Page 79 of Earthbound

‘We have to sacrifice them.’ Furi spoke through the pain–which Yeeran thought right now was brought on by the suggestion she was making. ‘Or we leave ourselves vulnerable to more attacks.’

‘Two days,’ Rayan said. ‘We have to give them two days.’

‘I agree, Furi, the obeah need time,’ Yeeran said.

Furi seemed too weak to nod.

The rest of the day moved unbearably slowly. Jay administered several tinctures to try and ease Furi’s symptoms, but nothing seemed to stop the progression. Both her legs had started to cramp and seize, and painkillers were the only thing that helped her cope.

‘Fifty people bearing signs of the illness have come forward so far, most in the faeguard,’ Anyah reported. She wasn’t allowed in the king’s chambers just in case Furi had passed it to the others, so she spoke from the doorway. ‘Golan is overseeing the weavers to distribute gloves to everyone in the city.’

‘Good,’ Rayan said. ‘Jay has made a list of recommended meals for the sick. Please take it to the kitchens and have them deliver to the quarantined district.’

Anyah disappeared to delegate the task.

‘Are you safe?’ Furi asked. Her gaze was bleary and she was using fewer words than usual.

Yeeran understood what she meant. ‘None of us have the markings that signify disease. Do not worry about us.’

But Yeeran saw that she did worry and like her she wondered if Furi was recalling their last kiss. Had the disease been infectious enough at that time to pass on?

Probably.

But Yeeran felt fine. So too did Rayan and Jay, but neither could recall touching Furi. Either way, they’d all know by the end of the day.

Anyah returned. ‘I’ve just been informed the quarantine is in place, we’ve begun moving the sick. My queen, would you like a stretcher?’

‘No.’ Furi, ever proud, rose from her chair. ‘I’ll walk.’

She refused to let Amnan near her, though the obeah trailed sadly in her wake. The walk took double the length of time it should have done.

‘Any word from your friends? Does the flower exist here?’ Yeeran asked Jay quietly. Though Furi was up ahead, she didn’t want her voice to carry.

Jay shook their head. ‘No, no one’s seen it before.’

‘I will talk to Sahar,’ Rayan said. ‘He may know of it.’

Sahar had owned an apothecary; at the very least his old supplies might help.

‘Good idea,’ Yeeran said. ‘We cannot give up hope.’

They passed a burning pit that smelled of sizzling meat and hair. It was one of many they’d seen on their route. The message had been received: all rats were not to be touched without gloves, but killed and burned on sight.

‘We’re here,’ Jay said. A group of healers Jay had called upon stood on the outside of a newly erected fence. They all wore brightly patterned gloves made from old dresses Golan had procured.

The patterned silk was an odd sight against the dozens of sick being assessed. It made everything feel even more surreal.

‘There are more healers than sick people,’ Rayan said with hope in his voice.

‘Yes, this is everyone who has come forward since this morning,’ Anyah said.

Yeeran was more realistic. There’s no way this is all the infected people.

‘They’re hiding in their houses,’ Furi said. She was leaning on the wooden fence, sweat pouring down her pallid face. ‘We need to tell them the queen is here.’

‘Is that wise?’ Rayan asked.

‘Let it be known that I will ride this storm with them, and when the cure is procured, it will be offered here and only here. Send the faeguard with this message. We cannot miss one person or all of this will be for nothing.’