“He’s your friend.I know he’s taking care of Twig.”
“I wouldn’t call him my friend, but yes, he is.”
“Just help me, please?I promise I’m not trying to hurt anyone.I just want to stop feeling like shit.”
That startled a chuckle out of Rune.He continued watching his sister, but he had to admit that if she was acting, she was a phenomenal actor.She really looked sick.
“All right,” he said with a sigh.“I’ll take you to Palmer.”
Yorga was a little shaky as they walked to the infirmary, but she looked better than Twig did at the moment.Still, Palmer was visibly alarmed when they reached the infirmary to talk to him.He looked from Yorga to Twig, who was sleeping in a bed close by, and quickly guided her to her own.
Rune hung back, not wanting to bother anyone.He watched as Palmer worked, and he could see how serious the human was.He knew that Palmer was frustrated about Twig not wanting to accept a dragon healer to help, and that eventually, he would have to give in.They’d talked about it enough.Palmer wouldn’t let anyone put Twig in danger, not even Twig himself.
It took Palmer a little while to examine Yorga.He still looked worried when he stepped up to Rune, apparently ready to talk.
“It’s the same symptoms as Twig,” he murmured, taking off his gloves.“The problem is that they’re generic.They both have a fever, aching muscles, and nausea.It could be any of the illnesses you and I have been reading up on.”
“What are you going to do?”Rune asked.
“She’s not as ill as Twig right now, and she told me she wants to go back to her rooms, so I’ll get her started on the same treatment I gave Twig.She’s going to have to come back if she feels worse, though.”
“She will,” Rune said.
Palmer raised a brow.“Oh?”
“I’ll tell her.If her and Twig want you to be their doctor, they have to follow your instructions.”
Palmer snorted.“I don’t think I’ve ever had one patient who actually followed my orders.That hasn’t changed after I moved to the palace.”
Rune took a risk and gently patted Palmer’s arm.He wanted to comfort him since he was visibly worried, but he wasn’t sure how to do it.“I’m sure they’ll be okay.We’ll find something, and if we don’t, we’ll ask for help.”
“Your brother really doesn’t want me to,” Palmer murmured as he turned to look at Twig’s sleeping form.
“He’ll agree eventually if things don’t get better.He’s stubborn, but he wants to be okay.”Twig wouldn’t put his own life in danger just because he didn’t like healers.Rune didn’t have the entire story, but he knew enough, and he understood.He also understood why Twig trusted Palmer, but he’d drag his brother to a dragon healer himself if Twig proved to be too stubborn.One way or another, hewouldget better.
Rune would make sure of that.
He walked back over to where Yorga was sitting on the edge of the infirmary bed, looking pale but determined.She glanced up at him as he approached.
“Palmer says you can go back to your rooms, but you need to rest and take the medication he’s prescribing,” Rune told her.“And if you feel worse, you come straight back here.No arguments.”
Yorga nodded slowly.“I will.I promise.”She hesitated, then added quietly, “Thank you for bringing me here.”
Rune was surprised by the gratitude in her voice.They’d never been particularly close, but maybe this illness would change that.“Of course,” he said.“We’re family.”
“Yeah,” she said softly.“We are.”
Palmer returned with a small bottle of medication and a list of instructions.He explained everything carefully to Yorga, making sure she understood when to take the medicine and what symptoms to watch out for.Rune listened too, filing away the information in case he needed it.
Once Yorga left, Rune found himself alone with Palmer again.The infirmary was quiet except for Twig’s soft breathing from the nearby bed and two patients quietly talking on the other side of the room.
“Two patients with the same symptoms,” Palmer said, running a hand through his hair.“That can’t be a coincidence.”
“No,” Rune agreed.“It can’t.Do you think it’s contagious?”
“I don’t know yet.But we need to find out quickly, before anyone else gets sick.”
“We will,” Rune said, trying to sound more confident than he felt.“We’ll figure this out.”
