most of the things we need or do are taken care of by either magic or our own natural abilities. For example, I can see for great distances without assistance.” Gil explained, a small smile manifesting on his lips as he could see the awe that lit Arlen's cerulean eyes.