"… wrong with her?" Khulutei's words were alarmed.
My eyes fluttered open, and my nose wrinkled. Batu's blood and sweat smeared my cheek and hands. I drew my face away from his chest in disgust.
"She is not of this world," he explained.
With a sigh, I looked up at his strong features. His face was bloodied, one eye and his lip swollen already. His right arm hung at his side limply, and he was breathing hard. The image of him beating a man to death was at the back of my mind. Combined with the blood marring my skin, I had the urge to run far away until someone from the future found me.
I pushed at him.
"You are back, goddess." His voice was strained, though he appeared steady on his feet. "Cousin."
Khulutei looped an arm around me. I struggled, but he was as solid as Batu. Resigned to being in his arms, I watched Batu wipe blood from his face with one of his tunics.
The crowd was dispersing. Their uncle was gone from his place of honor, while the body of the man he slayed remained in the ring. I looked away from the bloody mess quickly.
"It would be wise for you to leave soon," Khulutei advised. "Our uncle is angry. He will honor your victory for now, but when night falls, much can happen."
"I suspect the same." Batu gazed at the tent. "I will need a healer before we go. May I see your wife?"
"We can go there now." Khulutei released me and started away.
I wobbled. Batu instinctively steadied me, and I shifted out of his reach, freaked out by his brutal displays of violence.
"Do not run, lamb," he warned, as if aware of the thoughts racing through my mind.
"I won't," I replied. If only because I have no idea where to go. "Are you hurt?"
He shrugged.
I sensed a warrior of this time did not express pain or emotion unless he was on the verge of death, if then.
"You are not pleased your guardian is victorious?" he asked, studying me.
"Death disturbs me, Batu. Violence, too."
"This world of yours … it is unusual."
I started to laugh, once more on the verge of hysterical, and stopped, aware of how inappropriate it was at the moment. "Let's get you patched up," I said instead. If I didn't stay focused and busy, I was going to have a meltdown.
Despite the savagery of what I had just witnessed, I was also thrilled Batu was still alive. One less person on my list of people who died because of me.