Destroyers and the Dragons

Page 52

     "These are actually good once you get past the wiggling," I say spearing another one.

     "I told you that you'd like them if you tried them," Evergreen says grinning. I eat a lot of food and then look over to find Rose studying me.

     "What?" I ask her as she continues to watch me.

     "Nothing," she says smiling at me mysteriously. Dinner is finished and the tables are cleared and people begin dancing. I yawned and watched all the excitement around me and turned to find Evergreen watching me.

     "What is it?" I asked. In reply he leaned over and kissed me where every could see. Many cheers were heard and I blushed as Evergreen laughed. Pine and Rose left to dance. I watched them for a while until I could no longer contain my yawns.

     "I need sleep," I muttered against Evergreens shoulder where I was snuggled. He lifted me up and carried me up to his room.

     "Shouldn't I sleep in my own bed," I mumbled.

     "Soon enough this will be your bed, especially if everything is going as I planned."

     "Is it going as you planned?" I mumbled prying one eye open.

     "It is a little too early to tell yet," he replied cryptically. He began peeling off my clothes.

     "I'm too tired," I protested as he began to kiss me. As it turned out I wasn't as tired as I'd first thought. I woke the next morning, shoved Evergreens arm off of me and barely made it to the privy again before the contents of my stomach made a second appearance.

     "Are you well?" Evergreen mumbled getting out of bed.

    "Maybe it's something I'm eating," I muttered ignoring him for a moment.

     "Are you well?" he repeated in concern.

     "I think someone may be trying to poison me," I said as he helped me to my feet.

     "What is going on," he demanded in alarm.

     "I woke ill yesterday but eventually it left me. I ate well at the evening meal, but this morning I am ill again," I said as I washed my face. I then washed my neck and began to look for my clothes before giving up and collapsing back on the bed as I became dizzy. Evergreen came over and checked me for fever before covering me up and laying beside me on the bed.

     "I will get Rose and let Pine know what you suspect," he said rising to leave. Soon Rose appeared and smiled at me as I pulled the covers up more and tried not to cry in frustration.

     "I am told you are not well," she said.

     "Yeah, I think I might have been poisoned last night," I said.

     "And what brings you to this conclusion?" Rose asked patiently.

     "I was sick yesterday morning, better in the evening and sick again this morning." A knock at the door interrupted whatever Rose was about to say. She got up and answered the door. Pine and an older woman entered the room while I squirmed under the covers. Pine, the woman, and Rose all conversed quietly for a moment before Pine stepped back out of the room. The woman and Rose approached the bed cautiously as I sat up clutching the blankets to my chest.