Madly and Wolfhardt by M. Leighton

Author:M. Leighton
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2011-07-12T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

Dr. Duffy glanced at Jackson before answering my questions.

“Mr. Saint will need to be monitored until such time as his reaction to the saliva can be determined.”

“Monitored?”

“Yes.”

“Is that your way of saying that Aidan will have to be, like, quarantined?”

“I think ‘quarantined’ is a strong word. I prefer to think of it as simply keeping a close eye on him for a few days, especially until the full moon has passed.”

“But that’s tomorrow. You think if he’s not showing any signs of…infection by then, that he won’t?”

“I think that would be a very good indication that he might be in the clear.”

“Is there no blood test or anything you can do to check him out?”

Dr. Duffy shook his head.

“We’re doing all that we can. We’re flying blind here, Princess. Again, a calamity like this is unprecedented in Mer culture, in Mer history. We’re all doing the best we can.”

I bit my lip to keep my sigh of frustration quietly contained within my mouth.

“I know, Doctor. And I appreciate everything that’s being done to return Atlas to rights and the Lore to captivity.”

“That is the one benefit of this breakdown in communication: at least the Saint family won’t have to suffer, too. The waiting and anxiety would be nearly unbearable. We should have concrete answers by the time Atlas is restored to rightful power. I suspect that this lockdown will prevent the royals from having to make some tough decisions.”

Tough decisions? I thought. Like what? Surely he didn’t think they would order something be done to contain Aidan if he was infected. Surely not.

As I considered this, the doctor’s words began to cause me some confusion. Lance Duffy’s black hair and his station on land proclaimed him something less than royalty, but his knowledge of Lore and the decision-making paradigm of royalty suggested something else entirely.

“And how have you become familiar with the plight of the royals?”

Dr. Duffy straightened his spine, rising to his full height, which put him just a tad taller than me.

“I might not appear to have royal blood, Princess, but I assure you, it’s there.”

I felt immediately contrite for my crass question.

“I’m so sorry, Dr. Duffy. I know that must’ve sounded terribly snobbish and elitist. I certainly didn’t mean it that way. I’m just a bit confused, that’s all.”

Dr. Duffy smiled tolerantly, apparently willing to forgive my insensitivity.

“It’s a common misunderstanding, unfortunately. My mother was royal. She was from the Donnelly line. When it came time for her to marry her betrothed, she refused, choosing instead to marry her true love, a Sentinel, and live out her life on land. My sister has the typical royal characteristics, while I share those of my father.”

His story struck home in a big way. I couldn’t help but steal a glance at Jackson, who was frowning as he listened intently to the doctor.

“And what did the Major Warden have to say about her…choice?”

I was going to say betrayal, because that’s what it was considered to be, but I didn’t want to further offend the good doctor.

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