Another long time, and another reviewless chapter. -Cry- Where are you, people?
Raine: If they're intelligent, they've stoppedreading.
Quiet, woman! Must you harass me so?
Raine: Me!
Ehehe...Yeah...-Ahem-
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It was...so hot. Why was she so hot? Why did she feel so weak it was almost as if even turning her head would be impossible? She tried to open her eyes, but gave up after a few moments. Her mind was just beginning to focus. But she could hear voices above her...somewhere.
"How long will she last, if it is not cured?" asked a familiar woman's voice.
"Four days, if we're able to keep her fever down as much as possible. But even that is stretching it, I'm afraid."
"I see...Thank you, sir."
There came the sound of footsteps, she noted, detatchedly. But it hadn't been the woman, for soon her voice sounded again. "She is as good as gone anyway. We simply have to focus on Bryant, now. Duke Bryant," she added, her voice making the smirk on her face very clear, even if it wasn't in sight.
"What did you do, Karla?" came a man's inquiery...Matthew's. "How did you infect her without being noticed?"
"And how did you get the infectious agent in the first place?" David.
"I was noticed," she replied, carelessly. "But I had to be, didn't I? I couldn't very well tell that guard to inject her without him seeing me, now could I?"
"You told a castle guard to infect a prisoner with a harmful virus."
"Yes."
"And he was not suspicious?"
"But of course not. Why would anyone be suspicious of castle orders?" She giggled, most unpleasantly. "I simply told him that a doctor had informed the King of 'something,' and that there were orders directly from the top to administer this injection. Vague, yes. But no one ever goes against royalty." This last was said with another little chuckle.
Yes, that explained it...A guard had unlocked the door to her cell in order to reach her, before Regal and the others had arrived. He had carried a needle - one she hadn't really liked the looks of from the start. When she had questioned it, he merely told her, quite gruffly, that "a filthy half-elven prisoner didn't require any explanations." With that, she had received a nasty injection. Mostly because she had fought against it, and he had thrust her up against the wall somewhat savagely, pinning her there while he administered whatever it had been.
Which raised the question - what had it been, exactly?
"Very well, that explains how you infected her. But how did you get the infectant at all?"
"The Imperial Research Academy had been studying the Aelaes maer. They had samples of the virus and..." An unseen smile surfaced, quite obviously. "Let's just say a friend got one for me. Since this disease affects half-elves, and only half-elves, there was really no chance of my plan backfiring."
"Organized, well thought-out. I am impressed."
"Why thank you, David."
That was all her weary mind could take. Try as she might to stay somewhat concious, she failed and faded out into blackness again before she heard anything more.
It seemed like just a moment had passed before she felt a hand against her forehead, heard a soft voice calling, "Raine? Raine. Please answer me."
She knew the voice as Regal's, and forced herself with renewed determination back to the "Land of the Living." Her violet-blue eyes fluttered open. Raine waited for the fuzziness to clear, but it didn't - not completely. The edges of her vision were hazy, but she could make out his face well enough. "Re...gal," she whispered.
His hand moved to her cheek as he relaxed visibly. "Yes." He lowered himself onto one knee beside her. "How are you feeling?"
"Awful." Her voice was nearly inaudible, but she was glad to know he could decipher her words. "It's...hot..." She closed her eyes again. So hot.
The mage felt something cool and wet against her face, a wonderful feeling against the burning heat she was experiencing. Regal had draped a towel soaked in cold water over her forehead, and she opened her eyes long enough to give him a little, ghostly smile of thanks before they closed again.
"Raine?" he asked, sounding a bit alarmed. His hand closed gently around her chin. Raine lifted one of hers weakly to pat it in reassurance. Again, he relaxed noticeably, and clasped her lifted hand after releasing her chin.
"What...happened?"
"You fainted," replied the Duke, softly, "in the cell. Sheena came to find me, and by the time I reached you your temperature was quite above normal. Raine, you...Have you ever heard of the Aelaes maer?"
"...Of course." That was it, then? That was what Karla had had her infected with? The deadly disease known to only affect her race. Half-elves.
She was going to die?
"You have contracted it."
"It was...Karla," breathed Raine, turning her head before coughing a few times. "She told a guard...it was an order...from the King...He injected me with...something...couldn't stop..." She was fading again, struggling to remain aware.
"Karla...Raine? Stay with me." He turned her face to his and she opened her eyes the fraction of a centimeter to look groggily at him. "Stay concious. Do you know where she is now?"
"Don't...know..." Her eyes slipped closed again as she let out a sigh of breath, riding on which were the words, "I'm sorry." After that, conciousness was lost.
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Raine: ...The Aelaes Maer...
Yup.
Raine: You've infected me with a disease. That kills.
Yup.
Raine: And you wonder why I hate you.
