Chapter 33: Consequences, Part 1

Alrin dragged his eyes open slowly, wishing quite fervently that he were dead. He had not even attempted to move yet, but his body burned with pain. Goddesses, he wanted to go one day without pain, without feeling as though he had been torn apart and sloppily put back together. Tears stung his eyes as he burrowed his face into his pillow.

He remained still, breathing slow and steady, until the sharpest edges of pain dulled. He still felt raw and ill-used, as if he were being held together by cheap thread and dumb luck, but he would be able to manage. Swallowing, he shifted to brace his hands and slowly levered himself up. Sweat slicked his skin, and he felt fever-hot, but he kept going until he was off the cot and standing on relatively-stable feet.