Chapter Six
––––––––
RUNE HAD BEEN SPENDING enough time with Palmer to know that he wasn’t taking care of himself.
He was so focused on finding out what was happening to Twig and now Yorga that he wasn’t eating regularly, and while it wasn’t Rune’s job to ensure that he did, Rune had decided to take it upon himself.
He was sure that Palmer’s brother was helping, too, but the man had a job.
On the other hand, Rune’s job was literally to hang around with Palmer and help him since that was what Killian had assigned Rune to do, which was why Rune was currently carrying a bag with plenty of food for breakfast to the infirmary.
He didn’t blame Palmer for being worried.
He was worried, too, but in a way, it had to be worse for Palmer because he was Twig’s doctor.
He was supposed to know what was wrong and help Twig, but he couldn’t even identify whatever illness Twig had.
And now, Yorga was ill, too, which meant it might be contagious, which was a worry all of its own.
There were many vulnerable people in the palace, including Curran, who was pregnant.
What would happen if this illness spread?
How could they stop it when they didn’t know what it was?
So no, Palmer wasn’t taking care of himself, which meant that Rune would do it for him.
It might not be his place, but someone needed to do it, and he didn’t have anything better to do.
He also wanted to take care of Palmer. The man was doing a lot.
He shouldn’t have to worry about where he was going to get food and when.
Sure enough, when Rune pushed open the infirmary door, he immediately noticed Palmer sitting on the chair next to Twig’s bed.
Twig was sleeping, and while he looked peaceful, he was too pale.
His color had always been a pale blue, but it was too pale now.
It was almost as if Twig was fading, which wasn’t like him. He’d always been outspoken and lively.
He wasn’t anymore.
Palmer looked up when he heard the door. He frowned when he saw Rune, but he didn’t ask him what he was doing there. He also didn’t tell him to leave.
Instead of going to Twig’s bed, Rune headed toward the small office Palmer worked from in the corner of the infirmary.
The desk was full of books and notepads, so it took Rune a moment to make enough space for the food.
By the time he was done, Palmer had joined him in the office and was watching him.
“You didn’t have to do that,” he said quietly.
Rune turned and arched a brow at him. “Really? What would you be doing if I hadn’t brought you food?”
Palmer gave him a sheepish smile. “I’d probably have forgotten to eat.”
“And how is that going to be useful to my brother?”
“You know, you sound like my brother. He said the same thing a few nights ago when he visited me. He forced me to put down the books and take a walk with him.”
“He was right. Exhausting yourself definitely won’t help Twig. I worry about you, but I worry about my brother more, no offense.”
“No offense taken. I’d be the same way if Taylor was involved.”
But Taylor wasn’t. It was Rune’s brother who was ill, yet Palmer was behaving as if it was his own family. It was touching, but unfortunately, it didn’t help.
“Sit down,” Rune ordered gently.
As soon as Palmer was in his chair, Rune pushed several containers of food toward him.
He’d grabbed a bit of everything because he didn’t know what Palmer would be in the mood for, and he was glad when he saw Palmer pick up a cherry tomato.
It disappeared between his lips, and for a second, Rune couldn’t look away.
“I have an appointment with a dragon healer,” Palmer said.
Rune blinked. “Has my brother finally decided to allow you to talk to them?”
“No, but I have to make the decision for him now. This is getting too dangerous.”
Rune nodded. “All right. Do you mind if I’m there for the meeting? I don’t know if the healer will want me there, but I’m sure that if you insist, they won’t say anything about it.”
Palmer’s gaze softened. “Of course you can be present. In fact, I’d insist that you need to be. You’re working this case as much as I am.”
“I’m not a healer.”
“It doesn’t mean you don’t care. In normal circumstances, I wouldn’t want you there, but these aren’t normal circumstances. It’s not just that your brother is ill. It’s also that the king has ordered you to help me. The healers won’t be able to say anything about that.”
It was a relief. Rune and Killian had talked about what was happening to Twig.
It had been a brief conversation, but it had been enough for Rune to see how worried Killian was.
He’d even visited Twig a few times in the infirmary, to Twig’s own surprise.
Killian cared, though. He wanted Twig to be okay.
Hopefully, he would be, but that wouldn’t happen without healers.
“Thank you for everything you’re doing for my brother,” Rune said, reaching over to gently touch Palmer’s arm.
Palmer blinked at him. Rune knew that he should stop touching him, but he let his touch linger for just a few seconds longer. Palmer didn’t push him away. Instead, they stared at each other. They might have continued doing so if someone hadn’t knocked on the door.
Palmer visibly shook himself and called out for the person to come in. The door opened, and a nurse peeked in. “One of the king’s brothers is here,” they said, glancing at Rune.
“I know you’re not talking about Rune,” Palmer said, already getting up. “What’s going on?”
“It’s Ash.”
* * * *
PALMER DIDN’T KNOW all of Killian’s siblings by name.
Hell, if he had to guess, he only knew a handful.
They were the ones he had the most contact with, and of course, he knew Pearl.
He was aware that Killian had many more half-siblings, though.
His father had enthusiastically spread his seed around.
Palmer had no idea who Ash was, but if the nurse said that the dragon was one of Killian’s brothers, Palmer believed her.
He especially believed her because Rune was already on his feet, looking worried.
Palmer didn’t like where this was going. He had no idea why Ash was here, but he could take a wild guess. He was pretty sure that Rune felt the same way.
He left his office, knowing there was no time to waste and not one bit surprised when Rune followed him.
The nurse guided them toward the bed next to Twig’s, who was still sleeping and had no idea what was happening around him.
That was good. They didn’t have to add even more stress to his situation.
On the bed sat a dragon with short hair, the color of the ocean.
It was almost green, but not quite, and while the color looked nothing like Rune or Killian’s, Palmer couldn’t deny the resemblance in their features.
They were definitely related, even though Ash’s color was closer to green than blue.
Palmer plastered a smile on his face so that he wouldn’t look like he was freaking out and held his hand out. “My name is Palmer.”
Ash shook his hand without hesitation. “I know. I was hoping you could help me.”
“Why don’t you tell me what brought you here?”
Rune hovered in the background as Ash explained that he was feeling nauseous, shaky, and tired. He had the same symptoms as Twig and Yorga.
That made three of the king’s siblings who were ill.
That couldn’t be a coincidence. Palmer had gone into this thinking that he was dealing with an illness, but the fact that only Killian’s siblings seemed to have it was making him rethink that. Why wasn’t anyone else sick?
This wasn’t something he could talk about in front of Ash, though. He wasn’t even sure he should mention it in front of Rune. He didn’t want to freak him out, but at the same time, it seemed like someone was targeting Killian’s siblings, and Rune was one of them.
Were they being poisoned? It was the only explanation that made sense, and while Palmer didn’t want to believe that anyone would do something like that, he wasn’t na?ve. He knew of at least one dragon who would happily poison her half-siblings to get back at the king.
But he couldn’t accuse Pearl without proof. He was pretty sure that accusing Pearl at all would be dangerous, but he wasn’t going to let her or whoever was behind this hurt people. He was a doctor. His role was to protect and heal, and that was what he’d do.
He took as many notes as he could, but there was nothing surprising in what Ash told him.
He had the same symptoms as the other two, and Palmer wasn’t sure what to do.
He didn’t prescribe the same treatment because it hadn’t been working, so he told Ash to get lots of rest and hydrate and to come back to the infirmary if anything changed, for the better or the worse.
He watched Ash go, waiting until the infirmary door was closed to turn to Rune.
“I think someone is trying to hurt your siblings.”
Rune frowned. “It does seem too big of a coincidence that only they’re ill.”
Palmer was relieved that he wasn’t the only one thinking that. “I haven’t had anyone else coming in with the same symptoms. So far, it’s only the three of them.”
“And they’re all related to Killian.”
“And Pearl,” Palmer suggested.
Rune didn’t look surprised or offended. He nodded slowly, clearly considering the idea. “I think we need to talk to Killian.”
Palmer agreed, but part of him was worried.
What if Killian decided that he wasn’t doing a good enough job?
What if the king kicked him out of the palace?
Palmer didn’t want to lose his opportunity to learn and become a better doctor, both for humans and dragons, but at the same time, he couldn’t avoid the conversation.
If someone was doing something to these dragons, the king needed to know.
It didn’t matter what would happen to Palmer.