Page 68 of The Infirmary for Dragon Burns and Midair Mishaps

“I’ve heard,” Gunther murmured. “There were kingsguard passing through Harper Falls, too.”

I frowned. That was the wrong direction for the migration. If there were multiple contingents dispatched to hunt the Wretch, why would the kingsguard be wasting their time there? Harper Falls was a cut through town on the way to the border cities, not one of the places along the migration path.

“What did they have to say for themselves?” Talani asked, leaning against the exam table. “They mostly made a nuisance of themselves here to be honest.”

Instead of answering, Gunther raised his arms above his head, stretching and yawning in an overly dramatic way. My attention focused on the way his eyes flitted around the table. “You know what I could really use?” he said, leaning down to talk to Poppy. “A good, strong pine tea.”

“Mmm…” Nisse said, catching on quickly. “Too bad we’re all out of fresh needles.”

“I can get you some,” Poppy volunteered. “I know the best trees to collect from.”

Gunther smiled. “Would you, my dear?”

“Of course. I’ll only be a few minutes.” She rushed out of the room. The moment we heard the back door thud in the apothecary, Gunther straightened up, looking more concerned than I’d ever seen him. A shiver zipped up my arms, coiling at the back of my neck.

Matty and Reo leaned a bit closer.

“The kingsguard were very closed off,” Gunther said hurriedly, clearly not wanting Poppy to return before he finished. “They mostly kept to themselves, but a few of the locals got them drinking down at the pub one night, and they started to talk.”

My eyes met Nisse’s. “About what?” she asked.

“There are whispers of a plague creeping along the border towns,” Gunther said. “Apparently, people are becoming quite ill.”

“What kind of plague?” I asked. “What are the symptoms?”

“The kingsguard were tight-lipped about that.”

“Is it fatal?” Seraphine asked.

“I don’t know,” Gunther said. “It was mainly just whispers, and you know how whispers shift from person to person. But there’s talk of magic being involved.”

A chill dripped down my spine, the hairs on my body standing straight. Talani hissed.

“Something cursed,” Gunther continued. “Something we’ve never seen in these parts before.”

“It’s traveled across,” Nisse said. “From another land?”

“If the rumors are true,” Gunther mused. “All I know is that the soldiers seemed… afraid.”

I opened my mouth. Closed it. Frowned down at the table. Was this the reason the king was so set on hunting down the Wretch? Was he filling out his army because word of a magical illness had reached his ears?

“It could be nothing,” Gunther said.

“They don’t send in the kingsguard for nothing,” I murmured. “They don’t invest that many resources for whispers.”

Silence ate through the group.

“We’re a long way from the border,” Talani said. “Do you suppose we’re safe here?”

“We don’t even know what it is we’re dealing with,” Matty said. “What to look for.”

Gunther nodded. “For now, we’re fine. I have contacts closer to the border. I’ll send some letters out. But until I hear otherwise, nothing has changed.” He managed a small smile. “Our focus, as always, is keeping the town safe during the migration.”

We all nodded, but it didn’t shift the feeling of unease.

Poppy burst through the front door of the infirmary, pine needles scattering. “Nisse! Everyone! Come quickly!”

“What is it, child?” Gunther asked.