Again, he wiped her entire face and forehead, her throat, up around her
ears, and across the back of her neck. His touch was gentle all over
her head and neck, as he anointed the semi-conscious girl with a thin,
soothing layer of purest olive oil.
He surveyed her face again, noting once more, with the same inner, grim
satisfaction as before, that she had suffered no apparent lasting
injury despite much swelling and bruises. He felt small solace in this,
but as it was yet within his power, he would surely command whatever he
might in her behalf.
Suddenly, footsteps could be heard approaching the entrance from
outside, and she sensed him rise in the flickering shadows and step to
one side of the door. There he stood tall and motionless before her,
waiting for the footsteps to carry past. The approaching footsteps were
accompanied by an admixture of slurred male and female voices, perhaps
four people in all.
Their unseen progress could be followed by the changing aspects of the
snatches and sudden outbursts of laughter to which they resorted in
their senseless and continuous amusement at everything around them,
including themselves.
The golden gleam of Habrunt's bronze sword flashed before Si'Wren's
eyes, making her catch her breath in fear.
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