Chapter 19

I told my mother my plan and the gem that queen Aster gave me. All she did was sigh and nod to me in agreement and walk back into the room where my father was and I followed. The guards shut the door behind us and I saw a healer over my father’s head. Tobias was sitting on the couch. I couldn’t see Rose, Tiberius was next to our dad, holding his hand and running his upper arm. It looked like he was sleeping. The healer walked over to my mother and I and asked us to sit so she could speak with everyone. We all sat on the couch.

“Now that everyone is here, I wanted to explain what we know to all of you. Something is causing the king to sleep. No one can wake him up, but if he doesn’t wake up soon to eat or drink anything he will slip into a malnutrition state and start becoming more and more sick. We can’t figure out what is causing it, but we are working on it. My hope is to confer with more healers and get their knowledge on such matters and see if they’ve had experience with this. The bottom line is that we don’t know what’s causing this. And we don’t know how to fix it. At least not yet. You are all welcome to visit as you would like but I will be having healers coming in and out to observe and try to figure this out.”

The healer stood up straight and looked at the queen with a worried look. I looked at my mother and her face was stoic. “So you have no idea what’s causing this, or how to wake him up?” Tiberius asked. We were all thinking the same thing. The healer sighed and looked at my brother, “That is correct.” Was all she said. There was a collective sigh and a knock at the door and the guards opened it to two tall men, the healer walked over to them and greeted them then thanked them for coming and explained everything she just told us to them.

While the healers started fussing over the king I decided to go to the training ground and get some frustration out. As I was walking I was going through everything the healer told us about my dad, I was so lost in my thoughts trying to figure it out that I ran into something and fell on my butt. “I’m so sorry I didn’t see you there my dear!” The voice was familiar. I looked up to see Garret. I felt my frustration start melting away when I grabbed his outstretched hand and he pulled me in for a hug. I hugged him back tightly and relaxed in his arms. “Hey, you okay?” Garret asked while he was holding me. I pulled back and shook my head. “No, my father won’t wake up and if he doesn’t wake up soon his body and health will start declining.” I said in a rush. I didn’t expect this to start hitting me emotionally. Garret wiped a tear from my eye. “Why don’t we go to the garden and talk?” He asked me. I nodded. I didn’t think I’d find comfort talking to someone about what was going on let alone something as personal as my father and my feelings.

Garret had his arm around me as we walked to the garden. It was oddly comforting to lean into him. When we got to the garden we found my favorite fountain and sat on the edge. “Now,” he said and continued “What has been said to my amazing woman to warrant these emotions?” He finished and I leaned back into him and started to tell him everything that’s happened and what’s going on with my dad and the rest of my family.

Tobias’s POV

I expected my sister in law to suspect me for what happened to my brother. However I did not expect Immyria to take my side and settle her down. That was quite unexpected. Perhaps she may yet be an ally for me. Someone to mold for my interest. After leaving my brothers room and the pathetic healers who couldn’t even figure out a poison, I made my way back to my room. Once in there I locked the door and looked around the room. I caught the smell of a lingering perfume. Just a whiff. I let out a small laugh, “You’re getting better darling, but if you really want to hide you have to stop wearing perfume.” I said out loud. “But that takes the fun out of our little visits Toby.” She cut my name short and drew it out. She appeared leaning against my bed post. Her blonde hair waist long, braided down so it was out of her face, silver eyes, and pale skin. She only came up to my shoulder height. “I told you to never call me Toby Silvia.” I walked over to her and looked down at her face. I noticed her seductive clothing. She had an hour glass form with a decently big bust. But too much skin was showing for a casual visit.

“We have a meeting to attend my little assassin” I told her and walked to my wardrobe door. When o got there I pushed clothing aside to reveal a black back panel, I motioned for her to come over. “Why can’t we have a little fun before the precious meeting?” She said as she seductively walked over to me, when she got to side I grabbed her wrists and threw her back against a door. I leaned down to her neck and teasingly bit it. She let out a moan and tried to hook a leg around me. “Uh-uh, my sweet. You get the rest after we finish the meeting. We are late as is.” She pouted but pulled a blade key out of her hair and stabbed the back panel to reveal a magic door. We walked through and headed down the stairs to our secret room.

Once we got to the bottom our guest put down his book and said “you’re late.” With a serious face. “Apologies, I had to keep up my facade with my family.” I said with an insulting voice. “And how is our dear king?” The guest asked. “Completely incapacitated.” I responded. “And the poison?” He asked after. Silvia answered this time, “They’ll never figure it out. It’s a plant I got from an entirely different world while being dipped in a venom of my own making.” She had a proud smile on her face. The guest smiled and said, “Very good. Once he passes we can finally put our plan into action. He will be the first sacrifice for your bloodline to be restored. Although if the queen becomes any more of an issue, we will have to remove her.” I smiled at the thought of finally being rid of her, “Consider it done.” Was all I said.

The guest nodded and turned to walk away disappearing into smoke as he did so. I turned to Silvia, “And as for you my dear,” I said while pushing her against a wall, “We have some unfinished business.” I finished. She giggled and turned so her face was to the wall. I walked over and tore her clothes off and did whatever I wanted for the night.