Chapter Twenty Four; Suspicions.

To Peachy Garlic, Mirielaina and Shattered Amethyst at the Dancing Dove for being such great reviewers!

The men lead Alanna back into the Healer's tent, half supporting her. Duke Roger and Duke Gareth, disturbed by the commotion that her appearance had created, left the commander's tent. Alanna stiffened in shock, and perhaps a little fear, and then allowed herself to be aided into the safety of her tent.

When they were all inside, and the flap closed behind Gary she relaxed a little and sank down onto the bed.

"Are you alright?" Thom asked hurriedly. "Should I fetch Duke Baird?"

Even as Alanna began to shake her head, the Healer himself walked in.

"There's no need." He said softly. "I'm here."

The knights moved away from the bed they were all clustered around, leaving Thom alone by her side. Duke Baird approached and took her hand from her brother gently.

"I think it would be better if you all waited outside." He suggested. Alanna immediately tensed and tried to sit up. "Lie back!" he commanded. "Mithros knows what damage you've already done to yourself by going outside." Turning to the men he asked, "Why didn't any of you stop her? Prince Jonathan, Thom, you both have the Gift, and yours is a healing one too Prince. You must have known that the worst thing a patient who is in her condition is to get up."

"We did try." Jon answered. "But Alanna was fighting us so much, we were afraid restraining her would do her more harm than good."

Baird nodded and turned back to his patient, who was trying to summon the strength to get off the bed. Unwillingly Raoul and Gary began to lead the others out of the tent. Alanna managed to grab the hem of Thom's tunic as he stood.

"No." Her voice was weakening again, her reserves of strength almost gone. "Thom… stay."

Thom looked beseechingly at the Healer who nodded.

"He can stay if you'll lie back. The others will be waiting just outside." He didn't know why Alanna was so insistent that she wasn't to be left alone, but he could understand it, after coming out of that coma.

He pushed his magic into her. She was horribly weak, from lack of food and exercise. She would recover her full strength within the week though, if all went well. He checked the wound on her thigh, it had almost healed. It might scar slightly, but nothing noticeable. Before he pulled his Gift out of her, he checked her blood. Then he froze, probing gently. There was something in there that wasn't natural, but he didn't know what it was. He sat back on his heels for a full minute, thinking deeply. Alanna had fallen into a deep sleep, which was just what her body needed. Thinking quickly he removed his dagger from his belt and raised her right arm, collecting a vial from his belt pouch as he did so. With one swift stroke he cut across the vein in her elbow and collected the blood that trickled from the wound. He heard Thom start behind him, but the Squire remained silent. He capped the vial and replaced it. Then, deftly he wrapped the newly inflicted wound in a linen bandage.

He turned to see Thom standing only a foot behind him.

"Is she going to be alright?" He asked. Baird nodded and walked out of the tent, the younger man following him closely. When they emerged, the young men who had been waiting anxiously outside rose to their feet.

"Lady Alanna will be fine." He reassured them all. "She will wake after about two bells, and then I shall give you a specially prepared broth. It is all her body can cope with currently."

"What caused her coma?" Jon asked

The Duke sighed. "I tell you this in all confidence. This goes no further, you understand me?" They all nodded, apprehensive expressions crossing their faces. "She was given some kind of drug, or poison. I suspect her wound just made it easier for whoever did this to conceal it, as I could not sense this before she awoke. This was a deliberate attempt to either kill Lady Alanna or to keep her out of the way for a time." He paused. "I do not know why, I can think of no reason. Can any of you?"

One by one they all shook their heads, Thom last. He did have some idea, but realised this was not the time to air his, and Alanna's suspicions about Duke Roger.

"No." He said finally.

"As soon as she is stronger, she must be sent somewhere away from the fighting. If she is always worrying about you all then she will do is make herself worse. Now one of you may sit with her. From the day she was reacting I imagine she has had hallucinations. One of you should always stay by her to reassure her and ground her into reality."

With a swift bow the healer walked back into the commander's tent.

When he was gone, all of the men quickly walked into Alanna's tent. Although she was still asleep, and looked as if she had never woken up, a slight colour was beginning to creep over her cheeks.

Thom sat on the chair at the head of the bed.

"I will stay here until she wakes up." He said firmly, his tone insistent. After staying a short while, to reassure themselves that Alanna was fine; they could almost see her body regaining life, the others left.

Thom sat in silence, staring down at his sister's face.

"Why did you come here?" He murmured. "You said you wouldn't." But he didn't receive a reply.

Jon led the way into his tent. They had chosen his as a meeting place because it was the largest and most comfortable.

Jon sank down into a chair.

"Thank Mithros." He exclaimed quietly. "Why would someone want to kill Alanna?"

"How did they know she was even going to be here?" Gary asked.

"None of us knew…" Raoul turned to Jon for confirmation, "Did you know?"

"No. I knew she wanted to come, but I forbade her."

Gary scoffed. "Come on Jon, you know her better than that. She would be even more eager to come just because you ordered her not to."

"I made her promise as well…" He trailed off. "But she never actually promised she wouldn't come here, she just promised she would go to Barony Olau in the morning." He cursed, seeing how he had been tricked.

"You've got to hand it to her," Gary said, laughing. "She knows how to get around you."

"And she didn't have to break her word either." Raoul added.

Jon shook his head, unwillingly amused by Alanna's trickery.

"But we still don't know who tried to kill her. Or why they would want to." Raoul pointed out.

"Thom knows something, I'm sure of it. But he's keeping quiet." Gary noted, his quick mind had registered that Thom had paused significantly before answering Duke Baird earlier.

"We will have to be careful when she is travelling back to Corus. They, whoever 'they' might be, might try again."

"I said to Thom that we could send her with roger, I doubt anyone would attack them if he was protecting her." Jon said, trying to figure out who would want to cause Alanna harm.

"Perhaps it is the same person who poisoned her before, when you were attacked by the wolves. You said that she thought they were magical, didn't you?"

Jon sat up straighter.

"Then they must have followed her here from Corus, who has been to Corus recently, then come here? Someone with the Gift."

Raoul shrugged. "It could be anyone, half the soldiers are Gifted."

"They would have to have a lot of power though. Duke Baird said he couldn't sense the poison or what ever it was."

"So, who in the camp has enough power to shape shift, or to control wolves and to shield something from Duke Baird, who has quite a bit of power himself?" Jon asked.

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