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"I said, i don't know what it is!" Neal exploded as yet another patient rudely barged into his workroom.
"What?" the man asked, his rainbow splotched face paled. "All this time, and you lot haven't cured it yet?" He shuddered, recollecting the fate of those who had passed through the doors before him. "And we die shortly?"
"I'm sorry!" Neal said, desperate. "Both me and my father are working as fast as we can..."
"What-what is it?" the man demanded.
Neal hung his head, dejected. Any young man, even ones more frivolous than the previously carefree Nealan of Queenscove, would be troubled deeply by a situation like this. "It's god-cursed," he explained. "Alanna, she has talked to the Goddess, and it seems the Chaos Queen's last move before dissolving into Mother Flame was to strike out at Tortall."
Duke Baird appeared behind his son. "Good man, I am afraid there is not much we can do, unless there's a miracle..." His voice trailed off as all three men stopped to stare at the Chaos painted sky.
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Kel sat across from her husband at the table. "So those colors," she began, her hazel eyes thoughtful, "when we breathe the air, we are drinking in the very poison that kills us?"
Neal nodded, his eyes dreadfully sorrowful. "It's contained to Tortall, and only long exposure can cause it to be deadly."
Her eyes lit up. "If we create a mass exodus..."
Shaking his head, Neal replied, "If there are ten cases here already, it's too late. We can only hope that a cure or antidote can be found in time before we're wiped out."
Standing, Kel got up out of her chair and went to lean on her husband. "Neal, i'm so sorry," she whispered. "Is it too late, lovey?"
He nodded mutely, feeling his throat constrict as he gazed on his beautiful Kel, only his for a two months. "Kel, I love you," he murmured, feeling gratified as she smiled slightly. "I suppose it would be silly to think about the inevitable."
She touched her finger to his lips, closing them against his morose words. "Not inevitable," she reminded. "There is still hope! If we work hard...perhaps there is a cure?" Kissing him soundly, she patted his hand and sent him back to the Healer's hut in much better spirits.
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