“To interrogate Theodore.” He stopped at the door. “I'll be back soon.”
“It may not be him.”
“I will discover his guilt or innocence.” He left me glaring at the doorway.
“Rash,” I muttered. “He's too rash.”
Zensar chuckled. “He's in love.”
I looked over at the healer. “No, he's not.”
Zensar glanced at me and shook his head. “As you say. I'm sure you know him better than I.” Then he scowled at my tail. “This is worse than your arm.” He spread salve over it and wrapped it in gauze. It looked horrible—a white tube sticking out of fur. “I'll give you a tonic to speed the healing.” He went around the table to clean my left arm. “And you'll need to remove the bandages every hour. Wash the wounds, apply more salve, and wrap them in fresh bandages.”
I sighed. “At least we heal fast.”
He nodded. “That's why you need to clean them every hour. The wounds will express fluid and toxins rapidly. You needto keep them clean so they don't fester. Unfortunately, your fur will take a little longer to grow back.”
After he bandaged my arm, I sat up. “Thank you, Zensar. This feels so much better.”
“That's because there's a numbing agent in the salve.” He winked at me. Then he handed me a pot of salve and a roll of bandages. “Every hour.”
“Yes, I will remember.”
“Do not go back to your lab, Master Sevarin.” He pointed a finger at me. “Straight to your room. You need to rest to allow your body to heal.” He paused. “Or is it the King's bedroom that you'll be recovering in?”
I snorted a laugh and slid off the table. My clothes were wet in places from the cleaning fluid, but I didn't care. Someone had tried to kill me. Messing with my ingredients was bad enough, but murder? Either my attacker was psychotic, or they were upset about more than my findings.
I headed for the door.
“Right to your room!” Zensar called after me. “Do not go to that interrogation.”
I paused and glanced back, wondering how he had guessed.
“I'm wise to the ways of stubborn patients,” he answered my unspoken question. “Now, to your room. Or must I summon a guard?”
“I'm going!” I stormed out as much as my wounds would allow.
But I didn't head for the Royal Apartments.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
A thought occurred to me as I was heading to the interrogation. The bridge had fallen. Why? I had looked over the plans for dismantling it, and they were sound. Yes, the rot had spread extensively, but the city architects had come up with a way to dismantle it safely. The bridge shouldn't have fallen as it did.
Turning on my heel, I headed for my lab. Once there, I grabbed my satchel and left. On the stairs, I hesitated. I had promised Falken I wouldn't leave the palace without guards. Orro wasn't enough. But the King was in an interrogation, and I didn't want to interrupt him. This could be nothing. It could also be everything.
At the bottom of the stairs, I shouted for Torli. Then again, “Torli!”
At last, the sound of his footsteps echoed to me, and then the man himself came running around a corner. He stopped before me and bowed. “Master Sevarin, how may I be of assistance?”
“I need to investigate the fallen bridge, but I promised the King I wouldn't leave without some guards. Could you arrange that for me?”
“Of course, sir! Come with me.” Torli motioned down the hallway and led me out of the palace. He left me on the steps to speak to a guard on duty, and then headed into the stables.
Activity began to my left, and then a group of horns strode across the courtyard to the stable. A few minutes later, the horns and Torli emerged with saddled horses.
Torli led his horse to me. “For you, Master Sevarin.” He handed me the reins. “Shall I inform the King of your whereabouts?”
“Yes, thank you.” I took the reins. “He's in an interrogation right now. Maybe you could wait until he's finished?”
