Eighteen

“It’s cruel to keep the poor woman awake, your Highness! Look how pitifully she trembles. The Princess needs to rest.”

Having woken to a terrible aching pain in every part of her body, vomiting, Marravae was silently agreeing with the Cuphisian healers that she should be permitted to sleep until the effects had passed. Gaeleath held her hand firmly.

“I trust Arek healers as well as I trust Cemiri healers. If he says she should remain awake we will keep her awake.”

“Was she trembling before she was permitted to sleep?” The Arek asked with a frown.

“No.”

“Get her on her feet and fetch hot water and bitters.”

“Bitters?” The Cuphisians sounded baffled.

Despite her discomfort, Marravae struggled not to laugh. The Arek gave them a disgusted look. 

“Bitters. Bitter herbs. They will ease her-”

“She shouldn’t be having anything but water, soup, and bread! No herbs or medicines! She reacted poorly to a simple sleeping tonic. Anything more might harm her!”

“Get her on her feet.” The Arek shook his head.

She let her brother and the healer help her stand and pace back and forth. After a few moments she stopped trembling and the pain was passing. “I feel better walking but I’m so tired.”

<“The bitters would help but if I leave to fetch them I may not be allowed to return. It was the Cuphisian Princess who allowed me to enter.”> The healer spoke quietly in his own language.

<“Either she understood that it would help matters or she wished to harm my sister. They think poorly of Arek and Cemiri remedies.”> Gaeleath answered the same way. <“I have no right to command you but I ask you not to leave. What is your name?”>

<“Ellus, son of Erras. I will stay with her. If I could offer a suggestion? Her food and drink should be tasted by a Cemiri.”>

<“Agreed. If allowing her to sleep would keep her ill, I suspect they wish to use her health to force us to remain peacefully.”> 

Marravae felt a chill go down her spine. <“I want to go home.”>

<“We will. Soon.”> Gaeleath gave her a grim smile that made him look like their father before lifting his gaze to the Cuphisian healers. “Send for my sister’s servants and for mine.”

One of the Cuphisians bowed and stepped out of the room. After a few long moments spent pacing back and forth with her brother and Ellus, two of the Ladies who had accompanied her to Cuphisia hurried into the room.

“Your Highnesses! We were told that Princess Marravae had taken ill?”

“She was poisoned. I have no right to command such a dangerous duty-”

“She needs a food taster.” Lady Aleesia nodded immediately. “I’ll do it.” She crossed and took the Prince’s place at her side. “You should go organize our journey home, your Highness.”

Marravae breathed a laugh and murmured under her breath, “I adore Aleesia.”

Gaeleath smiled as well. “Our journey home will be arranged as soon as possible and I will do it from my sister’s side. I also need someone to fetch whatever Ellus requires.”

Lady Ossa dropped into a curtsy. “I will see to it.”

“Her Highness needs bitters and hot water.” Ellus seemed relieved as Ossa gave a curt nod and turned on her heel.

“That is unwise!” One of the Cuphisian healers attempted to intercept the woman but she gave him a look that made him shrink back and slipped out.

“You always keep good company, Marravae.”

“I chose my Ladies for more than their beauty. They’re loyal, clever, and kind, but sharp when need be.” 

“You sent for servants and they instead-” Ellus frowned slightly.

“No. I imagine he went to inform someone that I requested my servants and my sister’s and that you and I spoke in Arek. The Court is likely humming with the gossip of my sister being brought back as she was.”

“No, your Highness.” Aleesia frowned as she switched to Cemiriss. “None of the Cuphisians will speak of what is happening. Princess Myrae said her Highness was ill and wouldn’t be rejoining us. She snapped at Anrae when she tried to inquire about the matter and we all left. The others are organizing the servants and trying to gather the gossip because we could all tell that something wasn’t right.”

“There has been some discussion about whether we should be permitted to leave promptly or not. Prince Volas may have expedited things by sending his messengers, I was told they only intercepted one of them but I have my doubts King Merin would have been so foolish. They have, however, agreed that when my sister is well we will be permitted to go. The duty of food taster is not ceremonial.” Gaeleath gave Lady Aleesia a pointed look.

“I understand.” 

“I would prefer not to eat here than to risk Aleesia’s health or her life.” Maravae muttered. “We can eat at lodgings along the way.”

“If clean food can be found you need your strength.” Gaeleath spoke firmly.

“Your Highness, this is part of a noblewoman’s duty. I’m no soldier but I can protect you with my life. You’ll allow it or I’ll scold you from here until you marry and leave me behind.”

Stopping, Marravae turned and embraced the woman. 

Her brother smiled as he prodded her forward again taking the healer’s place, “If she’s wise she will find a husband for you in her own husband’s Court and keep you close.”

“Perhaps…” One of the healers began and then cleared his throat. “Perhaps if you spoke-”

“Hearing my own language is a comfort when I feel unwell.” Marravae tried to put on a deliberately wan smile and Aleesia gave her an amused glance as they turned in their endless pacing of the room.

Ossa returned promptly with a small bottle followed by a servant with a cup and a steaming pitcher. “I brought bitters for my digestion and the servants had water on to make tea.” 

Ellus took the bottle and opened it, giving it a sniff, before putting a few drops on his hand and licking them off. “Made with Arek Ecor?”

“Of course. My father is the Duke of Sey.”

The Arek smiled and inclined his head. “You were worried the food here would disagree with you?”

“It’s sour.” Ossa wrinkled her nose and Marravae tried again not to burst into laughter as the Arek broke into a grin.

“Sey once belonged to Arek. I should be less surprised you have an Arek’s taste for food.”

“Be careful Ellus.” Gaeleath gave Ossa a mischievous smile as they walked, “She’s one of our cousins on our mother’s side. They're fiery and Cemiri women are very proud to be Cemiri. As grateful as we are to you for your help, I don’t want you to be scolded.”

The healer nodded, still grinning as he mixed a few drops of the bitters into a cup of hot water. “The Princess can sit and sip this. In a few hours she may feel well enough to eat. If she does well in the night, tomorrow or the next day you should be able to travel with her.”

“Ossa?” Aleesia beckoned to the other woman. “Stay with her Highness for a moment. I want to speak to the servants and arrange dinner.”