Chapter Four: The Diagnosis
'A hour later, the Healers' Wing, the palace, Corus. Numair has been lead away by a large group of very frightened people.
"Unicorn Fever"
Duke Baird of Queenscove drew bed-coverings up around the sleeping figure of Veralidaine Sarrasri, completely confident in his diagnosis. "Not that you needed to ask me," he said. "I know that you've healing training enough to sense it, yourself."
Alanna leant down to brush a long curl from Daine's forehead. "I don't like diagnosing my friends, Baird. You know that."
"We-ell," the palace's chief Healer couldn't resist a smile. "I never thought I'd see the day when you admitted that you didn't trust your judgement."
"You won't see it again!" Alanna retorted. In spite of herself, she was nettled.
Daine stirred fretfully, blankets slipping again. Baird straightened then, this time--a task that didn't require thought. He had straightened more blankets in his time then most have had hot dinners. "There isn't much anyone can do for the girl, save wait," he said, straightening. "The fever will pass, the wounds should heal without infection, though, deep are they are, scarring is possible, if not inevitable."
"Well, scarring never killed anyone," said Alanna, with a wry smile.
Baird nodded. "She'll be weak for a time, though--a few months at the worst."
"A few months?"
The healer sighed. "This is a fever, and it's been given by an immortal. The human body isn't properly equipped to deal with this sort of thing; it finds it hard enough to combat normal, mortal diseases, let alone a foreign strain."
"You're making it sound fatal."
"It usually is."
Alanna looked at him, hard. "Yet you're certain it isn't in Daine's case?"
"I'm a healer; not a god!" Baird was frustrated, now. "I only know that she's doing remarkably well, considering her injuries and illness. There's something…in her blood, which seems to be speeding up the healing process. Her body responds beautifully to it, far more so that others. If you're looking for someone to unravel the mysteries of human existence, then I think you'd better ask the philosophers!"
The Lioness flushed, temper flaring dangerously. "I only asked a question, Baird, no need to go up on your high horse with me."
"Your high horse? You of all people telling me to…"
Baird was interrupted mid tirade by a worried face poking around the door.
"If you two have quite finished? Numair's outside and would probably appreciate it if you decided whether or not Daine is on the brink of death." Onua looked at the two of them, half-amused. "He's--"
"--Irritated." A voice, drawling, sarcastic, and very, very tired, permeated the room. "Decidedly irritated. Can I come in now? Or do I have to listen to another hour of your bickering?"
Alanna glared at him. "That's cheek, coming from the one who's just upset every single conscious patient in here!"
"You are exaggerating, my dear."
"Don't you 'dear' me--"
"If you would both be quiet?" For an ageing man, Baird could make himself heard with surprising ease. "I understand that you are all worried about Veralidaine's condition, but you've both known me long enough to understand that I will be working to the best of my ability to keep her alive and well. And I've known you long enough to trust that you won't continue fighting like children, and that one or both of you will leave until you've calmed down enough to act like adults in their thirties again. Have I made myself clear?"
"Crystal." Alanna, peevish, turned on her heel and left the room, a tired Onua following.
"And you, Master Salmalìn?"
"Will be staying." There was a very final air about his words.
Baird managed to groan, barely, and turned to go himself. After too many years than he cared to remember of medical practise among temperamental mages, Duke Baird of Queenscove knew when to back off.
She looks calm from the doorframe. Just…resting. Lying still. Those long curls of hers are making a sharp contrast with the pillow. Her lips are parted, and those ridiculous, beautiful eyelashes…an artist would give his pension for a picture like that. Gods, she's beautiful.
But she's shivering, and managing to burn up at the same time. Quite a paradox. Most fevers are. But this isn't a regular fever, is it, Numair? It's some bloody immortal strain, she was left alone, and this is where it got her. All because that stupid, stupid boy…there are other bruises, on her neck, and arms. I'm not blind. I'm going to kill him!
Oh no, the blankets are slipping. Quick, man; fix them up, before you see the scars. Before you see…
As Daine tensed, racked with fever-dream, the blankets fell from the bed, revealing…
…A perfectly respectable white shift--bandages, too. Honestly, what was I expecting?
Numair picked up the fallen blankets, feeling in dire need for a cold shower. But he had no time for such contemplation, as Daine suddenly sat bold upright and started to scream.
"Ma? Get up! I'll find another healer--you goin' t'be 'right soon. Ma!" Daine's voice had gone back to a Gallan brogue--almost four years of vocal coaching forgotten in her delirium.
Her teacher, with all compromising thoughts pushed firmly to the back of his mind, held the girl firmly by the shoulders, rocking her gently. "Hush now, dear one. Hush…"
"I'm sorry, Ma. I wouldna have gone to Lori's if I'd known. Honest to Gods! You should've come to Lori's with me, the babe was fair gorgeous--an' you like em' more then me. I'm so sorry, Ma…"
"Hush, Magelet," Numair said again, even more gently. "It's just a dream, just your brain deciding to overheat and making you remember things. You're safe now, it's all right" He kept this up for some time, holding her hand and being the ideal bed-sitter, whilst inwardly thinking how pleasant it would be to sew Perin's lips together. By the time Numair had the lovely idea of coating the thread in hydrochloric acid before using it for the purpose mentioned above, Daine had gone back to sleep.
Numair, wincing slightly, stood up. He had been thinking of other things aside a clerk's torturing session during the time it took for his muscles to stiffen in the chair.
It was time to visit Volney Rain.