“Philip’s guard,” he said. “He had me escape Asile before he was arrested.”
The kindness on her face before had turned into a scowl. “Why have you come to my haven? We have enough troubles to add more to our situation. My husband is on his deathbed. The council is pushing my people to remove Enitan as high wizard and appoint a new one. Half my Sentinels and guards have fallen ill with the disease. We haven’t the strength to aid you.”
“But I can help you,” I said and removed the pouch from around me. “I brought the cure. My nana is a Pure Witch. She gave me the recipe. Your curers can make enough to help your people.”
“How do I know it will work?” The look on her face said that she hoped it would. “It could be poison.”
Bastien took a few steps forward, his stare on her. “Because it was tested.”
“The council sent word that there wasn’t a cure.”
“They lied,” I said.
“Do you mean Conemar or the council?” she asked.
“I believe the two may very well be in agreement with each other,” Bastien said.
Akua uncrossed her arms. “That is my belief, as well. You have an ally in Veilig. Follow me.”
She brought us inside the castle. The rooms were decorated with silver and gold accents, cream-colored furniture, flowy, pale drapes, and colorful walls. She ushered us into one of the rooms facing the sea. Statues rested in every corner of the room. A huge fireplace made out of shells and pearls dominated one of the walls. Across from it was a wide bed that could fit six people in it. Tucked under the covers slept a large man with gray streaking his black hair, and skin the color of ash. He twitched and groaned.
It was like watching a gazelle cross the room as Akua went to the man. She leaned over and kissed his cheek. “My poor lion. He used to be fierce, but gentle. His people love him. He treated them with such kindness. It breaks my heart to see him like this.” And she kissed him again. “Enitan, my love, you will be well soon.”
Edgar fell back into a chair by the hearth, finally showing signs of being tired.
I removed a syringe and a small bottle of the cure from the pouch and joined Akua and Enitan. After assembling the shot like Nana had shown me, I inserted the needle into Enitan’s arm and administered the pink-tinged liquid. Enitan closed his eyes, and I joined Bastien on a small settee across from Edgar.
Akua pulled on a golden rope near the door, and several minutes later, a man with a stern glare, dressed in colorful clothes, entered the room.
She handed him the pouch. “Take this to the curers. It holds what they need to stop the disease.”
“They’ll need my blood, too,” I said.
Her gaze shifted to me. “You should eat. Gain strength before giving your life’s essence away.”
“You don’t have to go to any trouble,” I said. “It only takes a few drops of blood for a hundred cures.”
Edgar gave me the stink eye and rubbed his stomach.
“I am starving, though,” I added.
“Very well.” She nodded to the man, and he promptly left the room.
Akua pulled the drapes across the room, shutting Enitan off from us. She had fish, fruit, cheeses, and breads delivered, and we ate around the small table in front of the hearth. I gobbled down everything but the fish. Not that I had anything against fish, but I preferred them in a tank rather than on my plate.
“Why is there a party going on in my room?” Enitan’s voice came from the other side of the drapes.
The man dressed in colorful clothes dragged the drapes to the other side of the room.
Enitan struggled to get up.
Akua’s face lit up. “Enitan!” She rushed over and helped him sit up against the pillows. “You look better,” she said, relief sounding in her voice.
He struggled to raise his arm, resting his open palm on her cheek. “My love, I’m so sorry I worried you.”
It was as if my spirit elevated to the ceiling at watching Akua and Enitan. Just a little of my blood had saved him.
“Don’t exert yourself,” Akua urged.
“I feel well.” He absentmindedly rubbed his arm where he’d received the shot. “Food smells good. I’m famished.”
“I’ll get you a plate.” Akua crossed the room to the table and piled bread and cheeses on a small plate. There was a hop to her steps as she returned to him and sat on the bed. Lovingly, she fed him small bite after small bite.
I wiped my mouth with one of the cloth napkins on the table and went over to them. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but there is something I need.”
Enitan stopped chewing. “What is it?”
“I must have a drop,” I said with a shrug, “maybe two, of blood from the Fifth Heir’s closest living descendent. It’s needed to stop Conemar from controlling the Tetrad. I can’t tell you any more than that. You’ll have to trust me.”
“And why should I put all my trust in you?” He coughed, and Akua lifted a glass of water to his lips.
Edgar shot to his feet and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “She’s the presage. Not to mention she just brought your people the cure. You’d be dead by tomorrow without her.”
Enitan pushed the glass of water away from him and looked up at Akua. “Is that true?”
“It is,” she said.
He studied my face for a long while before saying, “All right. The oldest living heir of the Fifth is my great-grandfather. He’s nearly five hundred years of age. Lives in the home of the prophets. Koluka will bring you there.”
“Thank you,” I said. “Can she…or he…take me to the curers first? They need some of my blood for the cure.”
“She will bring you there first.” Akua rose from the bed and tugged on the golden rope three times. Before, she had only tugged on it once to summon the man. The number of times must have been a code for calling a specific person.
Not too long after, a young girl of about thirteen came through the door. Her eyes stopped on Enitan sitting up in the bed, and her face brightened. “Papa, you are well?”
“I am.”
She ran to the bed and hugged him. “We were so worried.”
“I need you to take our guests to Oupa,” Enitan said.
Koluka faced us. “When you are finished, I’m happy to do so.”
“We’re done,” I said.
A small growl came from Edgar, and I turned. He bent in front of the table, shoved in several bites of fish, and then washed it down with water.
“Don’t let us keep you,” Bastien said to him. “It’s not like we’re trying to save the worlds.”
“You’re a regular clown, aren’t you?” Edgar glared at Bastien and placed his fork on the plate.
Koluka held the door open. “I’ll be back soon, Papa.”
“Make sure to give them cloaks,” Akua said. “Keep to the smaller paths. Their presence in Veilig must go unnoticed. There’s a price on Gia’s head. We don’t want anyone alerting bounty hunters.”