Keeper (First Ordinance #2)(39)
*
Lironis
Quin
"Quin?" I hadn't seen Kifirin for at least two days. He stood outside my cubicle, now.
"Lord Kifirin?" I nodded respectfully to him.
"You should stop for the day and rest. Ordin is waiting for you to accompany him to the research facility. A bath, fresh clothing and a meal are waiting."
Hunching my shoulders, I lowered my chin and nodded. It would do the sick no good at all if I weren't rested enough to do what needed to be done. "Come then," Kifirin said. I followed him outside, where Ordin waited.
We didn't have to fly, Kifirin transported us.
*
I nearly fell asleep in the shower after leaning my head against the cool, tiled wall. Water ran over my back and wings while I wished for a bed. My stomach growled, telling me I needed food, first.
Pulling myself away from the tiles and forcing my eyes open, I finished cleaning myself and walked out of the cubicle. I'd learned the first day that the water shut off automatically when I left the shower.
Clothing, no doubt left by Dena, lay folded over the chair in front of the mirror and vanity. Drying off as quickly as I could, I slipped underwear on that I'd never seen before. Then, lifting the top garment, I examined it carefully.
The fabric was smooth and soft as a baby's skin. I found it to be very like the tunic I'd seen Queen Lissa wear, only in a much more suitable garment for where I was. Slipping the neck hole over my head, I tied the back, noticing that the tunic hung halfway to my knees.
The trousers matched and flowed softly about my ankles when I walked. Had I not been so weary, I'd have taken a great deal of pleasure from wearing such fine garments.
My hair came next—I finger-combed it in the mirror until it looked somewhat neat in appearance, then walked out of the bathroom toward the kitchen and dining room.
"Quin, you look lovely," Kaldill smiled and indicated the chair beside him.
"Did you bring this for me?" I asked, touching the fabric of my tunic.
"I asked, yes, but Queen Lissa offered her designer. The results are quite breathtaking," the skin around his eyes crinkled as he smiled wider.
"Then I thank you. It was a wonderful gift after a long and trying day. I was obliged to dispose of my work clothing—I had no hope of washing stains and such out of it after healing so many."
"That is of no consequence—I will ask for a healer's wardrobe for you," Kaldill waved a hand imperiously.
"You've been King for quite a long time, haven't you?" I asked, as a plate of food was set before me.
Kaldill threw back his head and laughed.
*
The meeting after dinner should have put me to sleep. It didn't. Reah, after being gone for a few hours during the afternoon, was back, with word from Queen Lissa. "We'd hoped to transport those from Fyris to Cloudsong, only to learn that Marid managed to poison it while he was there. We're looking for another suitable world, but nothing has presented itself."
"You're looking to take the people away from Fyris?" Omina almost came out of her seat, her anger evident. Rath, sitting beside her, was just as angry but didn't say anything. "Amlis will be furious," Omina insisted.
"My lady, your people are dying. This is merely a temporary shift, to keep them from getting sicker than they already are. If the poison is cleared away from Fyris, they may return."
"That's why we were looking for a deserted world—where the Prince can rule without hindrance from other inhabitants," Reah attempted to soothe Omina's anger and distrust. "Our other option—and the most expedient—is Harifa Edus, the werewolf planet. Only a quarter of it is occupied, leaving much open ground for your people to live. Once the cities and villages are built with help from the powerful, the people of Fyris would be free to ply their trades and sow gardens and such—spring has arrived on that sector of the planet."
"Werewolves? I've never heard of such," Omina huffed.
I wanted to speak, then, but held my tongue. As long as Omina left them alone, the werewolves would not be a bother. I had the idea that she'd have to travel many, many miles and many days to reach even the closest werewolf, if Reah had her way.
"They've never heard of you, either," Kifirin snorted. I stared—smoke had come from his nostrils. To me, that indicated he was upset in some way. "Reah offers you a gift beyond price and it makes you angry? It will cheat your people if you and your son refuse it."
Lord Kifirin, they have little care for the people, except that it affects them in some way, I sent mindspeech to him.
I know this, he responded gently. The measure of any monarch is in how he treats the lowliest of his subjects.
I felt Omina's character was being weighed in the balance and wondered upon which side she'd fall. Tensions rose in Amlis's study—I regretted that he and Rodrik weren't present for this meeting.
"Very well," Omina flung up a hand in surrender. "Take the people. I shall stay here."
"It will kill you, just as it will kill them," Reah said softly.
"I am aging and have seen too much already," Omina huffed. "Amlis is the ruler of Fyris, as it should be. I will return to Vhrist and die with it, unless a remedy is found in time."
*
Quin
"Quin, we will discuss these decisions soon—you and Ordin need rest, first," Gurnil advised when the meeting was over. I imagined that he wanted Justis present, too, and that wouldn't be possible for two more days.