Prince Xavier growled in his throat, but his pale face betrayed the fear hiding under the anger.
“That means whoever did this to him is still at large,” he said. “He’s not safe here. My people have already organized a carriage. Theo and I will leave within the hour.”
“But surely he’s too unwell to be moved,” Elowen protested.
“That’s the physician’s argument,” Prince Xavier replied. “But to be frank, Princess, I don’t trust anyone here. You’ve admitted yourself there’s widespread resentment against Siqual in general and Theo in particular.”
“I didn’t say that,” Elowen cried. Theo moved his head restlessly, but his eyes didn’t open. She lowered her voice. “Plenty of people like him and support the alliance.”
“But it only takes one effective malcontent to take action,” Prince Xavier said. “I don’t wish to offend you, and I believe you do care about Theo. But that’s not enough, not when by yourown account you’re kept out of important matters just the same as my sister is. I was present in some of the negotiations for this alliance, I know how hard Torrens was hit a few years back when Siqual withdrew from some of our trade agreements due to our suspicions that Torrens was plotting against us.”
“I don’t know anything about that,” Elowen said, more frustrated than ever by her exclusion from such matters. “Like you said, I’m kept out of those things. I don’t understand what you’re getting at.”
“I’m saying that for all I know, this whole proposal was a clever attack planned by the crown, as retaliation for those losses,” Prince Xavier said grimly.
Recognizing how close their alliance was to disaster, Elowen swallowed her initial outrage. “Not a well-orchestrated attack if so,” she said firmly. “You and I both saw at once something didn’t seem right.”
“No one was expecting me to be here,” Prince Xavier said. “If they’d sent news of an illness to Siqual, it would have raised no suspicion of foul play without your observations from last night, and the things I’ve witnessed myself.”
“Prince Xavier, please,” Elowen said desperately. “Don’t endanger him further by subjecting him to days and days on the road. Surely you can see it’s not practical. Sindon is so far!”
“I’m not taking him to Sindon,” the prince said. “Crandell is much closer. Carrack is our ally, Prince Cassius will see that Theo’s symptoms are properly investigated.”
“We’re allies as well!” Elowen protested. She hadn’t even noticed, but at some point her hand had closed over Theo’s where it lay on the covers. It was warm. Too warm. It felt so wrong to be debating his care without being able to consult him.
“Not yet,” Prince Xavier contradicted. “Whatever reputation I have for being heedless, I’m awake, Princess. And I’m good at finding out what I want to know. I’ve made my own inquiries,and I know that in spite of the tournament being complete and the betrothal sealed, there’s been no talk whatsoever of setting a wedding date.” His voice darkened. “It’s almost as though there was never any intention of holding a wedding.”
“No, you’re wrong!” Shame washed over Elowen. “That’s my fault. I was the one who delayed setting the wedding date. Father has been eager to move forward the whole time, it was me who wanted…who wanted…”
She trailed off, unable to put words to what now felt like an absurdly childish campaign. She’d been so determined not to be rushed into tying herself to Theo, and now she could barely breathe for the fear that she didn’t have any time left with him.
“Elowen.” The quiet voice made both of them freeze, their attention snapping to Theo.
His eyes were open, and his expression was peaceful as he looked up at Elowen. “You’re back. You went away somewhere.”
“I’m here, Theo,” she said, her throat tight. “We’re trying to figure out what’s wrong with you so we can make you well again.”
Theo coughed, the sound pained. “The physician said it’s an infectious fever,” he said. “I just need to rest. It’s not even…a very high…fever.” He closed his eyes for a moment, squeezing them shut as if fighting a wave of pain.
“No, Theo,” Elowen said desperately. “Whatever it is, it’s serious.”
“I’m afraid you may be right, Your Highness.” The physician’s somber voice cut into their conversation. “Prince Theodore, I must tell you that your fever has now become higher than I like to see.”
“Can’t you treat it using magic craft?” Elowen demanded. “I know that was part of your training.”
He bowed in acknowledgment. “You’re right, Princess. Magic has its own boundaries, however. It is not a simple cure forall illnesses. But it’s true that I generally have success with alleviating symptoms, if nothing else. I confess I expected Prince Theodore’s symptoms to respond better to magical treatment than they have. I’m afraid there’s little more we can do at present than wait out the fever.”
Theo didn’t answer, his eyes drifting closed again. It was difficult to tell if he was following what was being said. The physician’s eyes were serious as they returned to Elowen.
“But the severity of the illness does appear to have increased. I must urge you, Princess, not to subject him to travel at this moment.”
“It’s not up to me,” Elowen said, frustrated. “I don’t want him to go.” She laid a hand on Theo’s head, her fingers finding their way through the dark hair which wasn’t in its usual orderly state. “I don’t want you to go, Theo.”
His eyes slowly opened again, concern mingling with confusion in his gaze. He didn’t seem able to find words, however.
“You say he’s worse now?” Prince Xavier said, agitated. “I’ve been saying it for hours, and you wouldn’t acknowledge it until I announced my intention to leave.” He turned to Elowen. “Is that what you call impartial medical care?”
She ran a hand over her face, feeling helpless and afraid. She didn’t believe the physician was trying to harm Theo, but she didn’t know how to convince Prince Xavier that both their poisoning suspicion and the crown’s good intentions could be true.
