Chapter 49
Village of Helsop
As Electra rode up to the guard station she could see her father outside the royal carriage, arguing with one of the border guards. She jumped off her horse and managed a look of great concern.
"Father, I was not expecting you. Is everything all right?"
King Geoffrey glared at his daughter. "You left without telling anyone. To come back here to treat patients who may carry a deadly disease. You did not imagine we might be concerned for your welfare?"
Electra's feigned look of concern changed to one of stubborn self-righteousness. "I am a physician and I left without telling anyone to avoid further argument. I will and must go where people are ill." She paused and gathered herself. "As it turns out there is no contagious disease. Everyone has been sent home."
If Electra hoped her family might decide to return to Fernland on hearing this, she was mistaken.
"We are hardly strangers to be barred admittance to Helsop," King Geoffrey continued with growing irritation. "If being your family does not count for anything, we are also Helsop's allies."
Electra lowered her eyes. "You are right. I am sorry. The guards were following their orders. We were not expecting you. But certainly we did not mean to prevent your visiting."
Queen Delphinia opened the door of the carriage and stepped out. Electra rushed over to give her mother a hug.
"I am so sorry I have caused you to worry. Can you forgive me?"
Delphinia held Electra's hand and patted her arm. "I suppose we should not have been so hasty. But Physician Rothman offered to come and help with your epidemic. We thought you might welcome the help. Perhaps he might still have a look at those who seemed ill, just to be sure."
"No need. All are free of symptoms. But you must stay for awhile now you are here. Would you like to see the finished school of medicine?" As soon as she had uttered the invitation Electra wondered how she would explain the twins and their panther.
"If you are sure Dagon will not object," Delphinia replied with a touch of chill in her tone.
"Actually Dagon is not here at the moment. He has left me in charge."
King Geoffrey moved closer. "Where has Dagon gone?"
Electra's head hurt from trying to invent excuses. Certainly her excuse for returning quickly to Helsop had proved a disaster.
"Ah, he is following a trail along Cold Lake. He should be returning any day now."
"A trail left by whoever made an attempt on his white powder?" King Geoffrey asked in a whisper.
"I am not sure," Electra replied. "He had already left when I reached Helsop this morning."
King Geoffrey nodded with a knowing expression.
Electra held up her hand in a little wave of dismissal. "But you must all be tired and famished. Please come along and let me try to make amends. And as long as Prince Oswald has come he can see Dorian to pick out the weapons he wishes to purchase."
Electra flung herself back on her horse and galloped back to the school of medicine. Her first thought was to hide the twins and the panther but along the way she thought better of it. It seemed her attempts at subterfuge always proved wrong minded. The less said the better. This would be her new guiding principle.
Electra stood at the door of the school waiting while her visitors stepped out of the royal carriage.
Isa came out the door of the school. "Call me if you need me. I'll be at the clinic," she said as she walked away quickly.
As Electra ushered her parents into the school, she said, "Do not be alarmed by the big cat who sleeps under the dining table. We are minding two little girls while their mother is away and the panther is their guardian."
In spite of the warning, Queen Delphinia stopped in her tracks and gasped on seeing the big cat that growled deep in its throat as the visitors entered the school.
"That wild animal is their guardian?" Delphinia murmured.
Electra stepped in front of her mother. "Yes. Her name is Ebony and she follows them wherever they go."
"Incredible!" Her mother moved closer. "What adorable little girls. What are their names?"
"This is Shalin," Electra said, pointing at the twin who sat beside the big cat, pounding a spoon on a wooden block. "And this is Esme." Esme was gnawing on one of Ebony's ears and the big cat shook her head to free her ear from the child's mouth.
"Hello, Shalin, Esme. I am Delphinia," The Queen said as she knelt down to their level.
The twins looked at their visitor with interest. Shalin held out her spoon to Delphinia.
"Why thank you," Delphinia said, taking the spoon. "But you have need of it." She handed the spoon back.
Delphinia turned to Electra, her face glowing with pleasure. "Their mother has left them here? Is she ill?"
"No, she had to leave for a time. She will be back soon," Electra said before quickly changing the subject.
"Here is our communal kitchen," Electra continued, pointing to the area adjacent the dining area. "And the living quarters are back here. Since I have so few students now, perhaps you would like to stay here at the school. Each room has its own hearth."
Electra stood aside while her visitors continued on to the living quarters. She looked around as she realized one was missing. "Where is Physician Rothman?"
Prince Oswald looked toward the door. "He said he was going to check in at the clinic."
Electra caught her breath, realizing the talkative Leif was the only patient there. He would surely tell Physician Rothman where Dagon had gone and why. And since Rothman was the king's own physician, her father would soon know all that Rothman heard from Leif.
Electra gestured toward the empty bedrooms. "Why don't you each pick out a room where you would like to stay? I will just run out and secure some lunch for us. I will be back in a few minutes. Make yourselves at home."
Electra ran out the door of the school to the clinic, hoping she was not too late.
She rushed into the clinic and found Physician Rothman sitting on a cot next to Leif. Her students were gathered around as Leif explained how he had come to arrive in Helsop.
"And Dagon undertook this mission with no thought for his own safety. He is the bravest man I have ever met. May the fates grant his safe return," Leif concluded.
"My family has come to visit," Electra said to her students for lack of anything better with which to interrupt Leif's story.
Isa smiled. "We know. We thought we would come here to give you some private time with them."
"Yes, thank you." Electra avoided Physician Rothman's accusing glance. "Could you go to the mess tent and bring over some lunch for all of us? I believe our guests may be staying with us at the school for a time."
Isa grimaced and shrugged while Physician Rothman's back was turned. Then she stood up and waved the other students toward her. "Certainly. We will all go."
When Isa and the students had left, Physician Rothman stood as well. "It seems Dagon is involved in a dangerous undertaking," he commented.
Electra raised her chin. "Dagon is not foolhardy. He will assess the situation and act accordingly." She hoped her voice sounded confident.
Princess Electra Book 4 School of Medicine Page 51