Part 33 (1/2)

”All right,” the doctor interrupted, his gaze hard on Eldri. ”Please tell us, YourMajesty,exactly what you know about your generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Do you have thoracic contractions? Instances of status epilepticus?”

Eldri considered him. ”Why do you want me to fail this test?”

Cary laughed, then shut his mouth abruptly when the woman frowned at him. The doctor's expression hardened.

Tyra spoke carefully to Eldri. ”Please accept my apologies if we have given offense.”

”You do not give offense,” Eldri said. ”But you baffle me.”

The doctor leaned forward. ”What confuses you?”

”I didn't say I was confused.”

Cary's lips quirked up. Tyra shook her head slightly at him, then turned back to Eldri. ”What baffles you?”

”Why do you want to talk about my seizures?” Eldri was fairly certain ”seizure” was the right word, because Roca had used it when she talked about his attacks, and she had also used words similar to what the doctor had just said.

Cary leaned forward. ”Then you are aware that what happens to you are seizures? Not possession by demons?”

Eldri could tell he was in precarious territory now, though this enemy was more difficult to understand than Lord Avaril. ”I know I have epilepsy.” Although he found the word difficult to p.r.o.nounce, Roca had said it enough that he thought he had it right. ”My wife claims you Skolians can treat it. Is this true?”

Tyra answered quietly. ”We think so. We need to do more tests before we can give you specific answers.”

”When the doctors examined you after the battle here,” Cary said, ”they found traces of sodium bromide in your body. Do you know what that is?”

”My wife used those words.” Eldri had no idea what they meant, but he suspected this wasn't the best time to reveal that. ”We hoped it would heal me.”

”Did you experience any convulsions during the battle?” the doctor asked. Although hostility remained in his mind, his interest in Eldri's health overrode it for now.

”No, actually,” Eldri said. ”But I have had two of the big ones in the two months since then. More of the smaller.”

”If you consent to an examination,” Tyra said, ”we can set up a plan of treatment for you.”

He stiffened. ”What does 'treatment' involve?”

”You will probably have several options. We could give your body a type of medicine called nanomeds.

They will release chemicals to control the seizures. Some interlock with neurons and prevent them from firing. You could take medicines orally or with a syringe.” She paused. ”Sometimes it is possible to operate on the brain and heal what causes the seizures. In your case, we don't think that will work.”

Eldri didn't understand most of what she said, but it all sounded horrendous. ”And if I don't have this treatment? What will happen to me?”

The doctor spoke, his dedication to healing stronger than his obvious dislike of Eldri. ”You may be at risk for status epilepticus. It means the seizure doesn't stop or that you have several without your body recovering in between.” Quietly he added, ”It could kill you.”

Eldri pushed his hand through his hair. He knew, from what Garlin had told him, that he had suffered several bouts similar to what they described, though perhaps not as serious. It had terrified Garlin, and afterward Eldri had felt as if he were coming back from the dead. He never wanted to experience it again.

He steeled himself. ”Very well. You may do your tests.”

His answer seemed to be what they wanted to hear. The men flicked their fingers through the holos above their palmtops.

Eldri rested his forearms on the table, clasping his hands as he sought to appear more composed than he felt. ”And my wife? My son? Have you news of them?” His heart beat hard.

The doctor spoke curtly. ”No.”

Despite Eldri's determination to project calm, his voice caught. ”Surely you must know if they are well.

Anything.”

Tyra answered more gently. ”From what we have heard, your wife and the boy are doing fine.”

Eldri nodded, striving for control. ”Thank you.”

He held back his sorrow, knowing he could only shed his tears alone, away from these unwelcome strangers.

23.

Lights on the Lake.

Kurj pressed the panel on Roca's door again. A chime echoed inside, but no one answered. Trees rustled around him, making dappled shadows on the graceful house, with its peaked roof and intricately carved gables. His inner lids covered his eyes, giving the scene a gilded quality, as if it were an anachronism, an old-fas.h.i.+oned photograph.

”Primary Skolia?” a voice asked.

Kurj looked around. ”Who is that?”

”The house EI. Would you like to enter?”

He could imagine what his mother would say if he walked into her home without her consent, especially with the strain between them so great these past four months, since he had taken her from Skyfall. ”No. I will return when she is here.”

”The Councilor should return soon. She went for a walk. However, you are on the list of visitors I may allow entry.”

That surprised him. He had thought she wanted him to vanish from her life altogether. ”Perhaps she forgot to remove my name.”

”She updated the list this morning.”

Interesting.”Then I will wait inside.”

The door s.h.i.+mmered and faded, offering him access. He walked through the entrance foyer into the airy living room full of sunlight, with high ceilings that created attractive s.p.a.ces.

A curvaceous girl with blond hair and a pretty face came out of an inner room. When she saw Kurj, she froze, her face paling. Then she dropped onto one knee and bowed her head.

Kurj paused. Why was this stranger here? He couldn't help but notice the way her white dress fit her ample b.r.e.a.s.t.s. He went over to her. ”Please stand.”

She rose to her feet, her gaze averted. ”My honor at your presence, Prince Kurj.”

He scratched his chin. ”Who are you?”