6 More Cat Healing? (2/2)

James raised his hand to tear a sleeve off, but her soft touch stopped him. 'I'm not bleeding anymore.'

His hand moved across the closest paw print. It didn't smear or leave blood on his hand, though it looked fresh. 'I don't understand.'

'Think of it as paint.' Then she grimaced and curled into a ball. 'One of yours comes.'

James turned and saw the stable hand running toward them.

He left to meet him.

”Sire, are you alright?” the man asked. ”I saw the cat and….”

”We're fine. The cat was companion to the one that came to visit Lilly. She… needed to know where her companion was.”

”But the two of you are unharmed?”

”…We are.”

The stable hand looked at him dubiously, but nodded slowly. ”Torta has started to get a little restless. I didn't know if it would be safe to let him roam in the fields a bit with the wild cats coming around.”

”I don't think we'll have anymore unexpected visitors, so go ahead a let him roam. If he doesn't want to, don't try to force him.”

The stable hand nodded.

Prince James started to turn again for the trees to get Lilly then turned back once more. ”And don't try to brush him. He's nearly bitten off a hand or two when someone other than me does it.”

”Yes, Sire.”

The man turned away and started to run back toward the summer home. James watched him go before he turned back for the trees. He took his time, not sure if Lilly would want to stay out here where it was quieter or if she was okay to come back. He stepped into the clearing and found Lilly lying on the ground. Her flesh was pale and she was muttering. Her breathing shallow. Her eyes fluttered, but never opened.

'Lilly?… Lilly.'

She continued to mutter. Her arms started to shake. She shivered and rolled to her side as she started to curl. James picked her up. He needed to get her back to the summer home. He carefully eased his way out of the trees as Lilly continued to shiver in his arms. Lilly's head tipped back. Her body jerked and twitched. James had to drop to one knee and shift his hold just to keep himself from dropping her. Lilly shivered more, but took a deeper breath. He held her on his legs for several deeper breaths, making sure he had a better hold on her in case she jerked or twitched again.

James stood and headed for the summer home once more. He didn't understand. She was fine. Or at least better when he left. So what had happened to cause this reaction? Was this part of integrating the cats' work? Or had something else happened in the short time that he was gone? He wished the authors who had written about Adremedians had more helpful information information when it came to Adremdian illnesses and what things aided their recovery. He quickened his steps. Kicked the wall to get one of the maiden's attention as he entered the summer home. He motioned for her to come before he lay Lilly back on the couch.

When she stepped into the room, James motioned for her to take a look at Lilly. She checked several things before turning hesitant at the sight of Lilly's shoulders. The young woman turned to him.

”Her shoulders are fine,” he whispered. ”It's the rest that has me concerned.”

She nodded then turned back to Lilly once more. She pressed the back of her hand against Lilly's forehead. Her brow furrowed deeply before she shook her head. She tucked several blankets over Lilly and added a couple logs to the fire to increase the temperature in the room. Then she stepped into the hall with Prince James.

”I cannot tell you what is wrong, My Prince,” she whispered. ”She shivers like she has a fever, but does not. Her breathing sounds normal, so I don't believe there is any illness in her lungs. I don't know what else to do, but keep her warm and let her sleep.”

James turned to look at Lilly. Her shivering had slowed, but not yet stopped. ”Alright,” he whispered back. ”Thank you.”

The young woman curtsied to him then returned to her duties.

James entered the sitting room once more, sliding the door panel closed to help keep the heat in the room. He sat with her. Going through everything he knew about Adremedians and comparing it to what he knew of his own people. Of their illnesses. He scoured the book he had with him without much help. He even returned to the library to see if there was any other books with information about Adremedians. He found a few more, but couldn't get his mind to focus on the words. Taking the books with him, James returned to the sitting room.

Lilly had rolled to face the back of the couch, the blankets in a pile beside the couch. He covered her with the blankets once more before laying on the couch on the other side of the room.