A Spoiled Rule

Chapter 26

When they arrived in Dínam, Liam began to have second thoughts. The water had left him cold and shivering-more than usual. He realized he'd never traveled to Dínam when it was dark. The place was lit with blue, green and red coral lights. Some were strung on ropes of seaweed, others were placed in the niche of the rock wall that was hollowed out for the houses. The dining pavilion was empty. The only people that were lingering about were people in dark clothes and hoods to cover their faces. Liam realized that even here, at a refugee camp, it could be dangerous. He suddenly regretted coming at night in such a rush.
At the top of the spiraling stairs, Coulím's room emanated a soft golden glow. Liam and Harvey made their way slowly toward the room. As they climbed the stairs, Liam's own exhaustion became apparent. The last few days had been filled with construction, scavenging, and being constantly on alert. It had worn his senses, and he was tired. He wished he had a place in Dínam where he could sleep. But kings shouldn't be so hopeful when they were on diplomatic trips. He forced himself to remain vigilant, as a king would. He scanned his surroundings every minute, wary of anything odd that could come through the perimeter of water and enter Dínam. Liam knew there were checkpoint leaders; people who were in the water, ready to protect the place. Surely nothing would get past them.
At the top of the stairs, the door was closed. Liam knocked softly, and a moment later, Gína appeared. She jumped at Liam's appearance. "Liam!" she exclaimed. "You are here! Oh no, please tell me that nothing is wrong."
Liam suddenly felt foolish. He awkwardly cleared his throat. "Nothing is wrong," he assured. "There have been inventions surfacing from the sea, and I wanted to ensure that this place was still safe. But I realize now that I have come at a bad time. I can come back in the morning."
"Oh, you actually came at a right time," said Gína softly. "If you are being threatened on land, it is only a matter of time before we are threatened. And Coulím could benefit from a visit."
"Is he awake?" Liam asked.
Gína shook her head. "He is... He is delirious. It's an effect of the medication."
Liam pursed his lips together. "Yes, I know."
Gína's eyes widened. "You have experienced the medication?"
Liam nodded stiffly. He took a deep breath. "I have an unfortunate family history of weak immune systems and harsh sicknesses."
"Oh," said Gína quietly. "If Stephen is your personal doctor, perhaps I could gather what he knows, and we could work together to help you in the future."
It was then that Liam realized he should have brought Stephen along. But Theo needed to be taken care of, which meant Stephen was best staying behind. He shook himself from his thoughts. "Gína, I don't believe you've met the best captain of Harksgold, Harvey."
Harvey tilted his soaked hat. "Nice to meet you, ma'am."
Gína inclined her head. "I believe Coulím spoke briefly of a certain captain and his crew before."
Harvey beamed.
Gína continued, "Coulím should be coming off of the first dose of the medication, so he may wake soon. But it is not likely. The medication puts one in a very heavy sleep."
Liam nodded. "May I see him now?"
Gína clasped her hands together. "Of course. I have to check on him, anyways." They walked toward the door. "How is Stephen? I mean, how are his hands?"
Liam would be ashamed if he said he didn't know, so he decided to say, "They are healing."
"Good," said Gína. She hesitated at Coulím's door, then pushed it open. The golden lights had been dimmed, and Coulím lie on his bed. He was buried under a heavy blanket, and a rag sat on his head to cool a fever.
Liam took a seat while Gína checked on Coulím. Harvey took off his hat and stood politely at the door.
Gína's movements were gentle and soft, and especially careful. She checked his temperature, then gathered his pulse. She then examined the fingers on the arm of which he'd been bitten. His fingers were gray. She grabbed a small box from the table next to Liam and pulled from it a syringe. She filled it with a liquid tinted pink. "It is to give him strength," she said quietly to Liam. She administered the drug, then sat down next to Liam.
Coulím muttered indecipherably. Gína stood and gently lifted Coulím's eyelid, then sat back down. "He is delirious," she said quietly. "Not really awake."
"You are a good doctor," observed Liam.
Gína blushed.
Liam leaned forward and laid a hand on Coulím's arm. He closed his eyes and thought of the last time he'd seen Coulím awake. They were at a bar, having just defeated Mettiam. It must have been the blade that Coulím had used to kill Mettiam-that cursed blade. It was destined for death and bad fortune.
Coulím muttered again, and Liam opened his eyes. Coulím was pale, and more thin. His hair was not tidy like a king's. He looked like a helpless young man, just barely out of his teens.
"Gína," said Liam quietly, "Did Coulím have any weapons on him when he was brought here?"
Gína frowned. "Well... Yes, but... why do you ask?"
"There is a blaze that Coulím used to kill Mettiam," said Liam. "It is a vengeful blade. Although it is his, I don't feel it should be near him."
Gína hesitated. After a moment of silence, she said, "Do you believe in superstition?"
Liam raised his eyebrows. He'd never thought of himself to be a superstitious man, but perhaps the apocalypse was changing him. "I am open to anything."
"I'm superstitious," said Harvey. "Spirits in the water."
Gína smiled. "I believe in it. As a doctor, you have to. There are simply some things that cannot be explained. Does Stephen believe in this?"
Liam pondered this. He recalled Stephen asking about an herb that would enhance abilities in Dínam. "I suppose he does."
Gína stood and walked over to a dresser on the other side of the room. She pulled open a drawer and pulled out a knife concealed in a sheath. "He had this. If you believe it to be evil, then so do I. But we shouldn't destroy it without Coulím's permission. What do you propose we should do?"
"Give it to a checkpoint leader," said Liam. "Have them bury it outside this place, beyond the boundaries. But mark where it is so we will not lose sight of it."
Gína nodded and left the room.
Liam listened to Coulím's breaths. He felt himself sinking deeper into the chair. The dim lights were soft against his eyes. For the moment, he didn't need to worry of the construction of the ship or where his next meal would come from. Coulím was still alive, and that brought even more assurance that he would make it through this difficult time. Soon, Liam's head began to nod. At first, he fought it, but he realized there was no point in fighting sleep. No consequences would fall upon him. He gave in and drifted into a welcomed sleep.
His sleep was typical for a king.
He was awoken by pounding against a door. In a sleepy haze, he saw Harvey, who had been sitting asleep against the door, scurry away from it and clutch his hat. Liam blinked and realized that Gína was not in the room. Coulím lie asleep on the bed.
His thoughts raced. It was probably Gína. He had no reason to worry. Yet, he found himself feeling for the knife concealed beneath his clothes. He exchanged a cautious gaze with Harvey.
The knock sounded again. It was brisk and loud, uncharacteristic of Gína. Liam stood, keeping a hand on the handle of his knife. He gestured for Harvey to stay back. Liam readied himself, then opened the door.
On the other side stood a man and a woman, one tall and one short. They both wore dark hoodies that were patched with seaweed.
Liam had seen such people everywhere in Chroal. They were those who had fallen on hard times, but not all were crooked. Here, in the refugee camp, Liam couldn't imagine how anyone would fall on worse times. Coulím would have made sure they were taken care of; Liam was sure of it. There was a strong community in the camp, full of people who wanted their home back. That should've made them united.
The man craned his neck to see around Liam. His eyes widened, and he pointed over Liam's shoulder. "See? I told you he was dead!"
The woman frowned, standing on her toes. "He's not dead, he's asleep!"
"A sleeping corpse," said the man. His eyes scanned Liam, and the man pulled his hood farther over his face. "It's our time now."
Liam thought back to Theo. Not all the kids who'd suffered under the tyranny of Mettiam grew up to be kind. "Who are you both?" asked Liam. "Where is Gína?" He couldn't spot her at her desk.
"That creepy lady?" The girl scoffed. "She's probably been sleeping with the body." She turned to the man beside her. "Let's go tell the others."
"Wait," said Liam. "He isn't dead, he's just asleep."
The woman narrowed her eyes and folded her arms. "Then wake him."
Liam straightened his spine. "You and I know that he needs to rest. He's sick."
The man pointed at Liam. "Ex to why he isn't fit to rule. It's my turn."
The woman slapped his arm. "You couldn't rule even if you were royalty."
Harvey decided to speak. "'Scuse me, but are you royalty? Have you grown up under royalty? Are you versed in diplomatic matters, or relationships, or-"
"Who are you, you old bat?" said the man.
Harvey gasped and clutched his hat. "Why, ya-"
"I understand the situation," said Liam, holding up his hands. "You want to see someone else in Coulím's place. Coulím is sick. He's not in the right state to protect you from Mettiam's inventions."
"We don't need protection," said the man grudgingly.
"Coulím made a deal with the king of Harksgold," said Liam. "That he shall protect Dínam if anything should happen to him."
They hesitated. The woman's eyes scanned Liam. "You don't look like a king."
"Neither does Coulím," said Liam. "I know you both are wise enough to deduce that I am truly the king of Harksgold. You don't need the captain standing beside me-which clearly indicates I'm not from here-to tell you that. If you get any ideas of, say, a revolution, uprising, mutiny, I'd have no choice but to put you in your place for the sake of the other good people living here."
"That's right," said Harvey.
The man scrunched his face. The woman shifted her weight uncomfortably. "You can't do anything," said the woman. "What would you do, lock us up? You'd be no better than Mettiam himself!"
"You know that ain't true," said Harvey.
Liam refrained from pushing his point further. The two turned away from him and skulked out of the room. As soon as they were gone, Liam shut the entrance door and made sure it was locked.
"Looks like people are gettin' restless," said Harvey quietly.
Liam ran a weary hand down his face, then straightened his spine. He would only allow himself one break, where he could show his fatigue. "Thank you for defending me, Harvey, though I am sure I would have been okay without it."
Harvey didn't seem to know what to say. He took off his hat and began picking at the ends.
Liam entered Coulím's room and sat down, though he didn't feel nearly as tired. "How long was I asleep?" he asked softly.
Harvey shrugged. "It's hard to tell, but I'd say only an hour. I only just started to fall asleep."
"Will you be ready to leave here in the morning?" asked Liam. "I hate to leave knowing how impatient people are getting here, but... but we must."
Harvey nodded. "I will be ready."
Suddenly, Coulím jerked in bed. His wrists dug against the restraints, and his eyes fluttered. Both Liam and Harvey stood straight and neared the bed. Liam laid his hand on Coulím's arm, which was tense. He didn't know whether he should try and talk to Coulím or run and find Gína.
Harvey seemed to wonder the same thing. "Should I get the doctor?"
Liam nodded, and Harvey hurried out of the room. Liam fixed his gaze on Coulím. The poor man was twisting in his bed.
"Help," muttered Coulím.
Liam's stomach dropped. His hand felt clammy on Coulím's arm. "Coulím," he said, "It's Liam. I'm here with you."
Coulím's eyelids flew open. He suddenly became very still. His gaze remained fixed on the air in front of his own face.
Liam's heart pounded in his chest. He wondered what Coulím was seeing. It was probably very bad. "Coulím," Liam said, unable to hide the tremor in his voice.
Coulím remained still. His chest wasn't even rising. Liam began to panic. Maybe he couldn't breathe. Liam removed his hand from his arm.
Coulím took a large breath, and his eyelids fluttered shut. Liam watched as his breaths returned into a rhythmic sleep.
Liam sat down next to the bed, but it was hard to keep his worry from showing. His leg began to drum. The possibility of running two kingdoms was becoming very apparent to him. He had promised Coulím he could do it, but he wasn't sure. Respect had never been easy for him to earn. Coulím, on the other hand, had enough respect when he was awake. With every minute that he lie on the bed, his respect was dwindling, and it broke Liam's heart to watch it happen.
The door opened, and Gína walked in. She kept her head low, and her hands clasped in front of her. "I-I'm so sorry," she said quietly, shaking her head. "I went to get some more supplies, and I... I guess I forgot to lock the door. I didn't think anyone would come up here."
"It's okay," said Liam calmly. He forced his leg to stop shaking. "Harvey and I were here." He stood from the chair. "Coulím opened his eyes. I feel he was hallucinating, but he said... he said 'help.'"
"Did he look at you?" Gína peered over Coulím and adjusted the rag on his head.
"No," said Liam. "But he certainly saw something."
Gína didn't respond. She was busy checking Coulím's vitals.
Liam glanced behind him and spotted Harvey leaning against the doorway, his head beginning to nod. Liam took a breath. "Gína, is there a place where we could get some sleep?"
Gína gazed at him as if he just announced he was Mettiam himself. "I'm so sorry. Please forgive me, my mind is scattered. There is another room here for patients. It's empty, allow me to take you." She hurried out of the room. Liam followed and nudged Harvey, who broke out of his stupor and followed. There was another door across the room. This one didn't have an elaborate door or curtains, but inside, the room was nice enough. It was big enough to hold twenty beds, each with a couple of pillows and blankets. There were privacy curtains and four bathrooms. There was a golden lamp beside each bed.
"The beds are lined with seaweed," said Gína. "They should give you rest."
"Thank you," said Liam. He turned to face her. "We plan on leaving for Dínam in the morning. I'm going to stop Oliver before he reaches this place."