Chapter 39 Morrows
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Morrows
Althea
Ilove my province. I love my job. I love my people.
” Althea repeated these words again and again as she made her way to the Med Center.
She should have just stayed there and grabbed a few hours in an empty room, but she knew herself well enough that if she had stayed, she would have been pulled into another emergency or issue, and sleep wouldn’t have happened.
Besides, there were no more empty beds. With the M.M.S.
Maura in port and the attack on the M.M.S.
Iris, every healer and every room available had been taken.
So, she had dragged herself home to sleep, only being able to pull about four hours together before her body woke of its own accord.
She had dressed in the dark, pulling a clean uniform from her bottom drawer, grateful that she had cleaned up at the Med Center before heading home the night before.
The top had been no problem, but she had stumbled a little getting into her pants, still groggy with sleep.
She’d made quick work of her long chestnut brown hair, pulling it up into her usual messy bun atop her head, but there wasn’t much to do for her bloodshot eyes, except splash some cold water on her face.
One good thing about waking so early though, was coffee.
It was the only dependable relationship in her life as of late, besides work.
She was aware that most women her age were mothers and some grandmothers even, but she would forever be married to the job.
Just because she was content in her life didn’t mean that her bed didn’t get lonely, even if she spent so little time there herself.
Breathing in deep, Althea entered the market.
The morning light danced across the cobblestone roads where vendors were just beginning to set up their wares for the day.
The trees dotting the square were a blaze of colors, their blooms adding a heady scent to the early spring air.
Making a beeline to a small bakery cart, she ordered a muffin and a cup of coffee.
The aroma assaulted her nose, the cup warm in her chilled hands, as she took a long pull of the hot liquid.
She had taken this path to work at the Med Center for decades, and still, the sunbeams streaming across the skyline worked well to shake off her fatigue.
Well, that and the glorious coffee in her hand.
It wasn’t a long walk, through the market and then past the port.
The Morrows people were good hearted citizens for the most part.
You sort of had to be, if you grew up in any of its cities, Gleann included.
Children learned at a young age the importance of caring for others, and the strength it takes to do what needs to be done.
Not all stayed and became healers, but most did. As if their very blood called for it.
The sky was lit up over the water where the M.M.S.
Maura was moored to the dock. Althea quickened her pace at the sight; so many more patients needed care, and there she was dawdling with her muffin.
She’d stitched up wound after wound and bandaged more cuts and scrapes than she could count.
That didn’t include the more significant injuries, head gashes, punctured lungs, internal bleeding, just to start.
Three shallow steps led to the front doors of the Med Center.
An access ramp was off to the left, near the primary care entrance for severely injured patients to receive immediate care.
Tension swirled around her as she stepped inside and hung her coat on an available rung.
The chaos of the night before had not ebbed in the least, and novices surged past her, arms filled with bandages, charts, salves, and the like.
It seemed as if every bed was taken; the overflow patients sat in the halls and in the lobby areas.
She had been hoping that the overnight crew had been able to clear out more but by the looks of it, the number of patients had only increased.
She headed towards her office first to gather her charts for the day, and to see if any of her patients from last night needed further care.
Althea hadn’t made it five steps down the first hall before colliding with a solid wall of flesh that let out a high pitched squeal. Looking down at the papers and limbs sprawled out in front of her, she pursed her lips to keep from laughing.
“Good gracious. Diana, how many times must we warn you that speed is not as important as safety?” Althea admonished the novice healer and reached to snatch the files that had flown into the air and scattered to the floor as Diana fell.
“I’m sorry, ma’am. It’s just…” she stopped speaking as recognition stole her words.
Sheepishly, Diana continued, “Oh, thank Anva, it’s you.
I’m so glad I ran into you. I mean, I’m not glad I ran into you directly, but…
” she stopped, taking a minute before apparently giving up on the apology.
“These are your cases for this morning."
"All of them?!"
Diana grimaced, "With the ship in the port, the influx has been more than we expected, as you’re aware, and the damage was massive to say the least. They had to send several healers home this morning due to their utter exhaustion.”
“What of my patients from last night?” Althea asked, straightening the files.
“They have all either been sent home or are resting comfortably,” Diana said, her eyes darting past Althea, as if she wanted to run away.
Althea tipped her head in a curt nod, giving Diana the out she so badly wanted, and waved her off, shifting the dozens of files stacked in her arms so that she could flip open the top chart. ALEX MONROE was written in clear, precise ink.
She heaved a heavy sigh. “I guess I’ll start with you, Mr. Monroe.”
Althea walked calmly down the hall, going over the file, deftly avoiding the hustle of people moving around her. She glanced up upon entering the room and gasped.
"Alexandria?! What? How? Why? And where is my niece?
" Althea pulled up short and put a lid on the outpouring of words when her eyes reached the brooding redhead looming in the corner of the room.
It seemed the feeling was mutual as he stepped forward defensively, taking up the space between her and Alexandria.
“Alexandria? You mean Alex? Who are you?” His body language spoke much louder than his voice. Something in his tone set her on edge, causing her defenses to snap into place. Althea smoothed her facial expressions to an impassive and uninterested look, her lavender eyes unwavering on his.
“I’m the Clinical Healer assigned to her care.”
Ignoring the both of them and their miniature stand off, Alex brought Althea’s attention back to her with a frustrated whisper, "Nice to see you too, Althea."
Althea’s expression softened but only slightly, her eyes darting back to the man who deemed it necessary to shield Alex from her. She took in his stance and the sword at his side. She wasn’t going to continue this conversation in present company.
“It’s okay, Davin.” Alex said quietly, turning her head to look over at him.
He shifted his eyes to meet hers, his hesitation evident. “Just give us a moment or two.” Alex paused before adding, “Please?”
A loaded look passed between them, an undeniable tension that Althea couldn’t help but notice.
She had to believe that her brother would have informed her about this new development.
It was possible that she was misreading the heated exchange, due to her weariness, but unlikely.
After a moment, he shifted, moving past her, a pointed look fixed upon hers as he let the door close between them.
“First of all, Monroe?” Althea asked with a raised eyebrow, barely waiting for the door to fully close behind her.
Alex cringed, ducking her head in embarrassment. Althea just waited, giving her a moment to process.
“It’s complicated.” Alex sighed.
"Explain." Althea stated simply, “I’ve got time.” Her hands moved to lift Althea’s gown, exposing her bandages.
Alex succinctly explained, in a hushed voice, her search for Rivka, Vivian’s underhanded accusations against Queen Sophiana and King Consort Evanar, and her demands that Alex hunt her down.
She explained of her journey thus far and how her injuries had come to pass but decidedly left out any details that should not be overheard.
The last thing any of them needed was more fuel for Vivian’s vendetta.
Althea listened as she cleaned out Alex’s wound, only asking questions when she needed something clarified.
She already knew most of what Alexandria was divulging but she needed to hear it from the source, and not just hearsay.
It was like a knife twisting in her gut to hear Alexandria’s firsthand account of the torture her brother was enduring.
Vivian had always had a cruel streak, especially when it came to Sophiana and Evanar.
She had never quite gotten over the embarrassment of that rejection, and now it seemed she was finally acting out her revenge.
It hadn’t escaped her attention, though, that Alexandria continued to dance around, talking about the gorgeous hunk of a man who was very obviously protective of her. One might say there were even deep feelings hidden there.
“And what about Mr. I’m going to stare you down until you do as I say?” Althea casually threw that question at Alex while ensuring that the healers on the med ship hadn’t overlooked any other injuries.
A blush stole up her cheeks as Alex huffed out an exasperated breath.
“Mr. Saved my life more times than I care to admit? Yeah, he can be trusted but he is not aware of my…” Her voice became barely audible, her eyes darting to the door, as if making sure no one was there listening. “…attachment to my Queen.”