Page 34 of Boundless
Sev blinked up at her blearily, his auburn hair sticking to his sweaty, pale face. His freckles looked garish in contrast. He licked his lips, eyes sliding closed in concentration. "A...a little? Kind of...sweet?"
Daega cursed, Len rejoining her and crouching to hold Sevren's hand. "Hang on, S-sev. Help is c-coming. J-j-just ha-ang on."
Daega stomped over to the water pitcher, her hooves making loud clops against the carpeted stone floor, sniffing at the pitcher directly.
The strange sweet smell was even stronger. She cursed again, wanting to fling it to the floor or dump the water, but there was a chance the healer would need it to select the antidote.
When she turned back around Len was muttering quietly in the elvish old tongue, his long fingers stroking up and down the insides of Sevren's wrists, along the bridge of his nose, and in a circle over his belly.
"Bloody gods, I can't believe this is happening," she growled, pacing behind Len and hoping the healer would get there soon.
"Wh-what's wr-wrong, dearest?" Len asked after he'd stopped his muttering. He stood, swaying a little and looking pale himself.
"Salerah's fires, sit your cute little arse down right now," she barked at him, shoving him into the nearest armchair. "I think something was put in the water. Smells sweet when it shouldn't."
Len blanched, his hand flying to his mouth. "D-do you think—"
Daega nodded, brushing his curls from his wide eyes. "Poison, aye. Did you do something to him just now, dove?"
Len nodded, his eyes growing glassy. "I u-used a-a-a st-stasis spell. T-to keep him from getting worse—" he broke off on a sob, grabbing Daega's hand and clinging to it desperately. And he didn't let go, even when the healer and several guards rushed in, joining them.
From there it was a confusing blur of activity during which Daega felt frustratingly useless. She and Len recounted what had happened, Daega sharing her findings—but it seemed the elves couldn't smell what she could, though the healer did taste a single drop.
"Bloodvein," she announced grimly, digging through her large leather case until she pulled a vial filled with murky lavender fluid out. She pulled out a strange device after, a long thin needle that sprung from a glass cylinder with a post coming out one end. Somehow she loaded the purple liquid into the glass cylinder and then slid the needle into Sevren's arm. "Using a stasis spell was very clever, Prince. You slowed the poison a fair amount, bought young Sevren here some time."
"W-w-will h-he..."
The healer finished up with whatever she was doing to Sevren's arm, then turned to Len, her delicate oval face grim. "It's too soon to say, Highness. But we got to him before the convulsions started, so I'm optimistic. But...things could change. I won't lie to you; bloodvein is a slippery one."
Len nodded, his eyes damp but his chin strong and his shoulders straight. "O-of course. I th-thank you f-for your honesty, Healer Raiya."
She nodded, a smile just touching the corners of her lips. "We'll take him back to my medical rooms with us," she said, gesturing at the guards, "as he'll need more doses of antidote and careful monitoring over the next day."
Len nodded again. "Of course."
"Will you be needing anything, my Prince? How's your heart been lately?"
Len flushed, darting a look at Daega. "F-fine. Nothing to w-worry about!" he responded. His instinct was still shame, but the logical part of himself knew Daega didn’t think any less of him for his condition.
Two of the guards came over with a stretcher and eased Sevren onto it, then lifted the sleight man and carried him away, Healer Raiya following after.
Two more guards lingered, combing through their rooms for any other hidden threats, every water pitcher emptied and any food taken away to be destroyed.
Once they were finally alone Len collapsed forward with a sob, burying his face in her neck and clinging to her. She did her best to soothe, rocking him and murmuring into his pointed ear. "You did so well, sweetling," she told him, rubbing his back. "I'm so proud of you, clever boy."
Once Len had worked it out of his system he pulled back, his sweet face swollen and red, making her ache. He mopped his face with his sleeve, cringing at the snot marring the fabric.
"Ugh, don't l-look at me," he moaned, turning from her. But of course she didn't let him, pulling him into her lap and yanking him back against her, his back to her front.
"Are you afraid I'll be scared off by a wee bit of snot? I've had my tongue in your ass, love; bogies aren't going to sour me." She rubbed her cheek on the top of his head, luxuriating in the outraged squeak he loosed at her words. But she also noted the way he sank into her and leaned into her touch.
"You and that f-filthy mouth," he grumbled.
"You love it," she teased, kissing the top of his head. But then she sobered. "Howareyou feeling, dearest?"
He sighed, leaning his head back to rest on her shoulder. "Sc-scared. Worried. Who’s behind this? Why do they want to hurt us? I-I—Ihatenot understanding."
She hummed in agreement, holding him close. "Aye, I feel the same. I've been praying to any god who'll listen to get Sev through this to the other side. And for them to show me the way forward. Do we leave, do we stay? Who can we trust?"
