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Brows crossing, Ember scowled at her sister. “We only get the cherry tarts if we eat the spinach ones.”
“Will you come with us?” Aurora pleaded.
“Hang on.” I let out a blubbery breath and gently pushed the girls off me. That’s when the smell from Nikkos’s wound hit me like a frying pan to the head. I pressed a hand to his heated chest, then pulled back with a start. His skin was on fire!
I gasped when two sets of stony eyes blinked down at me. The nurses were here, fresh bandages in their arms and a bowl of that awful ointment was on the table beside the bed. I swore the cure was worse than the injury.
“We will alert you if there are any changes, Your Highness,” one of the nurses said, her lips pinched in a stern scowl.
“Thank you,” I mumbled, scooting to the other side of the bed. “Where is Lord Draevyn?” I asked them.
“Up on the battlements with his men,” the other nurse answered.
“I see.” I took the girls’ hands, helping them off the bed. I would send for Draevyn and insist on new nurses and a new poultice. This one clearly wasn’t working.
After freshening up, I lingered near the bed one last time, eyes narrowed as I watched the nurses clean and treat his wound again. They worked with stiff movements while stealing stealthy glances in my direction. I was convinced they had no idea what they were doing.
I opened the door and hailed a passing servant, a young woman with pale skin and a long nose. “Please send for Lord Draevyn,” I said loud enough for the nurses to hear. “I wish to speak to him about Master Nikkos’s current treatment.”
The woman curtsied and hurried away.
“Are you coming with us, Auntie?”
I looked into Aurora’s pleading eyes, hating to refuse her, but I shook my head before warily eyeing the nurses. “I don’t want to leave Nikkos.”
The door swung open and Mrs. Euphemia stood on the other side, her fawn ears rotating. “I’ll sit with him, Your Highness,” she said as she curtsied, offering me a warm smile. “I have already alerted the servants the young princesses are ready for tea.”
“Thank you. Mrs. Euphemia.” I heaved a sigh of relief before turning toward the nurses with a scowl. “You’re dismissed.”
Their mouths dropped open as they shared secretive looks.
“But we haven’t added the poultice,” one of them said.
“We’ll do it.” I waved them away. “You’re dismissed.”
They brushed past me, their faces twisted, their noses turned up. It was then I decided they weren’t treating Nikkos any longer, and not just because they were rude. No, I got a bad feeling about them. I couldn’t describe it, but I couldn’t shake the fear they were making Nikkos worse.
I went to him, resting my hand on his cheek. “The poultice isn’t working.” I pulled my hand back, shaking it off as if it was on fire. “He’s burning up with fever.”
“It’s normal for Ravini mages to turn feverish when they’re unwell,” Mrs. Euphemia said as she placed a hand against his forehead. “It’s part of the healing process.” Her nose wrinkled as she sniffed the air. Did she smell something off, too, other than the rotten stench of infection?
I chewed my bottom lip, casting Nikkos another worried glance. I didn’t remember my father turning feverish during sickness. Then again, I never remembered my father being sick. “Do you know about poultices?” I asked her.
“I do.” She picked up the wooden bowl with the poultice, sniffing it and then arching away with a scowl. “My husband taught me about many herbals. He was especially fond of the plants that grew in the dark forests.”
I wanted to ask her what happened to her husband but thought better of it. Considering that she wore all black, I assumed her husband had died. “Doesn’t the poultice smell off?” I asked her, nervously toying with my fingers.
“Hm.” She scowled down at the bowl. “Something does smell different. If you’d like, I shall take some of the poultice back to my study and examine the contents.”
“I would like that very much,” I said, feeling some of the tension that had wrapped around my spine loosen just a fraction. “Thank you. Don’t put the poultice on him yet, not until after you examine it.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” she answered while checking the wound beneath his bandage. “I’m going to clean the old poultice out of the wound and redress it.”
“That sounds like an excellent idea,” I said, feeling confident for the first time that Nikkos was under good care.
“Come on, Auntie.” Aurora tugged at my skirts while pinching her nose. “It stinks in here.”
“Go with the girls,” Mrs. Euphemia said to me, her eyes warm with concern. “I won’t leave his side.”
