When Thorne awoke, it was afternoon. He was woken by a giant pour of cold water on his face.
He was mad beyond calming. He was late for his wedding preparations and no one had woken him.
Imagine his anger when he was told hen had actually slept for three days... He was livid!
"Why was I not awoken?" He thundered with very low energy.
The guards around were afraid. No one offered an answer.
"Why.. was I... not awoken?" he asked again, now grabbing a guard by the collar.
"We tried to wake you... many times", Baris answered.
"And what happened?"
"You did not stir."
"What do you mean I did not stir?"
"You did not move... we feared the worst"
"I don't understand. Why was I asleep three days? Was I poisoned?"
"No, my lord" Baris answered.
"Then what happened! Who was on guard on the night I went to sleep?"
"Gunni and I", a guard answered.
Thorne turned to look at him.
"And where is he now?"
"On the farm grounds, sire"
"Find him!"
"Yes sire" the guard answered.
"Baris" Thorne called.
"Yes my Lord" Baris answered.
"Follow him to find Gunni and lock them both in the dungeon"
"Sire!" the guard protested
"For the crime of negligence to the point of allowing an intruder poison me on the eve of my wedding, you will be locked up until the culprit is found."
The guard turned to go out while Baris followed him threateningly.
"Drop your weapon", Thorne added and the guard dropped his spear by his post at the door of the palace in the Mighty House.
"Baris!" Thorne called again.
Baris turned to look at Thorne who gestured swiftly with a swipe of his hand to his neck, meaning the two guards should be killed. Baris nodded. He understood this. It was normal.
As they walked out, Janice entered just before Baris closed the doors and he had to hold them open for her.
"Janice!" Thorne called on seeing her pretty face.
"The one whose countenance can make things better"
"What do you know about this... this three days sleep?"
Janice walked towards Thorne and stood in front of the High seat. She bowed and began to speak.
"We fear that the wound you sustained in battle is worse than we thought. It has taken a lot from your energy"
"You think that this is due to my wounds?" Thorne asked arrogantly.
"You think too much of your late Andrew" he laughed
"In my life I have fought many battles and taken many wounds. How is this one any different?"
She waited, then answered.
"It's different enough to put you into a coma, my lord"
He scoffed.
"Well, I am awake now. And we shall resume preparations for the wedding"
"You need time to rest, my lord" she offered
"No! I am fine" he said as he stood up to show his agility.
The energy he used was too much and he felt a wave of faintness pass through his head and spread down his body. He summarily fell back down in the chair.
"Are you fine, sire?" Janice asked.
"I... I... I will be" he answered with his hand on his forehead.
"You need to rest, my lord"
"I do", he answered after some hesitation.
"Until you are well enough, I will see to nursing you"
"Ha ha" Thorne managed to laugh.
"And what do you know about nursing?" he asked.
"Aside from being trained in leading my people spiritually, I am well versed in the use of medicine and herbs to treat a wide range of illnesses and injuries... I could be of help."
"And my current nurses?"
"Incompetent!" cut in Baris from the door.
"Or they would have detected the seriousness of your wounds, sire" he added.
Thorne thought for a while and seemed to agree with Baris and Janice.
"Okay. I hear you. Janice shall be my nurse." he announced.
"My beautiful bride to be, and she shall be the one to bring me to good health in good time for our marriage to take place."
"Now, can somebody help me down from this Godforsaken chair? It hurts to sit on it" he concluded as he began to make attempts to get up.
The pain in his side hit him sharply and he sat back down with a wince and a grunt, "Ah!"
Baris quickly left his post to run to his master's aid and soon got him out of the palace halls.
Janice followed to Thorne's room where she checked on his wounds and left, promising to return with appropriate medicine.
***
Unknown to Thorne and Baris, Margriel had had conversations with Janice in the three days when Thorne was asleep. He had convinced her that the best way to get any breathing space around Thorne was to be nice to him and earn his trust.
Now that she had made this first step of becoming his nurse, he could move on with the next plan on his agenda... to endear himself to Thorne.