Chapter 24: Changes in the Plan

4 0 0
                                    

The Pirate King opened the heavy wooden door to reveal the crooked-nosed woman standing in the hallway. "What?" His deep voice, rough from sleep, caused the woman to flinch.

"She's awake, but her health is still poor."

His grip on the doorknob tightened. "Her fever?"

"I—I have not checked yet," said Louise.

The dark captain ground his teeth at the attendant's incompetence. "Return to her," he said to the attendant. "I'll be there soon."

The door swung shut in Louise's face, preventing her from seeing the scowl that was cutting across Dread Robin's stony face. She turned around and headed back down the hallway where her mistress was located three doors to the right. The instant she opened the door, the sounds of soft retching met her ears. In the far corner nearest to the balcony sat the queen of Tarym, hunched over the chamber pot with one hand gripping the edge while the other hand tried in vain to pull the short dark hair away from the mess. Louise flew out of the doorway and over to Em. "There, there," she said as she knelt beside her sick charge and placed a comforting hand on the trembling body. "Shh."

A soft whimper escaped Em as a fully clothed Dread Robin charged into the room. He took one look at the hunched figure over the chamber pot before he appeared in front of her and Louise. Waving the plain attendant away, the pirate captain knelt down and slipped the fingers of one hand inside the chamber pot in order to feel Em's forehead. "The fever hasn't returned," he said in a flat voice as he retracted his hand. He paused for a moment, and upon silence meeting his words, he took Em by the shoulders and gently lifted her off the chamber pot. She was gaunt and soaking in sweat. Her eyes were bloodshot and her hair stuck to her skin. "Is it over?" asked Roger.

Em wiped the back of a hand over her mouth. "I—I think so," she whispered.

Roger nodded. He looked up at Louise and said, "Get her back on the bed." He waited for the attendant to take her mistress from him before he stood up. Out from the balcony came weak light, an indication that dawn was upon them. He had only collected about six hours of sleep, but compared to the sleep deprivation to which he was accustomed in the past, Roger felt wide awake. He turned to the bed and looked over Em as Louise helped her settle underneath the covers, propped up with her back against the headboard.

They had given her the blue liquid in Gillespie's flask, but having to share it with Roger so that his shoulder could heal meant there had not been enough for either of them to fully recover. Roger had a scar on his top right chest where Black Death's bullet had pierced him. When Em drank the viscous elixir, she had been passed out for more than three days. She had woken up merely a day ago to a fever and chest pains. Roger's black eyes met her dark brown through the screen draped around the bed. One hand on her chest indicated it still ailed her. Roger slipped through the screen. He took the other hand she stretched forth to him and gave it a little squeeze before returning it to her.

"Shall I send for a doctor?" Louise suggested.

"No," said Roger, but it was Em's strong words that drew Louise's astonished attention.

"Louise, please leave us," said the queen of Tarym to her attendant. "I would like a word with the captain alone."

Dread Robin said in a curt voice, "You'll be sent for when our business here is concluded."

Louise lowered her eyes and bowed her head to both Em and Roger. "Yes, Your High—that is to say, yes," she murmured.

Em watched Louise step outside the screen and traverse the room toward the door. She waited until the click resounded behind Roger before her face took on a hard and urgent mask. "Roger, Matteas and Silvertide have fallen."

The Pirate's Legacy: New HorizonsWhere stories live. Discover now