He did a quick search to be sure he wasn't missing a note somewhere before he headed down to the kitchen. The chef smiled at him. "Do you have a special order, your Majesty?"
"No, I don't. I was wondering if you've seen Sarah."
Chef shook his head. "Not today. I don't recall seeing her for lunch either, now that you mention it."
"Thanks."
Luke hurried toward the infirmary, but he was surprised to find it dark and silent. No machines hummed, and Larisa's desk wasn't covered in notes and scribblings.Maybe they're together.
He stopped by Larisa's quarters and knocked on the door. He heard a weak voice tell him to come in. A stronger dose of concern spread through him when he found his sister in bed.
"Are you okay?"
"No, I'm not. I had a tray brought to me yesterday before I saw you, and I've felt like shit since. Today I can't even function."
"What do you think it is?" He didn't want to jump straight to the theory that she had been poisoned if it was unwarranted.
She grabbed his hand. "Don't eat or drink anything that you don't get yourself."
"Do you think you were..." He couldn't even finish the sentence.
"Poisoned," she finished for him. "Yes. I'm starting to think I was. Luckily, I only nibbled at the food on the tray because I was busy. I stuck it in the icebox to keep it cold until I can test it."
He wiped the hair from her forehead. "Is there anything I can do?"
"Just be careful. I'm only drinking bottled water to flush my system out, and I will definitely pay more attention to what I eat."
"You haven't seen Sarah, right?"
Larisa struggled to sit up. "She's missing?"
"I was holding court all day. Chef didn't see her at lunch." He moved to leave. "I have to go look for her."
"If she's sick, bring her straight back here, and I'll get to work, sick or not. She can't handle the poison with the baby."
Fear urged him down the hallway. He asked every guard as he went along, but none of them had seen her. When he reached his grandmother's wing, he knocked but there was no answer.
When she still didn't answer, he tested her door. The handle turned easily, and he pushed it open. "Grandma?"
The interior of the room was dark and gloomy. When the light from the hallway fell across the room, he found Tuva unconscious on the floor.
He called for a guard and rushed to her side. Between the two of them, they lifted her limp body and laid her on the bed. "Wake up. Come on, walk up for me." Luke patted her cheeks. He looked up at the guard. "Go fetch Dr. Seneel."
The guard rushed out just as Tuva moaned. Luke propped her head on the pillow. "That's right, Grandma. Come back and tell me what happened."
She moaned again but didn't open her eyes. He felt her pulse, and it was weak but steady. HIs own heart was beating so hard he could hear it, and his fear for Sarah became abject terror.
After what felt like a lifetime of waiting, Dr. Seneel rushed through the door. "Tell me everything."
"I found her on the floor. That's all I know." He met the doctor's eyes. "You know my father was poisoned. Larisa is also ill, so we have to assume that they got her also."
"I'll do all I can."
Luke watched the man for a minute. He seemed sincerely concerned. "Don't let her die. I'll have your head." He ran from the room to continue his search for Sarah.
Methodically, one room at a time, Luke searched the entire castle. He was running through the rose garden when he ran into Kayleigh. He grabbed her by the shoulders.
"What are you still doing here?"
