The falcon's daughters

Chapter 46

Lace looked with doubt at the thick book that Abadin laid on the table.

- Do you really think you can find them in that one? I could not understand much of all the strange notes in it.

- It shouldn't be a problem. I made the notes. Just tell me what you know and I'll find the right scrolls for you.

- Okay. The girls should be almost eighteen years old now and we know for sure that they are twins.

- Then that's where we’ll start.

Abadin opened the book. He drew a finger along the rows of ornate letters. Every now and then he stopped and read aloud the notes below the line. He pulled out a piece of paper and lifted the pen from the inkwell. For a short while he looked up from the book and wrote down one of the lines on the paper. Leaf after leaf was turned in the book and more lines were copied to the paper. When Abadin finally put the book together, the sun was nearing the end of its orbit and there were twenty-six lines on the paper which he handed over to Lace.

- Here are the ones I found.

- Then it's just to get started, I guess.

Lace looked down at the paper. 

- It's a lot to go through.

He got up and took out one of the baskets and began to take down scrolls from the many compartments. When a dozen scrolls were in the basket, he sat down at the table and opened one of them. He mumbled softly as he read the contents of the scroll and with a sigh put it away.

- That wasn't it.

He took the quill and drew a line across the line with the roll number.

- I have some things to do with the newer scrolls. Let me know if I can help with anything more. 

Lace nodded absently as he reached for the next roll and Abadin left him alone with the hard work.

- I don't understand what it is that can delay Saline's return. She should have been back by now.

Worgan paced back and forth in the throne room. Lee tried to calm his father.

- She'll be back soon, father. It takes time to travel to Tamarin's border, you know.

He raised a hand and pulled his palm over the damp forehead. The burning sensation in his throat was alleviated a little when he drank from the cold water that filled the silver goblet in his hand.

- It has been more than a month since she left.

- Give her another two weeks. If she has not returned by then I will leave with a squad to see what has happened.

- You are probably right, my son.

The king looked up when the sound of approaching steps was heard. 

- Y'zora, is everything alright?

- Of course. I was hoping to borrow your son for a while. It's starting to be time to contact Mallak regarding the crossing to Dragon Island.

- He usually stays at one of the taverns down by the harbor.

Lee's voice cracked and he drank a little more to moisten the dry throat.

- I believe the golden otter is his favorite.

- Then I will go there then.

She nodded and examined the prince's pale face. He was beginning to sweat and drank some more water. 

- Are you feeling well Leerian?

- I'm fine Lady Y'zora. Just a little hot.

- I do not think you should go down to the harbor yourself, Y'zora. It is not the right place for a lady.

Y'zora smiled calmly at Worgans worried voice.

- You should not worry so much. But if it lightens your mind, I can bring some of your soldiers.

- That does sound much better.

Lee got up from the soft chair and grabbed the back of the chair as the world began to spin for him.

- Leerian what's wrong?  

Y'zora hurried up to him. She put her hands on the moist skin and looked into his shiny blue eyes. The heat seemed to flow from him and she stroked a lock from his face.

- I'm fine. I just need to rest a little.

The silver goblet slipped out of his hand as he fainted and fell to the floor. The ringing sound echoed in the hall as the goblet landed and the water spread over the cold stone floor.

- Get Teron!

The king bellowed out the order as he hurried to his son. Y'zora looked at him anxiously.

- He's burning up. We have to get him to his bed.

Two guards immediately rushed forward and lifted up the unconscious prince. The servants hurried out of the way and watched in shock as they carried him through the corridors. Teron ran into the room just moments after the prince was placed on his bed.

- Your majesty, what happened?

- He fainted.

- Did he say something before he lost consciousness, Your Majesty?

- Only that he needed to rest. Do you think it could be exhaustion?

 - I would find that highly unlikley your majesty.

- What about the arrow then?

- The tests showed that the arrow was indeed poisoned, lady Y'zora but the poison itself is harmless. His Highness body should have been able to break it down without injury. A reaction should have come much earlier. There must be something on the arrow that I have missed.

- Can't you just give him something?

- No, Your Majesty. Toxins have a very specific structure. One that is harmless to humans can prove fatal if combined incorrectly. If I give him the wrong antidote, it can help the original toxin to kill him.

- Are you saying that my son will die?

- If I give him the wrong antidote, I'm afraid that might be the case. But without knowing which poison …

- Can you find out what poison it is?

- Yes Lady Y'zora. But it will take time.

- So hurry up then. We do not have time to waste when the prince's life can hang on it.

- Yes my lady.

He bowed before hurrying out of the room. Y'zora put a hand on Worgans shoulder and said softly.

- Don't worry my friend. Your son is strong. He will pull through this.

- Look at him Y'zora! He looks so helpless.

- But he is still one of Carlan's princes and they never give up without a fight.

- You are right. A prince from Carlan fights to the last breath.

He looked down at his son's face whose tanned skin looked paler than it was against the white bedding.

- Let's just hope that day does not come in many years.

- Yzza?

Sol's gentle voice came from the door. 

- I got a terrible feeling that something had happened to Lee.

Her gaze turned to the bed and the young man in it. For a moment she stood there looking at him before walking towards them. Wrapped in Y'zora's arms, she leaned her head against the older woman's shoulder and said softly.

- What happened to him?

- The arrow was poisoned.

- Is there anything we can do?

- No, my child. Teron is working to find out what poison it is and to find an antidote.

Worgan sat down by his son’s side and sadly took his hand in his.

- Right now all we can do is wait. Wait and pray for Teron to succeed.

- They should have got my surprise now.

The man smiled coldly and the little ugly man in front of him nodded happily.

- Yes my lord. The prince has become seriously ill. They think there may have been another poison on the arrow. His majesty's physichan is doing experiments on the arrow to find out which one. Should I arrange for the arrow to disappear?

- Teron is an i***t. Let him keep it. Once he discovers what the poison is, it will not be with the help of tests. The prince will continue to be ill and soon he will die an extremely painful death.

- As you wish my lord. And the other two?

- Ah yes. Prince Cadenor and the girl.

The smile that covered the lips of the disfigured face almost made the little man back away.

- What is your wish, my lord?

- In a week they should reach the Bay of Mists. My little pet has been sleeping for a few centuries. I think it's time for him to wake up. After sleeping for so long, he will be hungry. Very hungry. Having a party on royal flesh will be a nice breakfast and the girl will be a good dessert.