Prest had moved when Ortis had entered, and he now moved the board away from the bed andtook his leave. I started sorting through the various letters, looking for familiar handwriting.
Most all were formal missives from the Council, but I found one from Eln, Othur, and whatlooked like another one from Simus.
I paused, feeling the heavy paper crackle in my hands, looking at the wax seal. I wasn't reallysure that I wanted to know their contents. These would contain word of the plague and itseffects. I glanced up to see Keir looking at me, patiently waiting. I broke open Othur's seal.
Lara,
All is well, dearest girl. Eln's letter and the reports of the Council will give you the details, butthe Sweat seems to have passed us by. Thanks to your warning we were able to close thegates, and isolate the few that sickened. Eln was surprised by the change in the disease, but Iam sure his letter is filled with that information. I do not know of its effects in the outlyingmanors and villages, but we are well. Send us news of yourself as soon as you are able.
Would that all was as well within the castle. Alas, that you have inflicted me with one Simus ofthe Hawk.
Never mind the fact that Simus strides from his chambers to the mineral baths naked as aplucked chicken, smiling and greeting all and sundry with a cheerful smile.
Never mind the fact that he and Warren have taken to weapons practice in the Great Hall,jumping from table to table swords in one hand, flagons in the other, fighting and laughing, andcursing each other, causing ladies to swoon and leaving heel marks on all the tables.
Never mind that half the lords want to kill him, the other half want to befriend him and that allof the ladies seem entranced. Which includes my own Lady Wife, thank you very much.
Oh no, the worst of it is that Simus is having relations with Dye-Mistress Mavis, or so thesounds echoing in the castle halls at all hours of the night announce to all and sundry.
By his tradition, Simus does no wrong, or so Dye-Mistress Mavis has informed me, Warren,and the Archbishop. Further, when we confronted her, she told us in no uncertain terms that sheis an adult and Master of her trade and that her behavior is none of our concern. She addedsomething to the effect that you aren't the only one willing to make sacrifices for her guild.
Which had the Archbishop clutching for his holy symbol.
I think Dye-Mistress is only after the cloths that Simus wears like a peacock. I have tried toexplain that to Simus, but he just smiles that wide smile of his and indicates that he sees noharm to being 'used'.
The entire Court and Council is scandalized. They all come to me and complain, taking thegreatest pleasure in going over every juicy detail.
Durst is recovering, gaining strength slowly. Eln is uncertain that he will ever recover his fullvigor. I think his health suffers more from the hate that festers within than the wound itself. Heholds all of the
Firelanders responsible for his wound and the death of his son. Which places Durst firmly in thecamp of those who wish to kill Simus of the Hawk and any other Firelander that he can get hishands on. Although he hasn't moved from his bed, he foments trouble with the other lords. Hehas been warned, but his temper flares every time he hears of the Fire-landers. I'd send him tohis estates, but I'd rather have him here under my eye.
The official letters will hold more of the details, Lara. Send us word as soon as you can. We areterribly worried about you.
Your Warden, Othur
My Lady Wife begs that I add this note and sends her love and best wishes and wonders ifperhaps you are pregnant? She asks that you send word as soon as you can.
O.
I fell back on the bed, laughing in delight at the image of Simus wreaking havoc in the Court ofXy.
I'd returned to the stilltent, after I'd read Simus's letter to Keir, along with the rest of theletters from Water's Fall. Eln had written of his dismay over the disease and its severity, buthe'd come up with no alternative remedies. I took comfort from the fact that I had already senta letter to him outlining our treatments. But I took far more comfort that the Sweat had notreached the City. It would be months before we knew its true effects.
The Council reports were dry, but Keir seemed interested, so I read them out to him. I'd lefthim with a firm promise that he'd sleep. I decided that the time was right to clean andreorganize the stilltent. It had been sometime since Gils had reported a new fever, and I prayedthat we'd seen the last of it.
I had a bucket of jars and bottles to clean when I was done, and I took them outside and sat ona log to start cleaning them. There was still a bit of sunlight to enjoy, and I wanted to takeadvantage of it. Isdra was off some ways, supervising some warriors doing laundry. Rafe andPrest were at the command tent, sitting outside, playing chess from the looks of it.
I was content with my small chore, setting the clean items on a cloth to dry when Gils stumbledup and sat next to me, his satchel in his lap. The strap fell off his shoulder. I smiled, thenfrowned as I saw how tired he appeared.
"Gils, you are exhausted. Let me get you some kavage."
He sighed softly. "Just had some, Warprize." His face was turned, and he was looking at thesunset. "I's just very tired."
"Gils?"
Without another word, his satchel slipped from his fingers, and he collapsed against me, hishead on my shoulder. I put my fingers on his warm forehead and cried out for help.
Chapter 11
