"There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you."
― Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
"I expected all of the Whitewood siblings to burn". The king said pacing around the room. Elric Wolf was sitting them nervous about The king's nervous pacing he sighed and looked at the mysterious person that was sitting in front of him. Mysterious because he was quite tall and had a covering on his face. He wore all black like he was in mourning which made Elric even more nervous, more uncomfortable than anything.
"Yes". The mysterious man said his voice deep. "I was also hoping the Whitewood siblings to perish:. Elric cleared his throat and readjusted himself in his seat. "I thought Thomas Whitewood was your dear friend my liege". Elric asked. "Yes and his daughter has a ruby mind that can make his family and the Longwood family grow even more powerful". The king said. "I do not need Eddison Whitewood nor Canary Whitewood being friends with Duke Abarca and the crown prince". "A friendship like that threatens my power". The king growled.
"I heard the Canary girl is quite injured and sick". The king said, looking at the veiled man. "Yes she is but Lumis Longwood keeps a very close eye on her and only her close handmaiden is allowed in the room when no one else is there". The veiled man said. "And the doctor is there anyway to change him"? The king said. The veiled man shook his head. "They shipped that doctor overseas from Lyikar". The veiled man said. "Lumis Longwood will not accept any other doctor than that one even if the doctor is from the king. The doctor seems to be a special one". The veiled man said.
"And how does a nobody and strange man like you know this". Elric asked. "Who are you"? The veiled man chuckled. "I have my ways and these ways aren't to be told to anyone but the king". He answered. "I have you know-"! "Viscount Wolf". The king glared. "Constrain yourself, I need remind you I the king am standing right here". He said. "My apologies, my liege". Elric said, calming down. "Contiue to keep a watch on them". The king said. "If anything should change you shall take action without asking me". The veiled man bowed along with Elric and left the king's office.
On the way out of the office Thomas was on his way into the office. He gave a side eye to both Elric and the veiled man. He wanted to ponder on the uneasiness in his heart and mind but it faded away when he came into the office. He placed down a bunch of papers on the kings desk with a sigh and the king took notice to this sigh. It wasn't a sigh of tiredness but of relief which raised a worry in the kings mind that he would no longer be able to distract Thomas from the fact he was trying to harm his family. And he was correct. "Four dead nobles and the rest of the nobles and some commoners were found". Thomas said. "Four dead nobles and no dead commoners"? The king chuckled. "How…great". He said looking at the papers. "And the cause for the fire"? He said looking up at Thomas". "Yes it started from the Reinwell estate and due to the windy conditions that day it spread to the other estates". Thomas answered again. "How did the fire start at the Reinwell estate"? The king asked. "It seems they were lighting lanterns". Thomas said very bitterly. The king nodded, showing a very sorrowful expression but in his mind he was happy that the backup plan of blaming it on the Reinwell family had been successful. "And of your daughter"?
"She wakes up this week the doctor will be pulling her off the sleep medicine and milk of the poppy". Thomas said. The king nodded but in his mind he was full of trouble. The window for him to make his move was now closing. "I shall be taking a leave of absence Decimis". Thomas said. Only in rare occasion did Thomas ever call the king by his name and it was in these moments that the king knew that Thomas was being serious about this matter. So the king nodded and Thomas left the king in silence and anxiety.
Meanwhile in the Longwood estate everyone was gathered except for Amara and Alexia. The doctor had came and changed Canary's dressing while Thaddeus who sat watch over her watched and in between read his book. It was a quiet sunny day after a long week of on and off raining and dark skies. "We shall open the windows and open Canary's curtains". The doctor said,
"The burns are healing nicely on her arms". The doctor said while Thaddeus watched over her. The burns had affected Canary's right side of her neck, the back of her neck, the entire of her back, and down the right side of her leg. Canary had been wrapped in bandages that were somewhat damp with medicines to heal her burn. The medicines had a cooling and healing effect on her burns. She could only be covered with a light silk sheet. Nothing too heavy that would irritate her burns. And for weeks that's what she would be clothed in.
"She can wear a light nightgown from now on". Thaddeus asked as he watched the maids put a nightgown on her that was almost see through for how light the fabric was. "Yes". The doctor said, "I'm afraid I haven't been able to introduce myself". The doctor said, "My name is Wynn Resinar". Wynn held out his hand for Thaddeus to shake it. And Thaddeus shook his hand with a gentle smile which surprised him. "I look like Canary don't I"? Thaddeus said with a chuckle. "Very much so especially with the smile". Wynn said. "I have you known Canary for a while"? Thaddeus asked. "Yes we uh-". Wynn looked at Canary and placed the light sheet back over her after the maids were down dressing here. "We grew up together". Wynn said. "Her grandparents funded my education to become a doctor and she and lord Longwood continued to fund it after the late Longwoods died".
"Feed her a light bit of porridge". Wynn said to a maid. "A new maid"? Thaddeus said looking at the unfamiliar maid. "Uh yes" Genna said looking at the new maid. "I don't think I've gotten your name". Genna said.
"I am Zaqaria". The maid said. Now the maid was different than the others. She didn't look like she was from Grania nor from Lyikar with Wynn. Thaddeus noted this and kept peeking at her over and over. Watching her every move as she fed Canary the porridge and when she was down she draped Canary's lips with a handkerchief. She looked like she was well pleased so Thaddeus was no longer suspicious of her and continued to read his book.
The day grew on until Eddison,and the others came in to visit Canary. Each seeing if she was awake to which Thaddeus shook her head. "Wynn said he will wean her off of the medicine tomorrow". They nodded and began to help the maids clean up the room to which they were uncomfortable with."Can we open the door to let the medicine smell out"? Tearina asked. Wynn hesitated for a minute and when staring at Canary he shook his head no.
Tearina shrugged sadly almost a whimper and went by Canary's side and just stared at her. A million thoughts were flowing through her mind, staring at Canary excitedly and waiting for when she would awake the next day. Her distraction was then taken away by Thaddeus who had been taken away from his book and was staring at Canary.
She couldn't tell what his expression meant, only that it seemed he adored her, which was sort of strange to Tearina because she didn't know that Thaddeus had met Canary anytime before this. "I helped named Canary". Thaddeus said, marking Tearina's stare. "Same with Eddison although I was around longer with Eddison than I was with Canary". "Ah I didn't mean-". Tearina stammered.
"It is fine". Thaddeus said smiling and Tearina was eased by his smile for it reminded her of Canary making her more comfortable to ask more questions. "Do you have any children yourself"? She asked. Thaddeus nodded. "I have three. My first born was born when Eddison's mother was giving birth to your second born". Thaddeus answered. "Though she is no longer with me". Thaddeus said.
"Oh I am sorry for your lost". Tearina said. Thaddeus chuckled and murmured something under his breath that Tearina couldn't quite make out but she also did not want to pry any more for it seemed that Thaddeus didn't want to talk anymore for she had heard some fo the rumors that happened that night of Alexia's birth of Canary and the birth of Thaddeus's first born. Quite the scandal and to bring it up would be of the upmost offense.
So she didn't say anymore and was soon called over by Shimon to look at some collection on her wall.
Thaddeus smiled at the bustling group and stared at Canary who had a frown on her face. "Wynn". Thaddeus called thinking the medicine had worn off from Canary. He touched her head hoping to soothe her with rub of the head but instead he was met damp hair.
"Did the maids not dry your hair". He frowned and touched her hair again. But he soon began to realize that her hair was not wet from the maids washing her hair but wet from sweat. He touched her head and immense heat rose from her skin. He drew back his had from her forehead and began to touch her cheek, then her neck, and her arms all over. She was hot. "Wynn, is she supposed to be this warm? I thought you said the medicine had a cooling effect". Thaddeus said, panicking. He was now out of the chair book on the floor and everyone was looking at his frantically rocking the sheets from off of canary.
"What is going on"?! Wynn said running to them. "She running a fever"! Thaddeus shouted. "Impossible"! Wynn yelled checking her temperature. "Impossible how"! Thaddeus yelled back at him. "Along with the injuries pain causes fever the medicine I gave her will reduce her fever it's why her body has been so cool". Wynn said.
"Is it a infection"? Thaddeus asked. "What's going on"? Eddison said drawing closer. "Eddison, stay back for now". Thaddeus said. "Go call for your father". Eddison nodded and ran out the room with Shimon right behind him. While Thaddeus and Wynn were frantically trying to figure out what was going on with Canary.
Then for some odd reason as if his eyes were drawn to it he placed his eyes on a bowl of porridge that was left on the side table. Sounds began to go off in his ears and he remembered Zaqaria's pleased look. He slowly reached over to the bowl and took it to his lips. "Ginger". He muttered. That pleased look was not of someone being happy that their patient was finally eating but a pleased look that their plan had been successful.
"Ginger is a herb that's powerful for it warming the body". Thaddeus said, looking at Wynn. "Where's the maid that feed this to her"? Wynn asked, his eye frantic and full of worry. The maids around the room even Genna did not know where Zaqaria had went. It was like she disappeared into thin air. "No one saw her leave the room"! Thaddeus yelled.
"How would she know how to do that"? Wynn said muttering as he wet towels and put them on Canary. "What does this mean for Canary"? Tearina asked. "This means she's going to wake up". Wynn answered. "How would ginger wake her up"? Tearina asked.
"It wasn't just ginger in that porridge"! Wynn yelled. "Whatever other herbs they added in that porridge it's counteracted my medicine". Wynn said. "Isn't there anything more you can give her"? Thaddeus asked. "I created a plan for her treatment and brought enough herbs,medicines to assure she will heal properly". "The quack of a doctor made her rely on milk of poppy I cannot give her more of that".
"What can you do"? Thaddeus asked. Wynn stared at Canary and then over at his medical supplies. "I will drag out the times I give her the medicine but in between those times she will be in pain". Wynn said. "I will tell lord Longwood that he won't get to see her this week in the meanwhile we must find that maid". Wynn said