6. Chapter 6 #2
Aurelia rapped on the solid oak as they reached the door to the General’s quarters, the sound jarring Vaelin from the memory. It swung open promptly, Sereth Starfire looking unimpressed as her sharp gaze flashed between Vaelin and Aurelia. “This is unnecessary,” she stated brusquely.
Aurelia was undeterred. “I was summoned by —”
“I know. And as I said, that was unnecessary.” The General stifled a cough that seemed to begin deep in her chest and force its way out violently. Despite his resolve to remain as calm and steady as she’d trained him to be, Vaelin felt himself take a step forward, a stab of fear spearing his gut.
Aurelia’s eyes narrowed as she took in the General’s damp brow, her dark skin shimmering not with ethereal light, but sweat. She pointed at the bed and snapped, “Sit.”
Vaelin blinked. Not many would dare to speak to Sereth Starfire in such a commanding tone, and it was perhaps for this reason that the General blinked and stalked across the chamber, muttering under her breath about wasted resources.
“Tell me when the coughing and fever began. Leave nothing out.” Aurelia clipped, motioning for Sereth to lie back.
The fae glared. Aurelia met her stare, raising an expectant eyebrow.
“I am typically the one who gives orders,” the General said through gritted teeth.
“Unfortunately for you, I’m no soldier,” Aurelia replied. “You’re in my care now and it’s in your best interest to cooperate.”
Sereth scowled as she looked past the fae healer to catch Vaelin’s eye, “And you?” She snapped, looking to direct her ire elsewhere. “What is your role in all this?”
The corner of Vaelin’s mouth twitched. “I’m here to monitor her bedside manner.”
“Well you’re doing a shit job,” Sereth grumbled as Aurelia applied gentle pressure to her shoulder, easing her back onto the pillows. Another cough rumbled through the General’s chest as her head met the pillow, her breath rattling with each inhale. Vaelin’s brow knitted with concern.
A faint glow rose from Aurelia’s hands as she placed them lightly on the General’s chest. She murmured to herself and the glow grew brighter. Vaelin stood, arms crossed so tightly they threatened to cut off his own air, every fibre of him alert to the smallest shiver or cough.
Sereth closed her eyes, “I’ve had worse.”
“How long?” Aurelia asked, ignoring her.
“About a week, now,” the General grumbled. Vaelin marked the way Aurelia paused. It was brief, easy to miss if you hadn’t watched her heal thousands over the years. He took an instinctive step forward.
“And the fever?”
“Started last night. It seems to burn hotter with each passing hour,” she admitted, grudgingly.
Aurelia drew her hand away hastily from the fae’s forehead, as if scalded. “Bring me my bag. And then fetch a basin of cold water and a cloth,” she said over her shoulder.
Vaelin snapped into motion, doing as she asked.
“That was fast,” Sereth observed irritability as he returned with the basin a moment later.
“He’s used to taking orders from females,” said Aurelia, looking pointedly at Sereth.
“And you look like shit,” Vaelin added.
The General glowered, then cocked her head at him, as if noticing the depth of his concern for the first time. “What’s the matter with you? You’re even more dour than usual.”
Vaelin fought to smooth his expression as he attempted a nonchalant shrug.
She peered at him knowingly, but as Aurelia laid the cold cloth across Sereth’s brow, a small, begrudging sigh of relief escaped the stubborn fae’s lips as her eyes fluttered closed.
Vaelin twitched his fingers, sending a cool breath of wind through the room.
He couldn’t stop staring at her. In all his years, he had never seen her rest, let alone lie down.
Yet there she lay, a cold cloth on her brow, breath coming hitched and ragged.
She was a force, a mountain in the storm.
Seeing her ill was so discordant he felt like he was wearing someone else’s skin.
“I’m going to make you something to help you sleep.” Aurelia said, carrying her bag to the dressing table across the expansive bedchamber. Early morning light now spilled into the room through the arched windows, the morning sun rising over the mountain peaks.
Dragging his eyes from Sereth, Vaelin approached as Aurelia shuffled through her bag. His chest clenched as he marked the shaking of her hands.
“How bad?”
“Bad,” she said. “It will hardly respond to my magic at all — it just seems to… go nowhere. The cough is so deep. It’s wrapped around her lungs like a vice, and the fever…
” she cut off, meeting Vaelin’s stare. There were dark smudges beneath her eyes, stark against her pale skin.
She was tired, spent from working on the Earthborne children.
As though she’d read his thoughts, her lip wobbled slightly.
Her voice came out in a whisper, “They had the fever too.”
As if on cue, Sereth began to cough again, guttural and jarring. Vaelin’s stomach dropped like he’d been thrown from a cliff, and he fisted his hands at his sides. Aurelia pulled a small vial out of her bag. “Sleep should help her body fight off the fever, but only if she actually takes my advice.”
Vaelin grunted, “Good luck with that.”
“You two,” Sereth grumbled from across the room, eyes still closed, “Are not as quiet as you think you are.”
Aurelia moved back to the general’s bedside, holding out the vial.
Sereth cracked an eye open, frowning. She glared at Aurelia, who raised an eyebrow.
Sereth sighed, rolling her eyes and propped herself up on an elbow, reaching for the vial.
“General!” A guard ran into the room, panting with urgency. “You must come, quickly. They are convening another council.”
“Why?” Vaelin snapped. The guard shrank back, noticing Vaelin for the first time.
The guard swallowed. “There’s been an incident. Captain Maeylar has returned from the border with an urgent message. Summons have been sent to all court representatives to gather immediately. I was told to inform the General there is no time to waste.”
Vaelin opened his mouth to snarl a response, but Sereth spoke first.
“We will come at once.”
The guard nodded and fled the chamber as though he was being chased.
Sereth rose and moved to follow, but misstepped, her balance sending her lurching to the right.
Reflexively, Vaelin’s arm shot out to steady her.
The General murmured her thanks, resting her hand on his arm — and she left it there as they moved for the doorway, as though drawing strength from him.
Vaelin swallowed the bile that rose in his throat.
Sereth Starfire did not stumble. And she did not accept help.