Andy was in the potions room, taking inventory. “Do we have any iron bark?” Thailyn called from the other room. Andy came to the door. “Iron bark? I don’t think we’ve ever had that. We have iron root.” “Iron root is close, but not the same. I’m going to need it. I’m making a list of extra potions I’ll need until I can heal again. I’ll need your help making them.” Thailyn was finally up and about but not ready to heal. Andy thought he seemed to have a lighter step and a shine in his eyes. Pisha said she could feel a difference through the bond. He felt better physically and emotionally than she had ever experienced from him. He didn’t even complain when they told him he couldn’t heal for a few weeks to give his heart a chance to strengthen. Until that time, he was limited to potions and patchwork, in order to have a way to indulge in his addiction. If any magical healing was needed, he had to summon another healer to help. The only magical healing he was allowed was to read the person. “Mark which ones need to be infused with healing so I can make those when Shunati’s here,” Andy suggested. “I am. And I’m marking the volatile ones so you can have Ann or Tercala shield you.” Andy looked out again. “My shield and the ones on the room aren’t enough?” “They probably are. It’s just a precaution.” “Okay. I’ll talk with them.” “I need to check on the patients. I’ll be back,” Thailyn said and left. “Have fun.” Andy continued on with his inventory. He heard the other door open and someone enter. “Back already? Did you forget something?” Andy asked without looking up. “Andy, do you have any red potion made?” It was Emeton. He leaned against the door frame and his hand shook. There was a wet spot on his shirt. Andy guessed he had tried to take some of the potion and spilled it. “You’re the one that takes that? I don’t have any, but I was anticipating needing it soon, so I got a lot of it measured out ready to mix. Sit before you fall.” Emeton sat on the floor rather than the stool and slouched against the wall. “Is there anything else I can get you until this is done?” Andy asked. “Nothing else helps.” His words were slurred. “Should I get Shunati?” “Have a page tell him too little, too late.” He hated to leave him alone but Andy went up to get a page. On his way back, he found Thailyn. “I think I could use your help,” he told the healer. Thailyn frowned and nodded. “What’s the problem?” He asked as he followed. “I assume you know who takes red?” “I do.” “It looks like he should’ve had it thirty minutes ago. I don’t even know what it’s for, but he looks terrible. I sent for Shun.” “Do you have any red made?” “It’s about half done.” “Where is he?” “The potions room.” When they returned, Emeton was in the midst of a seizure. “It’s supposed to prevent that.” Thailyn knelt to check Emeton while Andy continued making the potion. Soon, Thailyn joined him making the potion. It was usually frowned on to have two people working together to avoid confusion, but this was an emergency. “Is there anything that can be done?” Andy asked. “Not by me. And if Shunati doesn’t hurry, he won’t be able to help either. This is a bad one.” Andy could tell it galled him to not step in and heal Emeton himself. “I’m here now,” Shunati said. He knelt by Emeton. “I can’t stop it this time, but I should be able to get him to the point where we can get that in him.” “Is he still conscious?” Thailyn asked. “He is and I’m keeping him that way. But this is painful for him. Hurry.” “It still needs to be heated,” Andy said. “Step back,” Thailyn instructed. “If you mess up, you’ll ruin it,” Shunati warned. “You don’t have time for me not to. I’ve done it before.” Thailyn took the mixture and breathed on it. The air shimmered with heat and the mixture steamed. “It helps to have a bellyfire.” He handed it to Andy who added it to the other ingredients. They would cool it enough that Emeton wouldn’t scald his mouth as he drank it. Andy gave the potion to Shunati. He in turn helped Emeton to drink it. Even with Shunati’s help, it was difficult, but they managed. Normally, the batch made six vials and two or three were drunk at a time. This time, they had Emeton drink all six. The seizure stopped and Shunati put him to sleep. “He’s still going to be in pain for a bit.” “There’s a daily prevention potion,” Thailyn said. Shunati shook his head. “That makes him sick.” “Let’s get him to bed.” Thailyn picked up the king. “Andy, make sure no one’s around to see,” Shunati instructed. Andy went and shut doors and sent the page on an errand. Then, Thailyn brought Emeton and put him to bed. Tylan, Pt’this, and Tolin joined them. “It happened again?” Tylan looked worried. “He’ll be okay,” Shunati assured her. “He just needs some rest.” “Where is he going this time?” Tolin asked. “He has court. I had the steward push it back some,” Pt’this told him. “Do we have time for a brief meeting first?” Tolin asked. “A brief one, yes.” Pt’this nodded. “Gather his children in Ann’s study.” “Tolin, no. He doesn’t want them to know,” Tylan protested. “I don’t care. They can be trusted. It’s time they knew. He’s had three in the past two weeks.” Tylan nodded. *** Minutes later, Tolin, Pt’this, Andy, and Emeton’s six children met in Ann’s study. Tolin had Ann check for listening charms and remove them. “What I want to tell you, no one is to know. If you have to tell your spouse, come in here and have Ann check it. Emeton doesn’t think you should know, but I disagree. “Emeton had a seizure today. It’s his third in the past two weeks.” “Isn’t he a little old to be developing epilepsy?” Piena asked. “This isn’t something he developed recently,” Andy told them. “I’ve been making potions to help control this since I got my license.” “You knew?” Irkali asked. “Not until tonight. Shunati gave me a recipe and would tell me when to make it. I didn’t know what it was for or who was taking it.” “It can’t be epilepsy. Shunati could’ve cured that.” Janta frowned. “It’s not. It’s Tricorcelbra. It’s a rare disorder passed down through bloodlines,” Tolin said. “Uncle Marno had it also.” “That’s why he wasn’t prince-general,” Ann guessed. “And Dad isn’t.” Tolin nodded. “Exactly. It wasn’t about my ability to rule. It was about his inability to be in battle. The stress and exertion would trigger an attack, as does his berserker trance. If it’s detected before birth, healers can treat it, and the person never has any seizures. If it’s not detected before birth, it’s not detectable until after the first seizure. Then, there’s nothing that can be done except try to control it with potions. Emeton can’t have the preventive one. He’s learned what will trigger it, and usually can take something right as it’s starting to stop it. The shades will trigger it and so will stress. “We didn’t know about it until he had his first seizure. We were able to pass it off as a head injury since it happened while he was training. Dad believed it would hurt his ability to rule if it were known. Emeton agreed so he kept it a secret.” “He’s r-right,” Bacna insisted. “The n-nobles protest any defect.” “When he needed bed rest, Pt’this or I would use a glamour and pretend to be him, he’d pretend to leave town, or claim paperwork and supposedly lock himself in his study. It’s part of why Kortu started preventing people from disturbing him.” “Why weren’t we told about this before?” Irkali wanted to know. “Any one of us could’ve had it, or our kids.” “Shunati checked all of you except Ann. She doesn’t have to worry about it. Your children were checked too, as were Chittoy and his boys. The only concern was Janta and Piena since Shunati had trouble reading them. They’re old enough now that it would have shown already. Most times, if it doesn’t show up for two generations, it’s considered bred out. It’s still advisable to check for the next few generations, but it’s unlikely there will be any problems.” “So why tell us now?” Remtani asked. “Because of the increase in number and severity, there’s a possibility that he’s getting worse or has built up a tolerance to the potion.” “Are you saying he might die?” Piena guessed. “I hope not. Shunati said there are some things they can find and Thailyn had that look in his eye like he has ideas. But he may need extra help for a while.” “Talk to the steward. Have him schedule me for some of his court time and meetings,” Remtani offered. “Andy and Crito can take over some of my prince-general duties.” “Andy and Crito?” Tolin frowned. “Crito’s not a prince.” “I don’t care. Genetics don’t give people abilities or good judgment.” Tolin nodded. “I can help too.” “I figured you would, though, I’ve been preparing for something like this. He hasn’t been looking good lately.” Tolin nodded. “Pt’this and I will fill in as him. We’ll take care of this.” *** Emeton woke in pain. Every muscle in his body hurt. It was typical after a bad seizure. Shunati would give him something for it when he could. Tylan lay at his side. The beds were large enough a spouse could stay with the patient. He was glad she was there. He put an arm around her and closed his eyes to wait for her to wake. She had probably been up late worrying. He felt a pang of guilt. She hadn’t known about his seizures when they got married. He hadn’t been able to risk telling her. It wasn’t until the morning after the wedding when he had a seizure that she learned of them. He had pushed himself too hard and paid for it. And so did she. It had terrified her. Trilla had known. They had been a couple when he had his first seizure. Nadal hadn’t. He hadn’t trusted her not to tell her parents. Carem, her father, would have used it against him to try to steal the throne. *** Tylan woke about mid-morning. “How are you feeling?” She asked. “Getting there. Shunati brought me some green bough a little while ago.” “I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you.” “It’s okay. I got the help I needed.” “But I wasn’t there.” “It’s okay. You’re here now. And you’ll be with me when they run the tests to find out why it’s getting worse.” “Tolin told the kids.” “I heard. It’s probably for the best.” “They’re all helping out while you recover.” “Am I leaving, or is Pt’this being me again?” “He and Tolin are both doing it. Remtani is stepping up to fill in some.” Emeton nodded. “Good. He does well. It’ll ease my mind some.” “If your mind is at ease, I won’t worry as much.” She curled against him. He closed his eyes and enjoyed her presence. He didn’t know what he would do without her.