"WAIT!"
The yell was almost louder than the blasted warcamp horns themselves. Dalinar turned in his saddle, his eyes widening as he realized just who it was who was riding his horse to dust just to get Dalinar's attention.
"What in the Almighty's tenth name does that snivelling whitespine want?" Adolin asked, frowning.
"I'll take care of it, son, whatever it is," Dalinar said uneasily, already turning his horse. "You keep going with our forces. I'll catch up." Sadeas rode into the cloud of dust the army was leaving behind, and Dalinar followed.
He didn't go far. Dalinar dismounted among the dust and approached Sadeas. "What in the Almighty's tenth name is this about, Torol?" he demanded.
Sadeas raised an eyebrow, opening his jacket to reach a pocket. Without a word, he brought out something small, then proffered it to Dalinar.
Storms. It was his morning medication.
He'd forgotten it.
"Torol, this isn't worth--"
"You don't get to decide who I act the third Fool for, you oaf," he said brusquely. "Now take this storming pill before I shove it down your throat. I'm getting dust all over my nice jacket."
Dalinar grabbed the pill, then tossed it down his throat, but it was just so dry--
Sadeas sighed loudly and bashed Dalinar in the chest with something. Oh. A flask. "Before you start complaining, it's just water," he said brusquely, looking away. "Just take it. I feel more like an idiot the longer I stand here."
As Dalinar drank, a warmth filled him. Not the warmth of liquid fire pouring down his throat, but the warmth of being cared for. Dare he say loved?
No. Not out loud, at least.
But this was as loud as either of them had dared to be. Leave it to Torol to be braver than I, Dalinar thought as he gave back the flask. He really did need that medication.
Before he'd had a chance to even thank him, Sadeas had remounted, leaving Dalinar sneezing. For the rest of the mission, Dalinar was distracted by all the things he could do to thank the man who'd risk everything, just to make sure Dalinar was safe for a few more hours.