24 The Right to Challenge (2/2)
”Yes, we know. You were both so eager try and use her condition as a way to gain a better position. The penalty is death for attacking the royal family.”
”You can't kill me! I have a child of the royal family in my belly!” she said panic seeping into her voice.
”As I said before, that is not my child,” Arren said as he reached Isilla.
Isilla looked up, Lehan's eyes were locked on hers, their expression bemused. Arren reached for her but she avoided his arms, grabbing her book from his hands. You can't! She wrote in huge letters, big enough to be seen from across the room, she hoped.
”Oh, more notes? Arren, what does your wife have to say? I'll let her sentence this girl.”
Let her go, let her have her baby. Don't do anything to her. Killing her won't solve the issue between her kingdom and the crown, she wrote her words shaky from pain.
Arren looked at her words and stood, turning back to the Council. ”My wife wishes for the Crown to show mercy. She would like us to let her live and have her child.”
”How interesting,” Lehan laughed. ”As the Princess has requested,Lady Elixabete of the Southern Firth, this incident will be forgiven.”
”Thank you, Prince Lehan,” Istoz said bowing low. ”I will see that she does not forget this lesson.”
”Not quite yet, she will stay in the palace until the child is born. She can leave once she pushes the thing out. The baby will stay here.” Lehan added.
”What?” Elixabete said, touching her belly, ”But Prince Arren denies it is his.”
”Although I am very sure that my brother never so much as kissed your hand, you have stated that the baby is of our line. So it will stay with our line.”
Isilla moved to object, that's not what she wanted but Arren's shadows wrapped around her fingers, stilling her words with gentle pressure.
Lehan clapped his hands, ”What an eventful day at Council. Things are always so exciting when you visit, Isilla! The issue with the engagement seems to have resolved itself, don't you think Istoz?”
The man nodded in agreement, his defeat clear.
”In that case, I think we should consider this meeting closed. What say you Basajuan?”
The old man nodded and stood from his chair without a word. The rest of the Council followed suit and one by one they began to leave by side doors, back to their own offices. Istoz took his crying daughter with him leaving only Lehan, Arren, and Isilla in the center of the room.
”Thank me brother, who knows what you would have done if I hadn't stepped in. Your eyes looked as if you were ready to return right back to your old ways,” Lehan said, his tone mocking.
”There was no danger,” Arren said.
”Tell me, what is that thing?” Lehan asked pointing at Ilun. The beast growled at him, a low rumble in his throat. Lehan couldn't hear it, Ilun still pressed against Isilla, keeping her from falling to the floor.
”A pet,” he answered, bending to scoop Isilla up in his arms.
His shadows pulled at her gently as he lifted her. He held her close to his chest and she closed her eyes, anticipating his instruction.
”Open your eyes,” he said a moment later, laying her body on her bed.
She rolled to her side with some difficulty.
”Do you need a doctor?” he asked, his voice full of concern, ”Where are you injured?”
She forced herself up. I'm fine, she wrote, I just need to rest.
He shook his head, ”Don't be stubborn! We can be upset with each other later!”
I hurt my back, I'll be fine once I sleep, she wrote admitting her injury if not how bad she felt. Ilun whined from the floor as if even he could tell she was lying.
”You can barely write and you want me to believe that? Let me see,” he said.
She pushed her eyebrows together, questioning him silently.
Sighing he bent and pulled her into a full sitting position before beginning to untie the laces on her dress. He gently pulled the sleeves down, exposing the thin shift underneath. This he pulled up to expose her back.
He sucked in his breath and helped her lie back down on her side.
”I'm getting a doctor for you,” he said quickly.
She tried to stop him but he had already summoned two of his little creatures and sent them flying with his orders.
”Isilla, you need to stay awake until the doctor sees you,” he said softly, returning to her side.
Her body felt heavy, exhausted. Ilun let out soft barks between long whines.
”Isilla!” Arren called, louder, ”Stay awake!”
She nodded and he touched her face.
”I should have brought you back sooner, ” he said gently.
I have to stay awake, she thought, even as her body fought against her.
The maids arrived first and Arren moved away from the bed. ”Undress her, put her in something soft and take down her hair. Be gentle! Beast, you come sit with me!”
Ilun whined but Isilla nodded for him to listen. Arren walked out of the bedroom and into her sitting room with Ilun to wait. Alone with her, the maids set work, their hands the gentlest they had ever been on her body. Together they removed the dress the rest of the way along with her shoes and stockings.
The lifted the shift, working with Isilla's limited range of motion, it hurt too much to lift her arms. The three women gasped at the sight of her back, understanding Arren's orders completely now.
The covered her with a loose nightgown and quickly undid her hair, removing pins and taking down the coils until it was all a soft cloud.
The doctor arrived a moment later. Arren spoke to him softly in the sitting room before he entered the bedroom. A small, stooped man with iron gray hair and long fingers.
He had the maids lay her down on her stomach, her back exposed.
”Hmm,” he hummed as he touched the bruises along her back. He felt her sides and then turned her over, lifting the gown to expose her belly. He pressed on her here too while Arren watched from the doorway.
The man sighed, ”She will be alright. Nothing is broken. No bleeding. Just some very, very bad bruises.” He reached into his bag, pulling out a small, white packet, ”Make her a tea with this three times a day for the next four days. Morning, noon, and night. It will help with the pain. I'll have more sent but just one small spoonful will be enough.”
One of the maids took the packet and nodded while another fixed her clothing and covered her with the blanket. Isilla felt too weak to move.
The doctor bowed and left as Isilla closed her eyes, the room fading.
”Prepare her tea and bring lunch for myself and the animal. I'll stay with her,” Arren said.