The Curse of the Gift

Part 12

There is silence in the room for a moment. No one says a word. And I still feel like I've misheard.

I turned my head toward Marian, and for the second time in twenty-four hours, I saw such intense fear on her face.

"Robert..." Her face turned white and her voice was almost gone, and I could tell she was saying her brother's name just from her lips.

"We don't know for sure yet..." Ryan runs his hand tentatively through his hair, and I can see that even he's scared. "No one else knows Robert as well as you do."

Marian nods slowly, as if she can't hear what's being said. But in a second the woman pulls herself together, and her gaze becomes clearer and tougher, as if she's made some decision she couldn't make before. And this abrupt change scares me a little. Marian immediately began to gather herself, and so did I.

"How was he found?"

"In his chambers. He was lying on the floor, holding the hilt of his sword. Apparently he hadn't had time to..."

Marian nods briefly, and doesn't turn in our direction on purpose. We decided to leave her alone for a while, and we went out into the corridor to wait.

"Don't take your eyes off her." My voice made Ryan flinch, but he nodded silently.

We may have been able to talk her out of making hasty decisions yesterday, but the situation is different now. He killed the king. Now Marian won't listen to us, and if she goes to her brother herself, I'm afraid... we won't be able to stop him in time.

As we walked outside, Ryan gestured for me to stop, and I stared at him in confusion.

"You're going to have to go to the pharmacist. I've instructed him to prepare medicine for the queen. She's a little... not herself after seeing it."

"Seeing?" I asked again.

"She found the king."

"Oh..." It was the only thing I could get out.

So I nodded obediently, and we walked off in different directions.

The pharmacy is not far from the main street. And for as long as I can remember, I've always wanted to go there. The place is famous. Especially because of the healers and herbalists who worked there. Rumor has it that it was founded by the first of Eyre. And even though I've never been there, I recognize the place immediately. The pharmacy building is the only one on the whole street that isn't painted in light colors. It is mostly made of dark stone, but the walls are so old that in some places there are cracks. The windows are decorated with colorful stained glass. The right side of the building is completely covered with wild ivy. And even with all its gloominess, it blends in nicely with the ambiance of the place. The dark, old, but no less beautiful sign reads "Pharmacy".

I push open the door, which opens with a correspondingly nasty creak, and am greeted by darkness, which is diluted only by a pair of candles on the counter in front of me. Behind it, the entire wall was filled with various vials of powders and flasks of liquids of various colors. A little farther away stood a couple of crates stuffed to the top with dried herbs. On each was a note with a name: low mugwort, tansy, oregano, and milk thistle. On the left side of the wall was also hung with dried herbs, the shadows of which, with the twitching of the candle, turned into creepy monsters.

It was too quiet inside, in stark contrast to the bustling streets of Delas. I hesitated at the entrance, not daring to go any farther. But the situation is serious, and I need to get to the palace as soon as possible. So I take a hesitant step forward. And then two more. And then I get close to the counter, and I want to call someone, but an old man abruptly appears from behind it.