Enemy Revealed by Taylor Wilson

Author:Taylor Wilson [Wilson, Taylor]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-08-09T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Four

The group waited long enough for Moira to dress and for William to grab a few of the Geiger counters. Though they meant to hurry toward the bathing chamber, their progress was slow. As they passed healers escorting freshly washed newcomers to the great hall for treatment, they stopped to greet each villager. Lacey, William, and Alex watched, impressed, as the other six moved through the people, calling them by name and assuring them that the healers would give them the best care.

Lacey observed that all six seemed to be recognized and respected as leaders, even Isa. The respect allowed them to delegate responsibilities when needed, but their roles were about support, not command. They were leaders only when they needed to be and left the people free to govern their own lives as much as possible. If there was to be no more royalty, this seemed to be a solution that worked well.

As they neared the area, awful screeching and angry bellows greeted them. When they entered the outer rooms of the bathing chamber, they saw Bel and Suul, soaking wet and furious, wrapped in bathrobes from a hotel in Toronto that was going out of business. The healers standing with them looked helplessly at the group as they entered.

“Well, if it isn’t the dethroned King and Queen of Alinn!” Bel roared, trying to hide her shaky limbs. “As if we haven’t suffered enough shame because of you, are you responsible for the shapes in the sky? Did you send them to make the villagers sick?”

“Of course not, Bel,” Willow tried to answer soothingly. The ships are causing the sickness, but we didn’t send them. We’re trying to help…”

“You are humiliating us! That’s what you’re doing!” Bel retorted. “What is the point of dumping numerous buckets of water on our heads… and what is this thing that I am wearing?”

Suul was resting on a nearby bench, looking as if she felt quite wretched. Still, she managed a surly remark. “Notice that they didn’t bother to remove our collars, although every stitch of our clothing was taken from us.” Lacey saw the half-inch strip of metal sitting loosely around Suul’s throat. It didn’t look uncomfortably tight, but it was too small to be removed over her head.

Matt smiled patiently. “I am sure the healers have explained this repeatedly by now. The decontamination process is for your own safety, to ensure the radiation… the poison… is washed from your skin. Everyone has submitted to this bath and received replacement clothing. You do make a good point, though. We need to make sure those collars aren’t contaminated.”

“That’s my job,” said William, stepping forward purposefully with the handheld Geiger counter. “Ladies, if you would please allow me? The process is painless, and I won’t even be touching you, but I do need to get close.” Switching the device on, he traced the wand in an outline around Suul’s body and head, paying close attention to the results near her neck.

“What on earth is this man doing?” Suul asked in an even but haughty tone.

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