Page 40 of Palaces and other Prisons
Ul gave them a bland smile. It was always interesting to see where a person’s thoughts first jumped. “It is a night for drinking, for mourning, and for celebrating. My only wish is that he wakes up tomorrow with the mildest of headaches.” They were possibly the first truthful words he’d said since walking back into the hall. “Tomorrow we will have much to discuss and plan, but for tonight. Enjoy. I have invited a guard who speaks English to join your table.” The guard would also ensure they didn’t speak to anyone who would lead them astray. “If there is anything you need, just ask him.”
“Are we under arrest?”
Ul stared at the man, wondering if he had drunk too much and was unable to comprehend. “I have just offered you a translator and anything that you require. That is hardly the definition of arrest.”
“If Dawson is injured, perhaps we should leave and take him with us so he can get proper medical attention.”
Ul bit back on his annoyance. “He is receiving medical care, and I do not think a cart ride back to the platform will do him any favors. If you do not wish to remain at the party and continue negotiations for your people, you are welcome to leave, and a cart will be provided. But it is Samhain, and it is always better to begin the year in the way you would like it to continue.”
One of the men nodded. “That’s kind of like our New Year. Some people like to make resolutions, things they want to achieve.”
Dawson had told him about them and how most were discarded in the first month. They weren’t really the same at all, but he murmured his agreement because he was done with this conversation. He needed to move on and speak with other people, even though all he wanted to do was leave his own feast and sit by Dawson’s side, willing him to recover even though that was now in the hands of the gods.
He needed to pretend that everything was fine while praying that Dawson recovered. The need to be with him was almost too great for him to resist. The crown was heavy on his head, weighing him down, and he resented the restrictions more than he ever had before.
Tonight, the palace was a prison he couldn’t escape. And his subjects were his jailers. He wanted to live for himself and his own desires.
He had found the clarity and courage that he wished for, but at what price?
CHAPTER 27
“How is he?” Ul asked as he took a seat at the healer’s table. He wasn’t brave enough to walk through the open bedroom door to see for himself.
The healer handed him a cup of water. “He is alive. And well enough to be moved if that is what you would like.”
He would very much like to go to his own room and bring Dawson with him; however, he fully expected someone to break in and stab him in his sleep. He also expected someone to go into the royal cave in search of non-existent eggs. Ul shook his head. “Has he woken?”
“No. I gave him the antidote, and then I inspected the site of the puncture and made sure there was no more of the spine remaining. I flushed the wound and stitched it closed while the guard pressed a rag to his mouth so his screams would not be heard.”
Ul closed his eyes. Dawson was quiet now, but that didn’t mean things were getting better. It just meant that his life hung in the balance.
“It’s very hard to accidentally be poisoned with the statue venom on land. Harder still to be stabbed in the calf, as humansdo not handle the sea creatures with their legs.” She lifted her eyebrows and held his gaze, clearly exhausted from trying to keep Dawson alive.
“I am aware, and a trap has been set.” He finished the cup of water. “If it is okay with you, I will wait with him.”
“You don’t want to be using the same sheets as they are saturated with his sweat.”
That was a good sign. Dawson’s body was fighting the toxins. If they’d realized sooner, he could’ve gotten the cure sooner. That he had already lost his vision meant they were almost too late. “I doubt I will be sleeping.”
“Sire…” She inhaled, as if realizing she was not going to win this argument. “Let me gather you a spare blanket. You are lucky no one else has needed treatment tonight.”
“I suspect there will be plenty of sore heads tomorrow.”
“That I am prepared for. I do not have much of the statue poison antidote remaining.”
Ul stood. “Let us hope whoever has the poison is also running low.” How many statue fish had come through with the collapse? At least the cure was not reliant on the fish.
“I will make more of the antidote, but even if I start tomorrow, it will take several days to prepare.”
“I am aware. How many more doses do you have?”
“One. And I will give it to no one except you, as per the law.”
“Very well.” Ul nodded, hoping that he was not her next patient.
She picked up the candle and led him into the room. The guard stood by the bed, grim-faced as if he didn’t want to be blamed for the loss of the man who was the king’s mate. Ul would not hold him responsible when it was not his doing.
Even by candlelight, Dawson was pale and sweaty. The healer set the candle down on a small table and checkedDawson‘s pulse and then his eyes. “No change…which is not a bad sign. I will fetch the blanket for you.”
