Chapter 3
At first, Sophia barely recognized Zandar. Despite his tan complexion, he was as pale as the blankets covering him up to his chin. Even with the aid of those blankets, he was shivering visibly. Sophia, before now had never seen the prince without his turban, but now his dark hair was plainly visible, and matted with sweat. His large, brown eyes were closed.
After their initial shock, Sophia and James walked into the scented room. A servant who had, until now, gone unnoticed quietly pulled up 2 soft chairs and motioned for the nobles to sit. "It could be a while," he said, "His Majesty has been like this all day."
They do as they were told and were soon rewarded with a barely audible moan. James looked on excitedly, as Sophia held her breath as, slowly; Zandar turned his head and opened his eyes. The chocolaty hues that normally made Sophia tingle with pleasure were muted and glassy. Dark rings framed the underneath of his eyes.
James, wasting no time, immediately said "Hey Zandar! You look absolutely dead!"
Sophia turned to her brother and gave him her rendition of her mother's "stern face" while Zandar simply looked at James and whispered " Hi. Do you have to be so loud?" He then turned his eyes and noticed Sophia.
Sophia could only guess that the expression directed at her was a smile, although it was barely a turn at the corners of his mouth. It was such a sad replacement for the bright smile that he usually wore that she nearly cried. "Hi." She said "I'm so sorry." Immediately reverting to the servile demeanor she used when she was talking to nobles, back when she was a commoner, she added "Is there anything I can do for you?" She had to restrain herself from calling him "Your majesty". Old habits die hard.
"I'm just glad you are here. Please, tell me what's been going on. My servants don't think I can handle much conversation, so I've been kept in the dark." He paused here and broke into a coughing fit that lasted two or three minutes. With something that could have been a laugh, a wheeze or perhaps just another cough he added "I guess you can see why."
Sophia then launched into a narrative of the past week at royal prep, with James cracking jokes at every conceivable opportunity. They had to pause often to allow Zandar to cough and sometimes they had to call in the doctor to make him stop. In this way what would have been a short story lasted a good two hours. After noticing Zandar nodding off they quietly got up and made to leave. On the way out James asked a servant why the room smelled the way it did and the servant explained that there was incence being burned in hopes to help the prince heal. Satisfied they continued to leave, but Sophia, as clumsy as she was, tripped on the servant's foot and landed spread-eagled on the floor. The noise must have woken the sleeping Zandar and he, with an unnerving quickness, locked his eyes on Sophia's. He pleadingly asked of her "stay?"
Sophia looked to the doctor, who was coming in to re-light the burned-out incense. "I think you may have to." He said. "The prince seems better with the two of you here"
Sophia immediately agreed. She wanted nothing more than to help Zandar to heal as quickly as possible. It was quickly arranged that Sophia would stay in the room adjacent to the prince's. James had declined the offer, not wanting to stay away from his family, but instead opted to visit daily and bring with him a suitcase for his sister.
Zandar smiled softly and drifted into a contented slumber where he would remain for the rest of the day.