Chapter 22

"What do you think you're doing?"

Mary stood, with her arms crossed, in front of the horse box and watched how Bash saddled his horse.

"Isn't it obvious?"

"As far as I know, Nostradamus had ordered you to rest. At least, for the next week." she said chidingly.

"He cannot expect, that I'll wait for another week!" Bash replied. He rolled his eyes. "I already have known for several days, where Kenna and Daniel are. It's time to find them and bring them home."

"How can you be so unreasonable!" Mary scolded. She entered the horse box and grabbed his hand. "Listen to me! I would send someone from the Castle who can look if everything is all right at the brothel. But all roads were blocked. We are in an exceptional state. And if I send someone and he gets infected, what should I do then?"

Bash took a deep breath. "I can understand your reasons. You have to protect the Castle and all who live there. But I cannot stay here and watch calmly, as Kenna and Daniel become victims of the plague! I need to get to them."

"I'm worried about Kenna and Daniel, too and also about Lola, Greer and John." Mary sighed deeply. "But it's far too high a risk!"

"Nothing is too high a risk, if I can save Kenna and Daniel!" Bash replied stubbornly.

Mary rolled her eyes. "Fine with me! Saddle your horse and ruin your recovery! Is there anything else that I can say that make you stay?"

Bash shook his head. "No, nothing at all."

Mary nodded. "All right. But how do you want to manage to pass the barrier? You know what happens when you try to break through it." She raised an eyebrow.

"I know a hidden path." Bash replied. "The forest may be a maze for most people, but not for me. I know a way through a ravine, which leads directly to the brothel. I'm certain there are no barriers. This isn't even a public pathway."

Mary hesitated for a moment, before she gave him a hug. "Be safe! I don't want to lose you. You are my best friend!"

Bash nodded. "Don't worry! I'll be back soon."

He led his horse out of the box, mounted it and rode off.

"So far, there is no reason to panic!" Greer tried to reassure those, who had gathered in the green chamber. "There is only one case of disease. And he is quarantined in a separate chamber."

"Is it a customer?" a young whore asked.

Greer nodded. "Yes, he is. All whores, who had been together with him, will be under examination." She cleared her throat. "The first symptoms are headaches and fever. Pay attention, first and foremost, to bumps on the skin and black coloring of the limbs. It may take a few hours to days. But those who are infected..." She cut off in mid-sentence. „There is no cure." she finished then.

The silence that followed, was harder to take than any noise.

"We will all die!" Bernadette wailed.

Kenna poked her in the ribs. "Be quiet already! It is still too premature to surrender." She stepped next to Greer. "You have heard what your Madam had told you. Watch the symptoms, not only on yourself but on others, too. The sooner we can put the infected people in quarantine, the faster we can get rid of the plague."

Deeply impressed, Greer looked at Kenna. "Everyone knows what to do. And now return to your chambers and stay there! I don't want to see anyone running around. The food will be brought to the chambers."

Lola looked around fearfully. "Where's John?" she asked anxiously.

"I saw the boys in the kitchen earlier." Greer replied. "Don't worry! I'll find them and bring them to you."

Kenna smiled gratefully, but when she glanced at Lola, the smile faded from her lips.

Her friend's face was contorted with pain and she held her hand pressed to her stomach.

"Lola, what's wrong?" Kenna asked anxiously.

"The baby..." Lola stammered." Something's wrong with the baby!"

Kenna broke out in a cold sweat. Oh no, not that! she thought. Although, she had given birth once before, she didn't know nothing about midwifery.

"Quickly!" she shouted. „We need a midwife!"

Greer shook her head. "I'm sorry, Kenna. But no one is allowed to enter the brothel." She turned to Lola. "Is the pain to endure yet?"

Lola nodded with gritted teeth. "It's probably just a cramp again."

"We bring her in my room." Greer offered. She looked around. All people had left the green chamber. They were alone. "Or you can sit down first and rest a moment."

Lola nodded. But when she made a step to the sofa, another pain shot through her, this time even more intense than before. Groaning, she convulsed in pain and started to breathe frantically.

"Oh my God! Look!" Kenna pointed to the ground, where a small puddle of blood had already formed. "This is not a cramp. This is a clear sign that the birth has just started!"