Chapter 678: Their Turn
Leon fell asleep before dinner.
He had meant to close his eyes while Loriel finished describing the medicine-court supplies. When he opened them again, the room had darkened, a folded blanket covered his legs, and someone had moved the cup away from his elbow.
Ira sat beside him with a book resting unopened on her knee.
"How long?" he asked.
"A while."
"You could have woken me."
"I know." She set the book aside. "Are you hungry?"
He considered the question and discovered that he was.
"Very."
"Good. They're keeping food warm."
Ira stood, then waited without offering a hand. Leon appreciated that. He pushed the blanket aside and got up slowly, pleased to find that the room stayed where it belonged.
The sleep had helped. He still felt the day in his muscles, but the raw effort of remaining upright had eased.
Ira studied him for a moment.
"Better?"
"Better."
She took his hand on the way to the dining room anyway.
