Chapter 21

The knock at my front door sounded before I was even aware that Merrick had snapped his fingers.

I was back in my kitchen in Alletois, and though everything seemed in order, laid out exactly as I had left it, I could feel the time that had passed. The air was too still, unstirred by thethousands of daily gestures and movements that were meant to fill the space, imbuing it with life.

It smelled funny too.

Not because Kieron's shell was still there—it was the first thing I checked, craning my neck around the corner with pained apprehension. I wondered how he'd been found, what his parents had thought when they'd discovered him laid out on my worktable, scalp shaved, skull drilled into. If they hadn't thought me a witch before, they certainly did now. How they must have cursed my name, ruing the day he ever came across me. It was a marvel the house had been allowed to remain at all. Surely someone tried to burn it to the ground.

The pounding came again, an impatient rapping that jarred me from my miserable musing.

"Open in the name of the king!" a voice bellowed.

Cosmos raced to the door, seemingly unperturbed by our abrupt change of location.

"Merrick?" I called, hoping my godfather had lingered.

The house remained still, my call unanswered.

With a sigh, I went to the front door and swung it open before the visitor could resume his shouting.

In the yard were four mounted riders clad in the black-and-gold livery of the king. Their black stallions danced nervously as Cosmos raced out to greet them, barking joyously.

The man at my door appeared to be the squadron's captain. Older than the other guards and boasting an impressive set of thick and unfashionable muttonchops, he towered over me. Rows of dazzling medallions were affixed to the left of his chest, blinding me with their brilliance.

"Are you the healer woman?"

I paused, wondering what would happen if I denied it.

"We were told this was the cottage of Alletois's healer." He glanced behind me, undoubtedly noting the signs of two years' worth of neglect. "It wasn't clear if anyone still lived here," he continued, sounding uncertain.

"I've been away for a bit," I admitted.

"So you are the healer," he challenged.

I longed to shut the door in his face. "I am."

"They say you perform miracles."

"Occasionally." I expected the men to smile, and when they did not, I shrugged helplessly. "I'm only a healer. Nothing more, nothing less."

"You're to come with us." The captain set his lips into a firmline.

I bristled at his presumption. "Am I? Is someone ill? Injured?"

"It doesn't matter. We'll have to set off within the hour if we're to return to Chatellerault by sunset."

My mouth fell open. "I'm sorry?" I said, on the verge of a laugh. "I'm not going to leave with you just because you say I need to. I don't know who you are, what you're asking."

The captain looked down at his uniform as though it should be obvious.

"You're clearly from the palace," I went on, and a flicker of irritation kindled against my sternum, the way it always did when I thought of the palace and the callous, horrible boy who lived within it. "Am I to presume someone there needs my help?"

The captain chewed on the inside of his cheek, as if reluctant to part with that information. "Well…yes."

I waited for him to divulge anything further. When he didn't, I did laugh, struck by his audaciousness. "I need to know more than that. Who is it? What's wrong with them? There are things I'll need to bring…balm, tonics, surgical equipment if necessary…. I can't pack up my supplies with nothing to go on."

The captain shifted from foot to foot. "You'll find everything you need at the palace."

"What I need is more information. Right now, otherwise I must bid you good day."

I knew I was being surly, taking out the anger I felt at my memories of the prince on this hapless captain, but I couldn't find it within me to care.

The captain let out a sigh, glancing toward his men. "May we…may we speak privately?"

I gestured to the side yard, where a low stone bench was situated beneath an arching mirabelle tree just on the cusp of blossoming. The captain stepped toward the bench but did not sit.

"You're a healer," he said without preamble. "I assume you have ears everywhere on such…sensitive matters."

"Sensitive matters," I repeated blankly, feeling every one of the days I'd been away in the Between with painful acuity. The royal family could have all sprouted horns and tails in my absence and I would be none the wiser.

He sniffed irritably. "What have you heard?"

I couldn't even guess at what I was meant to know. "About?"

"Don't be insolent with me, girl," he warned.

"I assure you, I know nothing. Truly."

The captain's eyes roamed over my house once more as he weighed the truth of my admittance. Now that I was outside, I could see that the roof was in desperate need of new thatching and a few windowpanes had cracked.

The captain took a step toward me, lowering his voice to a near whisper. "The healers at court have tried everything. Nothing has worked. They've sent for priests, holy men, oracles, and seers. They've all failed." His wiry eyebrows furrowed. "One of the oracles mentioned a healer, far away in the town of Alletois and blessed by the Dreaded End himself. A girl. You. She said you were the only one in the kingdom with a hope of fixing this."

"This?" I repeated, wishing he would just speak plainly. "Who? I don't understand what you're dancing around."

"It's…" He sighed. "It's the king."

My eyebrows rose. "He's sick?"

"Apparently," the captain answered unhelpfully.

"And what is he suffering from?"

"I don't know," he answered, his eyes darting cagily back toward his men.

"They sent you here. You must know something."

The captain squirmed, looking miserable. "Even so far out in the farmlands as you are, you must have heard of the great sickness from the north? The one causing so many in the capitol to…" He stopped short and I eyed all his badges and medals, skeptically wondering how so decorated an officer could be squeamish talking of death. "The Shivers?" he went on, then waited for me to confirm I had. I remained still. "They…they think it might be that."

"Tell me more about it?"

He sighed but began to fill me in, claiming the sickness felled nearly anyone who came into contact with it, saying whole villages were fine one day and dead the next. He made a sign of protection over himself.

"And there's no treatment for this yet?" I asked, already knowing the answer. This oracle, whoever she was, must have seen me because I was the only one who would be able to discern its cure. In the back of my mind, I was already putting together a list of what I'd need to pack.

The captain's dark eyes turned grim and he wordlessly shook his head.

"I'll ready my bags."