Poison (Chapter 1)
It was sundown, and Lin was hurriedly making her way back to the Sault. The last thing she wanted is for the Arrow Squadron to shoo her off violently like an alley cat. She turned a corner- and froze. In front of her was a massive black horse with an even more massive rider. She saw the crossed arrows on the rider's cape.
"I am on my way back." Lin said evenly.
"Lin Caster?" The man grunted. Lin frowned.
"Yes, you are speaking to her. Why?"
"The Crown Prince requests your audience."
Lin tensed. Shit. She was on the horse in an instant. As they traversed the city (in a galloping pace, no less, and traveling without a carriage in the first place only increased Lin's worry) several scenarios began to run through the physician's head, each grimmer than its predecessor. Finally they arrived at the palace gates, where Mayesh was waiting.
"Who is it? Where are they?" Lin asked her grandfather as they walked.
"It's Kel. They are in Conor's apartments."
"What happened? Dagger? Poison? Arrow?" She got her answer after ripping Kel's shirt off. Dark lines spiderwebbed his neck, traveling down his chest. Dammit. It was poison, but not any kind she have encountered before.
"Monsigneur, Demoselle, I am going to have to ask you to leave." She said without looking away. Antonetta stood, but Conor didn't follow suit.
"Conor." Lin growled, low enough so that only the prince can hear. Realizing the gravity of the situation, he finally relented. After making sure they (as well as Mayesh) were gone, Lin began. Despite herself she felt a sense of deja vu. Kel, barely holding on to life, in the royal quarters. Even his position was the same.
"Kel?" She whispered. "Kel, if you can hear me, open your mouth. I'm going to give you morphea."
Fortunately, Kel was semi-conscious, and he complied.
"Who did this to you?" Kel was alive, but barely. Lin decided to engage him to prevent him from slipping. His death meant her own. "Where the hell were you in the first place, anyway?"
"Ca.. Caravel."
"In the Temple District? A courtesan poisoned you?" Lin asked, then frowned. Murdering each other due to jealousy isn't a far-fetched action between courtesans or clients, but attacking a nobility...
"No idea. I-!" Kel cried out as Lin injected a syringe on Kel's forearm.
"Sorry. I need something to give to Merren for analysis."
A few moments and several healing talismans later, Kel's otherwise pale face started to have color. Just then the door opened. Conor.
"I sent Antonetta home." Conor explained at Lin's questioning look. "How is he?"
"Definitely poison, but nothing I've seen before. He's more or less stable, but I need to stay overnight, at least."
"I'll make arrangements. I assume you need to stay here."
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Lin took a sip of her tea, trying to keep awake. A part of her can't wrap her mind around it: Here she was, in a couch inside the Crown Prince's and his Sword Catcher's quarters. Lin directed her gaze to Kel, who was sleeping fitfully. He mumbled a name, and Lin realized it was hers.
"You called for me?" Lin asked softly, careful not to wake Conor. The last thing she wanted was for the prince to fuss over Kel.
"Can't sleep..." Kel mumbled. Lin put a hand on his forehead.
"You have a slight fever. I'll be right back."
After a few moments Lin returned with a bowl of cold water, several face towels draped over her shoulder. Setting the bowl on the floor, she took a towel and dunked it in the water, squeezing out the excess before laying it on Kel's forehead. Wetting another one, she instructed Kel to raise his head, wrapping the second towel around his neck like a scarf.
"Tell me something." Kel then said, and for a moment Lin was transported back to when she was treating Conor, her talking while he half-delirious.
"Which story do you want to hear?" She asked.
"Anything."
So Lin told him about the Sault, her life there, her struggles as a physician.
"That's messed-up. Only men can be physicians?"
Lin chuckled. "That's what Conor said to me as well, when I was treating him."
She continued, telling Kel about Mariam, even her ailment.
"Sounds like we have something in common. We both have someone we protect."
"Sounds about right. You-" Just then Kel jerked.
"Hey, everything-" Lin said. Just then Kel began seizing,
"Shit! Conor!"
The prince sat up with a jerk. "Huh?" He rushed to their side when he saw what was happening.
"Turn him to his side." Lin ordered.
"What in gray hell is happening?" Conor demanded.
"I don't know! One moment we were talking and then suddenly-" Just then Kel stopped, much to the physician's relief. Conor was about to open his mouth to say something, but Lin shook her head. Don't.
"Let him rest. I have to go. Call for me if something happens."
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"I Can See You" by Taylor screams so much "ConLin" vibe you can't tell me otherwise.
PROOF:
"But what would you do if I went to touch you now?
What would you do if they never found us out?
What would you do if we never made a sound?
'Cause I can see you waitin' down the hall from me
And I could see you up against the wall with me
And what would you do, baby, if you only knew?
That I can see you."
and
"And we kept everything professional
But something's changed, it's somethin' I, I like
They keep watchful eyes on us
So it's best that we move fast and keep quiet
You won't believe half the things I see inside my head
Wait 'til you see half the things that haven't happened yet."
AND THESE TWO LINES, THO
"And I could see you being my addiction
You can see me as a secret mission."
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