The Travellers Chronicles Book Two: To Change A Kingdom

Chapter Three

A few days after their meeting with King James, Sybille decided on a short walk in the gardens with Niko at her side. He had not gotten out for a real walk lately and she wanted to stretch her legs as well. Sybille missed Tess desperately as she was her only friend who knew the real Sybille. It was heavy on her heart as King James walked up to her.

"Good day, Lady Margaret." He greeted.

She curtsied to him. "Good day, Your Grace."

"What brings you out on such a fine day?"

"My dog." Sybille smiled at Niko playing in the grass. "I wished to let him roam a little."

King James turned to look at the animal in question. "Aye, I have seen him around. He seems to thrive in court life."

"He does." Sybille was curious about something, so she voiced the topic. "May I ask your reasons for protecting me?"

The King signalled for his retune to move further back so they could speak plainly. "I have a half-sister, Janet. Her mother's bloodline made her a Witch." He explained quietly. "I made a promise to her long ago that if I met any other Witches, I would protect them with honour."

"That is very gallant of you. But you should know, I have a sister, Elizabeth. She is off on tour with the Duke and Duchess of Orleans and the Duke of Angouleme at the moment."

"I understand. You shall both be under my protection then. With your knowledge and aid I believe that Scotland will flourish." Now it was the King's turn to broach a subject. "What will become of me?"

Sybille sighed. "You will die in 1542, though historians do not know the root cause of your death. It may have been due to cholera or dysentery. Your daughter will be Queen at six days old."

"A six-day old Queen?" King James's concern bled through his speech. "To put such a burden on a babe is unimaginable." He turned to Sybille. "What is...was it...'cholera' and...'dysentery'?"

"Well, both are hard to explain for two reasons. First, because I am not a doctor. Second, because of the limited medical knowledge of this time period."

"It sounds as though medicine is quite advance where you are from."

Sybille nodded. "Oh, indeed. Quite advanced. They were making advancements nearly every day when I was transported back in time."

"Could you at least attempt to explain the two issues that may cause my death?" The Scottish King requested. "Perhaps if I know more, then I can make attempts to prevent it."

Sybille sighed. "I highly doubt you could prevent either in this time period, but I will try to help you." She paused a moment, thinking how best to describe cholera and dysentery. "Well, first there's cholera. It makes you—" Sybille cut herself off. Never before had she felt grossed out about discussing bathroom issues, but she knew it wasn't done in the Renaissance Era. She was afraid that the King would call her disgusting and leave.

"It makes you...what?"

"Well..." Sybille let out a deep breath, leaned in close to the King, and took the plunge. "Due to something known as an infection, the thing that makes you sick, it often makes one use the toilet far too much. So much so, that they...expel all the fluids from their body, just not through their bladder mind you. Most end up dying from dehydration before anything else."

King James leaned back, a grimace on his face, before he whispered— "You mean to say, and pardon the indelicate language, My Lady, but you are saying I may end up shitting myself to death?"

Sybille winced. "As indelicate as you put it, yes. That is what I said. It is how the illness works, I am sorry to say."

"And the other one, dysentery, how does it work?"