Constantine (Daughter of War #1)

Chapter 31: The Physician

Music is My Imaginary Friend from the Beyond: Two Souls soundtrack. Play it!

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"Have you two been taking the medication I've prescribed before on a regular basis?"

Galennus Asa's question shocks me out of my stupor; I was wondering exactly how I would approach the physician after the check-up session. I presume that he means the vial of dubious-looking liquid sitting on my table in a forlorn and abandoned manner. Gilbert, who is seated beside me, shakes his head; I crisply reply in the negative.

I half-expected him to give us a scolding and a serious frown of disapproval for not heeding a physician's orders. Instead, he beams happily at us. In fact, I can say that he looks almost relieved. Why is he suddenly talking about the medicine though? Evidently Gilbert is thinking along the same lines as I, and furrows his brows in confusion. "Excellent," chirps the Galennus excitedly. He potters around his worktable, whipping out two vials which contain what looks like brown slush to me. "Don't take that; this one works better."

Gilbert and I receive the vials from him. I inspect the liquid in the light. If I squint, I can see what looks to be black fragments sloshing around in the concoction, winking at me with the glint of a predator. I make a grimace.

"Why the new medicine?" asks Gilbert, uncorking his vial and taking a good long sniff of the liquid. "Wasn't the old one good enough?"

"As you know, we Galenni have a special lab set for research. As such, we're always improving the quality of our medicines. Last week, we'd just discovered that this particular combination"—he gestures at the vials—"works much better for the blood circulation."

That's strange—Galenni never admit to their patients that there's a new, improved method to treat their illnesses. It's an unspoken code to give patients a peace of mind, allowing them to believe it's only a matter of time before they fully recover. More of a psychological manipulation than anything else. In the name of goodwill, the physicians claim.

"I see," I say, still sceptic.

"That's all for today. You may leave now." Galennus Asa nods at Gilbert, who immediately takes off in a shot. I notice that the physician has said 'you', definitely not in the plural sense, so I stay put. I'm not planning to leave so soon anyway. Turning sharply towards Leigh, who is munching on what looks to be a smuggled loaf of bread, he says, "Leigh, go get me the catalogue of herbs we currently have in stock."

A chunk of rye bread nearly rolls out of Leigh's mouth. His eyes bulge out like a surprised fish's. "But sir, yeh just reddit this morning, yeh did!" he protests as soon as he chokes down the bread.

"Leigh, for once will you just do what you're told without questioning my orders?" growls the physician. I watch this exchange warily; my intentions are no longer my own. Galennus Asa wants to corner someone alone.

Me.

The boy stows away the last bits of his stolen meal in a cloth and stuffs it down a cubby hole, grumbling 'tryin' to slave me till the end of me days' as he stalks out of the workroom. Galennus Asa closes the door behind him, before turning towards me with an unreadable gaze. As evenly as I can, I say, "You wish to speak to me alone, Galennus Asa?"

"That is the case, Squire Rutherland." He drags a stool from his worktable, setting it dangerously close to the bed, right next to me. If he intends to make me squirm, he has failed miserably; I will my expression to be neutral, as though it's set in stone. "I have to know, Squire Rutherland, have you been experiencing...strange sensations of late?"

"What do you mean?"

"Ah, you want the specifics. Have you been experiencing an odd presence of foreboding pressing upon you? Like cold, yet not quite like it. More of a—how do I put it?—slick, slippery feeling."