2/2/07

The Dynast

Chapter Three

The room was dim with the curtains drawn and only one lamp glowing in the far corner. Paine sat in the straight, uncushioned chair, folded in upon herself like a dry-eyed Niobe, shivering uncontrollably in spite of the shawl she held clutched about her shoulders. She did not hear the soft murmur of discussion among the others clustered near the door, her attention being solely fixed on the long figure lying on the bed before her.

He was still and pale, the prosthetic left arm stretched out beside his body and his right hand placed across his chest. It was on that large, shapely right hand that Paine had fastened her eyes. From time to time she reached out to run a finger-tip down the length of it. Was it colder than the last time she had touched it? Was there motion from the rib cage upon which it rested? She was superstitiously afraid to touch his torso, to spread her own hand across his smooth chest as she had done so often in the past. It had comforted her to feel the steady thrum of his heart against her palm. Now she was terrified that she would detect nothing if she tried. She blinked back the sudden fog which smeared her vision and told herself not to be silly.

A sound and a scuffle from the direction of the door drew her notice. Jarl was pushing through the group of men who tried to stop him. "Mama! Tell them to let me in!"

Paine stretched out her arms. "Let him through. Come here, Jarl."

The boy straightened his wrinkled clothes and, giving an imperious glare to those around him, marched to his mother's side.

"What's happened, Mama? What's wrong with my Father?" His voice faltered as he looked at the man on the bed.

"Shh. Your father's sick but we're going to make him get better." She draped her arm over her son's thin shoulders and drew him closer to her side.

"But why won't he wake up?" Jarl's eyes were clouded with fear.

"We'll find out soon now. Don't worry. We're taking care of things." Paine could hear the doubt in her own words and did not try to pretend that Jarl did not hear it as well.

He stood for a while, staring at Nooj. Then leaning forward to place his slightly grubby hand on the pale, unmoving face, he took a deep breath and asked, "Have you sent for Uncle 'Lai?"

His mother almost laughed, remembering how her first action once she understood the gravity of the situation had been to send their lightest courier on their fastest chocobo to Bevelle to summon the Healer. Then, five minutes later, she had sent a hover to the same destination with the same message.

"Yes, darling. I've sent for Uncle 'Lai and Uncle Gippal, too. They should be here soon. Don't worry, we're doing everything we can." She longed to ask him if the face under his hand felt cold but dared not lest she frighten him even more. Instead she continued to take comfort from the sturdy little figure leaning against her. She wished he would climb into her lap like he used to but accepted his choice to remain standing. The pressure of his body against her side made her want to clutch him as tightly as she could and cry out her terror and grief into this warm proof of her love for the stricken man. In order to control her emotions, she forced her thoughts into more neutral territory. Distraction was her salvation.

Why had Jarl called her 'Mama' instead of the more formal terms he had lately begun to use? Was he, also, in need of the comforting relationship which they shared? Was it his way of telling her that it was all right to loosen the reins of self-control just a little? With irritation, she realized these thoughts were not helping.

"Jarl, will you do something for me?"

"Anything, mama. Do you want me to watch for Uncle Gippal and show him here to you?"

"Maybe a little later. Right now, Nanny is expecting me in the nursery to take the twins while she gets some rest. I need to stay here. Will you go tell her what has happened and do what she asks you to do? If you could help with the twins, it would take a big worry off my mind." Paine managed a watery smile.

"Of course, mama. I'm happy to do it. Have you had anything to eat? I could have the cook bring you a tray."

"Thank you, darling, but no. I don't want anything right now. I promise I'll get something in a little while. Oh, tell the sentry to send you word when Gippal comes. He'll want to see you right away and then you can bring him to me."

"I will do as you ask, mama." The boy bowed over his mother's hand and, to her surprise, planted a kiss on the finger-tips. "Don't be scared. Father will be all right. Uncle 'Lai is the best Healer in the world."

When Jarl had closed the door behind him, Paine dropped her face into her hands and permitted herself a brief moment to weep, then straightened her back, firmed her shoulders and resumed her watch.

-X-

Night had fallen and with it the hope of a quick resolution to the crisis. Paine and Gippal stood near the bed upon which the still unmoving Nooj lay and listened to Baralai who had just finished his examination.

"Tell me once more, my lady, what you saw when you went into the study. Give me every detail you can remember." The white haired Healer laid a gentle hand on her arm.

Paine drew her breath, paused to collect herself and spoke, "It was time for lunch and, after seeing the children started on their meal, I went by the office to meet Nooj for our own. He did not respond to my tap on the door, so I opened it and saw him at once. He was in his chair which his upper body lying across the desk. His spectacles were crushed and bent as though he had fallen on them and his eyes were closed. No blood, no fluids, he was just sprawled there, his right hand clutching at his chest and his left arm hanging toward the floor. I shook him and called out, but he did not move. I ... I wasn't sure he was breathing." She lost control of her voice and had to pause. "So I called for help and we carried him here and ... and ..."

Baralai patted her. "OK. That's enough. There was no sign of struggling? His legs weren't twisted? No? OK. Here's what I think. I can find no sign of a heart attack. That was my first thought but now I consider that unlikely. Something else has happened and I have only a few hints in the back of my mind. I need to have him conscious so I can ask him some questions before I say any more because I could easily be wrong." He looked at his two old friends. "I'm going to do some things which may look cruel and may upset you but I have to wake him up. Paine, why don't you go next door for a few minutes? I'll call you when it's over."

"That won't be necessary." It was little more than a croaking whisper. The three spun about as one to see Nooj had turned his head and opened his eyes. "I'm awake and want to know what all this is about."

Paine flung herself down on her knees beside the bed. "Nooj! You're back!" She spread her hand out on his chest and felt the familiar pulsation of his heart beneath her palm. "What happened? Are you all right?"

"I can't answer the first question. As to the second, I'm all right. Don't be upset." The sound from his lips was still thready and weak. "Baralai, Gippal, what are you doing here?"

Baralai, without betraying the slightest surprise, bent over his patient. "Be quiet and let me check some things. I'll explain in a minute." He ran a diagnostic hand down the length of the body, paying particular attention to the head and chest areas. "Well, everything seems to be in working order and I can't spot any anomalies but I still want to run a more detailed analysis in the morning. I'll ask my questions then."

"No. You may be able to wait but I want some answers now. What happened to me and why am I so exhausted?" Nooj tried to push himself up and failed.

Paine and Gippal hastened to pull him to a seated position on the bed, propping pillows behind his back while Baralai monitored his condition with a hand on his head.

"All right, then. Let's start." The Healer settled himself on the chair nearest the bed and tucked his hands into his full sleeves. "Tell me what you were doing when you last remember."

Nooj closed his eyes and furrowed his brow. "I was reaching for some papers about the history of Vegnagun and then I was here, listening to you try to send Paine away. Jarl had been in earlier and we had talked. That's all. Oh yes, Gippal, I was thinking about your last visit and about the new prostheses."

Gippal, standing behind Paine with his arms folded across his chest, nodded with a wry grin. "The offer still holds. Whenever you're ready."

"You were just reaching for the papers and that's all?" Baralai had his nose on the trail and would not be distracted. "Did you hear or smell anything odd or see anything that disturbed you? Have any other strange things happened to you or any of your family lately? Paine, that's meant for you too."

Paine searched her memory. "The only thing the least bit off is that I've had some hormone surges." She blushed and laid her hand against her belly. "I never had them with the other babies but ..."

"What kind of surges?"

"Oh, you know. Mood swings. Fits of temper, even some crying spells. The usual."

Baralai drew a small book from his sleeve and jotted down a few notes in a script which looked more like drawing than writing. "Nooj? Can you think of anything else? How about the kids? Have they acted oddly recently?"

"With Jarl, who can tell?" Paine murmured ruefully. "No, aside from his usual wild oscillations from old man to little boy, he's been normal. And the twins are still talking to each other in a private language but they've been doing that since they learned to make coherent sounds. No, that's it."

"Have the hormone storms stopped?" He held his stylus poised. A hideous thought was beginning to take precedence in his mind. He found it nearly improbable but was compelled to consider it.

"Yes, just recently. I was thinking today how glad I was to be rid of them." Her voice cracked a little at the memory.

Nooj, his brow furrowed, broke in. "As I was reaching for the papers, I caught a movement out of the corner of my eye. It looked like a dark shadow. I was turning to see what it was when ..."

Baralai leaned over to his friend and thumbed back first one eyelid then the other, staring intently into the organs thus revealed. "All right. I have enough now. Nooj, I don't know exactly what happened to you but I have some suspicions. I'll have to do some more checking before I say anything definite. I need to consult with some other people. Will you trust me? I'll lay it out in detail when I'm more certain."

"I trust you. I would be a fool not to after all this time. You know me better than any other Healer and you have never been one to lie. One question ... Will this happen again?" Nooj looked deeply into the face of his friend.

"I can't promise it won't. I don't think it's likely but I can't be sure. It would be better if you were not completely alone for long periods of time and if it does happen again, send for me immediately." The last was addressed to Paine. "Now, everybody get some rest. It's been a long difficult day."

"I'll show you and Gippal to your rooms," Paine said lightly.

"No need." Gippal hugged her. "I know my way around this compound and I'll shepherd 'Lai to his quarters. Go on and sleep in tomorrow; I'll take care of Jarl and the twins. I'm an old hand at herding kids, having five of my own." He grinned disarmingly.

"Five! I'd lost count. You busy swirley-eyed goat!" Paine laughed a little hysterically. "We may take you up on that offer to sleep in. I admit, I'm tired."

"I have to make up for this slacker here." Gippal clapped Baralai on the back. "He's not doing his part in the family thing. And get up when you feel like it. I'm look forward to visiting with Jarl and teaching him how to take machina apart like an Al Bhed. Better watch your leg, Nooj."

Baralai, ignoring the byplay, did a final examination of his patient, pronounced himself satisfied and accompanied Gippal from the room, closing the door firmly behind them.

Paine began removing her clothes and walked over to the bathing room. "Will you be all right while I have a quick shower?"

"Of course. Take your time." He shifted against the pillows, relieved to be able to move more easily.

When she returned, fragrant with soap and the citrusy cologne she used, he had slid to the far side of the bed and was turned to face her. With a sigh of relief she slipped under the covers he raised in welcome and folded herself against his body, drawing comfort from his presence.

He drew her closer still. "Paine, I don't understand what happened."

"We'll sort it out; just don't leave me." She breathed into the curve of his throat.

"Not while I have the ability to stay," he responded. They clung to one another like travelers lost in a threatening forest until finally sleep, the sleep of exhaustion, crept up and brought them oblivion.

-X-

Baralai stretched wearily. It had been a long day. Even with the use of the Celsius, the journey from Bevelle had been tiring. From the east window he could see the faint glow on the horizon which told him morning was not far away. However, he had a few things to do before he could permit himself to sleep.

He sat down at the dressing table and drew out his notebook. After a few minutes concentration, he began writing and had soon filled several pages with the arcane script he used for his private records. Yes, these were the ones he needed to consult. He ran his finger down the annotated list, whispering the names aloud to himself. Who to see first? He closed his eyes and thought. Then with a firm nod of his head, he decided. Lulu. That was the one he must enlist to begin with. And maybe a word or two with Wakka would not come amiss. He made another note in the margin, then, his plans set, he unbuttoned his stiff coat and cast a longing glance toward the welcoming bed.

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