Chapter 50 Friendship

THUMP! I groan and open my eyes a smidgen to see who is so uncouth as to disturb me. A weak throbbing just behind my forehead begins, all that remains of the throbbing and dizziness that occupied my most recent waking hours. I feel worlds better, but that does not placate my irritation at being awakened before I was ready. "Who s there?" I demand grumpily, searching my darkened bedchamber with bleary eyes for the culprit. "Ah, Aerys, you re awake," Malina s cheerful voice greets me, seemingly without care for my less than amiable state of mind. "I was hoping to speak with you before the day began. How are you feeling?" "Better than the last time I was awake. What time is it?" "Just before dawn. You ve been asleep since before suppertime yesterday. And you re lucky Zinaida summoned Dmitri for supper and kept him away afterwards, because you talk in your sleep, and he would not have liked everything you said." My eyes wi