The Less-than-Silver Sands
an excerpt

“Stop that! The patient is still in a delicate state!”
Without any conscious thought from me, my arms dropped Drekan, placed themselves behind my back and turned me around to face the owner of that voice which went to the nerves without bothering to visit the brain.
A female mountain in white was standing in the door behind me. Her large face was flushed, and her meaty hands were clasped in front of her as she continued to berate me.
“And you shouldn’t even be out of bed yet! For the next week at least, you need to remain in bed and take no strenuous exercise!” I opened my mouth, but she gave me no opportunity to reply, carrying on her tirade as though I was of no importance.
“I don’t care what you feel like, you are in no fit state to leave your bed, and this young man,” indicating Drekan, “is in an even worse state! He will not be receiving visitors from anybody excepting Na’hala and myself for three days and will not be out of bed for another five after that!”
“But…” we both began simultaneously.
“No buts! How can I be expected to run an efficient establishment if even my patients disobey my wishes?” Her gaze switched to Na’hala, and her voice grew, if possible, even sharper. “And my nurses as well! I explicitly told you that this man was not under any circumstances to be allowed out of bed! Now take him back and make sure that he stays there!”