Chapter 20 #2
“He’s worse,” the prince said shortly, the set of his brow telling Elowen that she’d missed some kind of conflict. “We’re leaving.”
Elowen had been studying Theo’s flushed face. He was still unconscious, and the way his eyelids kept twitching suggested his dreams weren’t restful. But the other prince’s words made her eyes snap to him.
“Leaving?” she repeated stupidly. “We? You want to move him?”
“The physician still insists that it’s only a fever, and it’s been made clear to me that no investigation is underway regarding who might have poisoned him.
” Prince Xavier’s dark, rather thin brows were drawn all the way together as he shot a look at her.
“Except for whatever inquiries you made. Did they convince you to rule out poison?”
“No,” Elowen admitted miserably. “I learned that the ceremonial goblets, with Theo’s clearly recognizable, sat for hours in a place where almost anyone could have gotten to them. And my father is unconvinced by my theory, and unwilling to start an investigation without medical evidence of poison.”
Prince Xavier growled in his throat, but his pale face betrayed the fear hiding under the anger.
“That means whoever did this to him is still at large,” he said. “He’s not safe here. My people have already organized a carriage. Theo and I will leave within the hour.”
“But surely he’s too unwell to be moved,” Elowen protested.
“That’s the physician’s argument,” Prince Xavier replied. “But to be frank, Princess, I don’t trust anyone here. You’ve admitted yourself there’s widespread resentment against Siqual in general and Theo in particular.”
“I didn’t say that,” Elowen cried. Theo moved his head restlessly, but his eyes didn’t open. She lowered her voice. “Plenty of people like him and support the alliance.”
“But it only takes one effective malcontent to take action,” Prince Xavier said.
“I don’t wish to offend you, and I believe you do care about Theo.
But that’s not enough, not when by your own account you’re kept out of important matters just the same as my sister is.
I was present in some of the negotiations for this alliance, I know how hard Torrens was hit a few years back when Siqual withdrew from some of our trade agreements due to our suspicions that Torrens was plotting against us. ”
“I don’t know anything about that,” Elowen said, more frustrated than ever by her exclusion from such matters. “Like you said, I’m kept out of those things. I don’t understand what you’re getting at.”
“I’m saying that for all I know, this whole proposal was a clever attack planned by the crown, as retaliation for those losses,” Prince Xavier said grimly.
Recognizing how close their alliance was to disaster, Elowen swallowed her initial outrage. “Not a well-orchestrated attack if so,” she said firmly. “You and I both saw at once something didn’t seem right.”
“No one was expecting me to be here,” Prince Xavier said. “If they’d sent news of an illness to Siqual, it would have raised no suspicion of foul play without your observations from last night, and the things I’ve witnessed myself.”
“Prince Xavier, please,” Elowen said desperately. “Don’t endanger him further by subjecting him to days and days on the road. Surely you can see it’s not practical. Sindon is so far!”
“I’m not taking him to Sindon,” the prince said. “Crandell is much closer. Carrack is our ally, Prince Cassius will see that Theo’s symptoms are properly investigated.”
“We’re allies as well!” Elowen protested. She hadn’t even noticed, but at some point her hand had closed over Theo’s where it lay on the covers. It was warm. Too warm. It felt so wrong to be debating his care without being able to consult him.
“Not yet,” Prince Xavier contradicted. “Whatever reputation I have for being heedless, I’m awake, Princess.
And I’m good at finding out what I want to know.
I’ve made my own inquiries, and I know that in spite of the tournament being complete and the betrothal sealed, there’s been no talk whatsoever of setting a wedding date.
” His voice darkened. “It’s almost as though there was never any intention of holding a wedding. ”
“No, you’re wrong!” Shame washed over Elowen. “That’s my fault. I was the one who delayed setting the wedding date. Father has been eager to move forward the whole time, it was me who wanted…who wanted…”
She trailed off, unable to put words to what now felt like an absurdly childish campaign. She’d been so determined not to be rushed into tying herself to Theo, and now she could barely breathe for the fear that she didn’t have any time left with him.
“Elowen.” The quiet voice made both of them freeze, their attention snapping to Theo.
His eyes were open, and his expression was peaceful as he looked up at Elowen. “You’re back. You went away somewhere.”
“I’m here, Theo,” she said, her throat tight. “We’re trying to figure out what’s wrong with you so we can make you well again.”
Theo coughed, the sound pained. “The physician said it’s an infectious fever,” he said. “I just need to rest. It’s not even…a very high…fever.” He closed his eyes for a moment, squeezing them shut as if fighting a wave of pain.
“No, Theo,” Elowen said desperately. “Whatever it is, it’s serious.”
“I’m afraid you may be right, Your Highness.” The physician’s somber voice cut into their conversation. “Prince Theodore, I must tell you that your fever has now become higher than I like to see.”
“Can’t you treat it using magic craft?” Elowen demanded. “I know that was part of your training.”
He bowed in acknowledgment. “You’re right, Princess.
Magic has its own boundaries, however. It is not a simple cure for all illnesses.
But it’s true that I generally have success with alleviating symptoms, if nothing else.
I confess I expected Prince Theodore’s symptoms to respond better to magical treatment than they have.
I’m afraid there’s little more we can do at present than wait out the fever. ”
Theo didn’t answer, his eyes drifting closed again. It was difficult to tell if he was following what was being said. The physician’s eyes were serious as they returned to Elowen.
“But the severity of the illness does appear to have increased. I must urge you, Princess, not to subject him to travel at this moment.”
“It’s not up to me,” Elowen said, frustrated. “I don’t want him to go.” She laid a hand on Theo’s head, her fingers finding their way through the dark hair which wasn’t in its usual orderly state. “I don’t want you to go, Theo.”
His eyes slowly opened again, concern mingling with confusion in his gaze. He didn’t seem able to find words, however.
“You say he’s worse now?” Prince Xavier said, agitated. “I’ve been saying it for hours, and you wouldn’t acknowledge it until I announced my intention to leave.” He turned to Elowen. “Is that what you call impartial medical care?”
She ran a hand over her face, feeling helpless and afraid. She didn’t believe the physician was trying to harm Theo, but she didn’t know how to convince Prince Xavier that both their poisoning suspicion and the crown’s good intentions could be true.
“Maybe my father will order an investigation if you formally request it,” Elowen tried. “I know he wouldn’t at my request, but he might at yours. Especially if he understands that the alternative is you removing Theo from Toledda like this.”
“I’m sorry Elowen,” Prince Xavier said, his voice low. “But there’s no way it would happen quickly enough. And at this stage, I don’t think I could trust any investigation. This is my brother’s life at stake. I can’t afford to take chances.”
Elowen’s anxiety threatened to overwhelm her, but she knew she didn’t have the power to stop Prince Xavier from doing as he saw best. She wasn’t even sure she knew what was best. If someone had attacked Theo right in front of the king and gotten away with it, how could she be sure Theo would be safe in the castle?
But he didn’t seem in any state to endure the rigors of the road, either.
If only he was able to decide for himself! Unlike her and Prince Xavier, he would be able to think clearly, undistracted by emotion. She hadn’t sufficiently valued his calm good sense until it wasn’t available to her anymore.
True to his word, the older Siqualian prince had his brother ready for departure before another hour had passed.
The king had sent a messenger to Sindon, and in the meantime had tried to dissuade Prince Xavier from doing anything hastily, but he’d had no more success than Elowen.
It was a difficult situation. Theo was a grown man, not a child under their care.
However unwise they thought it, how could they refuse his brother the right to oversee his treatment?
Elowen could see that her parents were offended by the older prince’s suspicion, but she could also see their unease at the possible implications for the alliance.
Trying to prevent the Siqualians from leaving would only increase Prince Xavier’s mistrust.
In one thing the king and the visiting prince were united.
Theo’s passage through the castle was swift and observed by few people.
He roused enough to walk with his brother’s support, and the carriage waited as close as possible to the side door through which he was led.
The king was undoubtedly concerned about the rumors that might spread, but Elowen was more aligned with Prince Xavier’s motivation.
She knew that he hoped to delay news of their departure to prevent whoever might have attacked Theo from trying again while he was in transit.
Before she knew it, Elowen found herself standing by the carriage, watching as Prince Xavier settled his barely conscious brother as comfortably as possible.
“Theo.” Elowen’s throat was tight, fear overwhelming her. She shouldn’t entertain the premonition that was rising, that she’d never see him again. “I…I’m sorry you have to go.”
“I’m going.” Theo’s voice was deep and steady in spite of the confusion in his eyes as he made his observation. “I’m not supposed to return home until after we’re married.”
“Yes, I know,” Elowen said miserably. “That was the plan. But your brother thinks…he wants to…”
“I understand.”
The timbre of the words was so low it was a rumble in Elowen’s ears. She was sure that whatever he said, Theo didn’t remotely understand what was going on. He’d barely seemed to follow any of the arguments about his care.
“I’m sorry, Elowen.” There was a raw pain in his eyes that twisted at her insides. “I’m sorry I couldn’t please you enough to make you want to set a date. I wanted to, but…I don’t know how.”
“Theo, no.” Elowen’s protest came out choked. “That’s not—you’re not—”
The carriage was moving, she had no time to find the words. Theo leaned back against the seat, his lids heavy but his eyes still fixed on her face. Slowly, he raised a fist, resting it over his heart in a gesture she knew well.
Elowen’s breath caught, and she had to curb the impulse to run after the carriage and call him back. He was gone, and the future she’d finally begun to embrace felt like it was slipping through her fingers.