Page 70 of The Oracle of Dusk

“Drink this.” Theron offered her a lukewarm cup.

“What is it?” she asked, wrinkling her nose.

“It’ll help with the fever and pain.”

If only she could have swiped a bottle of wine and drowned her sorrows, but in her current state, the hangover might do her in for good. Aurora sipped at the bitter brew.

As the sun rose, bells rang throughout the city.

“What do they mean?”

“They’re plague bells, warning travellers not to enter the city, and for its inhabitants not to leave their homes if they can help it. There’s an outbreak of torchlight fever.”

All the more reason she should escape while she had the chance. If there were a plague, then the temple of Knowledge would be overrun with the sick. Orithyia would no doubt be too busy to send anyone after her, even if she did realise Aurora was gone. Aurora sipped the bitter drink. Wait, Theron had called it a fever. Then…

“Is that…”

Had she been infected with this plague? The fever she’d experienced last night was unlike any other. She’d been certain it would kill her.

“Yes.”

“Why did you help me?”

She’d given him the location of the ancient artefacts. It was one of her most precious pieces of information, and he could easily use it to bargain his way out of the guest palace and back to his kingdom. If he’d let her die, then he could have that information all to himself, with no chance of it being leaked to someone else, and no one left to repay.

“I had it as a child, so I can’t be reinfected.”

Aurora frowned. He was being obtuse.

“That isn’t what I meant.”

He raised a brow at her, a twinkle in his gold eyes.

“Do I need a reason to save your life?”

Aurora sighed. She waited until the attendant left their post. Some things shouldn’t be said while others were around to overhear them.

“I should leave the city while I can.”

“You won’t be able to. The city will be locked tight against people who might flee and spread the fever.”

“For how long?”

“A week, if we’re lucky.”

Another week? Locked up with this man who she knew she shouldn’t trust but whose actions were honourable? She prayed for the strength to resist his kindness and attentions. But maybe she didn’t have to… Maybe she could outright ask for an alliance, instead of playing games she wasn’t certain she could properly win. Aurora didn’t want to have to become someone she didn’t recognise.

“Would you be honest with me, if I asked it of you?”

“That depends on what you ask.”

Frustrating man.

“Why save me when you know about the artefacts? You’re intelligent enough to use them to get out of here and back home.”

“You’re the only civilised person in the whole of Viridis. Is it so strange that I desire your company?”

“Enough to run yourself ragged keeping me alive? Yes. You’re a king, and while you might not have Viridis at your beck and call, you more than likely have some of your people even here.”

---