Page 51 of Lucie
“Not like this.”Johnachallenged her.“I’ve seen hunters after they’ve chased down their prey. I’ve seen our men after they’ve engaged in battle. It looks totally different from when an illness hits. You’ve caught something,Atty, and now it’s starting to make its presence known. You can feel it. I know you can. Quit trying to deny it.”
“Atty?”Yulen’svoice dropped to a whisper. “Please.”
They were interruptedby thehoofbeatsof an approaching horse. Iain pulled up and jumped down off his mount. His medical satchel was already strung across his chest.
“Destinotold meAttymight be ill.” The man addressed them in general, but he focused on the battle lady.
Lucien spoke up. “Johnasays she’s showing signs of being ill. She said—”
“What’s with the sweats,Atty?” Iain demanded, cutting him off. Placing a hand against her neck, he gasped. “You’re burning up.”
“It’s this damn body armor. I feel like I’m trapped inside an oven with it on.”
Lucien didn’t buy her excuse. Neither did his father and uncle. She never wore the metal armor, like the rest of the soldiers did. Although she did have on the thick yet supple leather coveringsthat they referred to as their soft armor, he knew, as well as the others, that it wouldn’t account for the increase in body temperature, especially since she wasn’t exerting herself.
“You’re coming down with something, and until you give me the details, I can’t help you,” Iain harshly responded. He sounded so much like his father, it was uncanny.
Attylooked at herhusband, then at Lucien andJohnabefore returning to the doctor. “My head hurts. I’m having bouts of dizziness. And sometimes it’s difficult to take a deep breath.”
Yulengroaned and covered his face with a hand. Stunned, Lucien could only stare at her as Iain checked her pulse. “Your heart’s racing,” the physician told her, then lifted her eyelid to examine more closely. Rearingback, the man’s shock was plain to all. “Dear God, I think you’re coming down with the virus.”
