45 Do Not Speak To Her That Way (1/2)
Her condition worsened over the next two days. She woke hot and delirious, her breathing quick, her body drenched in sweat, as if she had been running. The doctor shook his head and gave her more medicine, for her aching body and to help her sleep.
”The fever will break soon. Keep her comfortable and warm. She should stay in bed until it comes down and then a few days afterwards,” the old man said while Arren sat on the edge of her bed, brushing wet strands of hair from her skin. ”There's nothing anyone can do for her, it just has to run its course.”
Arren nodded, his eyes locked on her, a frown on his face. She smiled weakly up at him and closed her eyes, falling back into her dreams.
She sighed as her gate opened, Udane smiling as she entered. The old woman sat on the bench next to her, folding her hands in her lap. Isilla smiled at her, her company welcome, as she settled on the ground. As usual she summoned up a pile of cushions and leaned against Ilun.
”You are still ill?” the old woman asked.
”Yes,” Isilla replied. ”The doctor says it is something in my chest but it will pass as long as I stay in bed.”
The old woman nodded, ”That is very good.”
”As soon as I am better, I'll find you all,” Isilla said, promising.
Udane waved the statement away, ”It has been this long. I am not worried. Why do you sit on the ground? You're a princess!”
She smiled shyly, ”I'm used to to it. This is how we sat in my mother's house. We didn't have much furniture. Just carpets and cushions.”
”Your mother was not the Queen? The Light Realm sent a bastard to marry the prince?” the woman looked confused.
”There is no queen in my country. The Emperor, my father, doesn't marry any of the women he has children with.”
”Then how does he know which are his and which are some other man's?” she asked.
Isilla lifted a tuft of her hair, ”We all have hair like this.”
The woman laughed, ”How peculiar! So if Asier came to your lands he could be a prince?”
Isilla giggled, ”It's not that simple. He would have to come to the Acropolis and be presented to the Grand Avatar who would ask him about about his mother. If they found her name among the list of my father's lovers then he could be a prince, yes. There's no worth in it though. It's not like here, my father will not die. He uses the light to prolong his life so his sons can never become Emperor. He doesn't care about his children unless they are dreamweavers and of those he only cares about the girls.”
Udane frowned, ”Does he,” she paused mulling over her words, ”make children with his daughters?”
Isilla's face twisted in disgust. ”Absolutely not! We are just calmer and work together better, I suppose.”
The woman nodded.
”Why are there so few of you in this realm? There are many of us in my homelands, all of us aren't related to the Emperor at all but here, you are all that I've seen,” Isilla asked, changing the subject.
”We're dangerous,” she answered simply. ”You create peace and we sow despair. We used to be considered a valuable part of the kingdom. When we were born we would be paid for by the various lordships, to come and increase their power. But then the Crown wanted to have the power and started hunting us down. He killed many, imprisoned the rest. He thought it would bring more peace to the land.”
Isilla mulled over the woman's words, the bits and pieces of the realm's problems that Arren had shared coming to her. ”I don't think it worked very well. But, the royal family wasn't always like this? They are very powerful.”
The woman shook her head, ”No, before they weren't very powerful, just very clever.”
Isilla opened her mouth to ask what the woman meant but she felt a numbness in her. ”I'm waking up,” she warned.
”Then I will take my leave,” Udane said, standing. ”I'll visit again when you return.”
Isilla nodded as her gate shut and she opened her eyes in the waking world.
”No!” Harbit hissed.
”It is not a matter that is up for any discussion,” Arren said calmly, coldly.
”How can you say that? You heard the doctor! She must stay in bed!”
”I have put this off for as long as I can,” Arren's voice met Haribit's, cold and hard.
She doesn't know, she's speaking to the other one now, Isilla thought, her mind a muddle as she pushed herself into a seated position.
”Isilla! Lie back down!” Haribit said, catching sight of her efforts.
”Go get her maids and then help them wash and dress her. We have an hour before we must depart. You will also need to put on something more presentable. Go now, I do not like to be kept waiting,” he growled.
”I will do no such thing! Isilla needs to-,” Haribit started as Arren held up his hand.
”Haribit, need I remind you that you are speaking with the Prince of this realm? You will not disobey me. You will not question me. I will forgive you just this once but I will not tolerate this behavior again. Now go get her maids.”
Around them, his shadows stretched, long and dark to the ceiling, swallowing the light as they shifted and moved, betraying his foul mood.
Haribit opened her mouth as if she would argue further before she saw them, twisting thick and heavy all around her.
”As you wish, my Lord,” she replied, turning and leaving the room, shutting the door too hard behind her.
He turned to Isilla, a deep frown on his face as he crossed the room. He reached for her but she stopped him, holding her hand against his chest. He looked down at it, his expression falling with his shadows.
”I will apologize to your friend. We simply do not have time. The Council has called for you again and they will not be put off.”
She looked at him, shaking her head, confused.
”They have been asking for your presence before them for the last three days. I have told them that you were too ill but they will not be stalled any longer,” he reached her again, brushing back her hair and she moved away from the touch, upset at his behavior.
He dropped his hand, his frown returning to his face.