Saving the Singer
Chapter One-Poisoning
Tarrant and Alice were walking through the main garden of Marmoreal, talking in low tones. Josiah and Arianna were in their carriage, Alice was pushing them, and Tarrant would occasionally look over at them, making the silliest faces that he could. Alice merely rolled her eyes, remarking that he was being a bad influence on the children. Tarrant giggled. "Why, my dear Alice! I am a wonderful influence on our children! They are both perfectly mad!"
Alice laughed. "That's very true. Josiah especially-he seems to have inherited your madness."
Tarrant was about to say more when he heard a sound coming from further up the path. He frowned, and started forward. Alice followed confusion and concern on her face.
Tarrant stopped a few yards ahead, an expression of concern and sadness on his face. Alice caught up with him, about to ask what was going on, when she noticed the two people sitting on the ground before her. She sighed in sympathy.
Stayne and Alannah were sitting there, and Alannah was in his arms, sobbing hard. He was rubbing her back, whispering in her ear. He looked up at Alice and Tarrant, and silently mouthed 'Help me.'
Alice nodded, and then knelt down next to Alannah, gently touching her back. Alannah jumped, and Alice looked at Stayne in bewilderment. "What's the matter with her, Ilosivic?"
Stayne shook his head. "I don't know. We were walking when she suddenly screamed and collapsed. I've tried to get her to tell me what's wrong, but she refuses." He looked down at Alannah, and gently nudged her. "Love, Alice and Tarrant are here. Can you tell them what's….Alannah!" he finished in a terrified voice.
Alannah was convulsing. Her body trembled, legs and arms flailing about as she screamed. Stayne grabbed her arms, trying to steady her, and was unsuccessful. It took the three of them pinning her down to get her to stop shaking. Tarrant looked at Stayne, and his terrified expression mirrored Stayne's own. "Stayne, we need to get her to Mirana. There is something seriously wrong with her."
Stayne couldn't speak, but he nodded in agreement. He scooped Alannah into his arms, and he and Tarrant set off swiftly for Marmoreal, Alice following after.
Stayne ran into the main hall, calling desperately for Mirana. He looked down at Alannah, and his face paled. She was coughing, and her face was pale, with two red spots showing on her cheeks. The cough was loud in the silence, and she trembled from the force of it. Stayne shivered, and then sighed in audible relief as he noticed Mirana running towards him.
"Mirana, help me!" he said desperately. Mirana took one look at Alannah, and her face paled. She reached out and gently touched her forehead, drawing it back with a slight hiss. She looked at Stayne, a serious expression on her face.
"How long has she been like this?"
Stayne gulped. "A few hours. We were walking in the garden when she complained that she was feeling dizzy. I asked if she wanted to sit down, but she said she would be fine. She walked a few feet ahead of me and then she collapsed, screaming. I've tried to get her to tell me what's wrong, but I don't even know if she knows I'm here!" he finished in a half sob.
Mirana frowned. "It's very likely she doesn't know. She's been poisoned, and from what I can tell, I think it's a very deadly one. Could you open one of her eyes, please?" Stayne did so, and Mirana gazed into the pupil, and then sighed in sadness. "Sleeper's Bane."
Stayne looked at her, confused. "What's that?"
Mirana sighed. "It is a deadly poison. The Red King developed it many years ago to help combat nightmares that he had been having. He was too nervous to try it out on himself, so he gave it to his twin brother. Unfortunately, the formula worked-but not how it was meant to. His brother went through horrid convulsions, then went into a coma and died a few days later. The King never forgave himself for that, and had all traces of the poison destroyed." She looked at Stayne. "This was years before you came to work for my sister, understand. I had thought all knowledge of how to brew the poison vanished with the death of the Red King."
Stayne had to fight to keep his voice from cracking. "So she's going to die?" He swayed, and collapsed to the floor, pulling Alannah with him. Mirana knelt in front of him, and gently forced him to look at her.
"There is a cure, but it is very hard. She needs to drink a potion containing three hairs from the tail of a unicorn. Without those hairs, she will die."
Stayne gawped. "But the Unicorn hasn't been seen in these parts for over fifteen years! We don't even know if he is still alive!"
Mirana smiled grimly. "Stayne, either you find the Unicorn or she dies. There is no in between. You have one week. Any longer, and she will be beyond any aid."
Stayne shuddered violently, and then nodded. "Very well. I will try to find him. But if I don't, and she dies-Time help the slurvish bastard who did this to her."