Reasons for Silence

Be Reasonable

Chapter Twenty-Two ~ Serefina

I was surprised at how assertive I became when it came to Kobe. All of the time that I had spent at the Palace I felt like I was walking on eggshells trying not to get arrested for doing anything stupid. But after Kobe arrived and I found out that he wasn't well again I came to the conclusion that if the Crown was going to do anything to me they would have done it already.

So I made sure that Kobe was given a room – a nice one. I insisted that I wanted to help with some of the care that Kobe needed but I realized that he was going to need a doctor, especially since he wouldn't tell me what was wrong with him. I approached the Prince about it.

"He needs a doctor," I said plainly the day after Kobe's room had been set up. The Prince was in a drawing room staring vacantly out of a large window. The sunlight hit his hair in a way that briefly made me forget why I was looking for him in the first place. I had to fight the impulse – yet again – to experimentally run my hands through it. There was a long pause before he answered.

"No," he said.

I was taken aback.

"No?" I questioned with more of an attitude than I would have ever dreamed to take with the Prince.

"No," he repeated simply, turning toward me. I felt my muscles tense, preparing for a fight.

"He needs a doctor," I stated anew.

"And I said that I wasn't going to give him one,"

I was shocked at his lack of compassion. From what I knew of him, Amador had always seemed like a reasonable person, the kind that cared for the welfare of others. I hardened myself to the idea that this might not be the case.

"I don't think you understand," I said taking a step toward him, "I have no idea what's wrong with him, and even if I did, I wouldn't know what to do. He needs someone who can help him. I don't know how long he can last on his own. He had a doctor on staff back at his manor."

"Why should I care?" he said lamely, leaning against the wall to look at me. When I saw his eyes I realized that he was beyond tired – he looked dead.

"Because he's sick,"

"Do you have a point?"

"A point?" I repeated, "I don't know what's going to happen to him without a doctor. It might kill him. You have to do something."

"I don't have to do anything!" he said suddenly raising his voice. I stumbled backwards a few steps at his outburst.

"So you are just going to let him rot?" I said bravely.

No answer. I took a deep breath in the hopes that it would help ground me. It did nothing of the sort.

"What has he ever done to you?" I questioned, knowing fully well what they would bring on.

And just like that Amador broke. He dropped to the floor where he had been standing as though he lost the strength to stand. He fell to his knees and braced himself with his palms out in front of him. I waited in mild terror for Amador to say something, for him to get up off the ground, for him to make a move to do something, anything. But he didn't. He remained perfectly still. I had nearly resolved to leave the room when Amador finally spoke.

"He took you from me, Serefina," he said, voice shaking in anger.

I took a sharp breath, one that I am certain he heard.

"Is that what this is about?"

"What else would it be about!"

Methodically I folded my arms across my chest.