Eventually, Keir eased me back, supporting my head and neck, and a cup of cool water wasplaced at my lips. I swallowed gratefully. It was replaced by a bowl, and I recognized the scentof the broth that Marcus makes so well. I managed a few sips, to the delight of someone.
Then someone put a dose of fever's foe in my mouth and I crinkled my nose, recognizing thetaste as it flooded my throat. I heard Marcus snort. "Don't like the taste of your own, eh?"
Keir chuckled, and I pulled my eyes open again to focus on him. He still looked tired, but thecrinkles at the corners of his eyes were back. I took a deep breath, and then made a face. Heleaned in, "What is it, Lara?"
I had to take a deep breath to get the words out in a croak. "You stink."
The laugh burst from him, his entire body shaking, and he pulled me in, holding me tight to hischest. "Ah, my Lara." He lowered me down to the bedding, eyes bright with what looked liketears. "I suppose I do, at that."
"She'll sleep now." Marcus growled. "Gils and I will watch over her. You need to care foryourself. I'll have food ready when you're done."
Keir made as if to protest, but I frowned at him. He sat back with a sigh. "Fair enough." Hereached over and stroked my cheek with his hand. I closed my eyes at his touch, and fell backinto sleep between one breath and the next.
The fever had broken, but the lethargy held me in its grasp. I lay in the tent for the next day,with barely the energy to draw breath.
Gils kept forcing liquids into me, regularly appearing with a cup of sweet, cold water, or a bowlof Marcus's broth. At first I was eager, since I was wrung dry by the fever. But after a while, itwas an effort to drink and swallow, more exhaustion than inability. Keir was beside meconstantly, bracing my head, encouraging me to drink. I slept more often than not, awakeningto a cup or a bowl.
As my exhaustion continued everyone's faces grew grim. They were worried, and had I thestrength, I'd have been as well. But with each passing moment, the life seemed to fade from mybody, bit by bit after the last bout of fever.
"Out."
I opened my eyes to find Marcus shooing Keir and Is-dra from the tent. Keir made as if toprotest, but Marcus cut him off. "She'll feel better for a bath. The young'un is all the help Ineed, and none of your prying eyes."
"We'll help." Keir frowned.
"No such thing," Marcus insisted. "Go out and do something useful."
"What?"
Marcus threw up his hands. "Chop wood. Carry water. Sharpen your sword. Anything to getyou out from underfoot."
Keir made a growling noise, but he and Isdra cleared out of the tent. Marcus and Gils fussedfor a bit, with Gils going to fetch a bucket of warm water. I appreciated his efforts to honor my
'shyness', although I wasn't sure there was a point to it anymore. Everyone had seen me in allmy glory at some point. But I couldn't even muster the energy to be embarrassed.
Marcus moved to the side of the bed, and pulled back the bedding. "We'll wash your hair,Lara. You will feel better, yes?"
The idea had appeal, but I'd no energy to contribute to the effort. I sighed as Marcus helpedme roll closer to the side of the bed. He must have heard me, since he made the same kind ofsoothing sound that I'd heard Isdra use on the babe. I smiled weakly, even as he beat a gentlerhythm on my back, just as Isdra had done.
I coughed.
Pain gripped my chest, and I went into a spasm of coughing, a horrible deep racking sound. Itleft me gasping, hanging over the edge of the bed, trying to clear my throat. Marcus washolding me, calling frantically for Keir and Gils. I stared at the mess I'd made, and gasped forair, trying to make sense of what had just happened.
Keir and Gils came running in, demanding an explanation. Marcus sputtered an apology, evenas he tried to push me onto my back. But I resisted, sure that I knew what was happening. Thefluids were in my chest. Building slowly, instead of sweating out, drowning me. The exhaustionhad masked it, but Marcus had…
"Again. Do that again." My voice wasn't more than a rasp, but it cut through the babble aboutme. Keir had his arms about me, and Marcus was pale as a cloud.
"What did you do?" Keir asked sharply.
"I drummed her. I thought to offer comfort…"
"Again." I struggled in Keir's arms. "Do it again."
"It hurts you," Marcus objected.
"Have to…" I coughed again.
Gils knelt by the bed. "She's purging her body of the bad water, when she coughs. Is that right,Warprize?"
