They didn't make it to their guest quarters. The last things Obran remembered was talking about recipes with Apicius and Zico, and Mara spreading fairy dust over everything they were eating and drinking, which impressed Apicius but just made everyone eat and drink more greedily.
Tori woke him up, touching his face almost as if she were caressing him and for a moment Obran thought he was dreaming; he reached up and held her hand.
"Tori," Obran said.
"Obran are you okay? You have to get up," Tori said.
The sun was just starting to rise.
"I'm fine, just nodded off for a second," Obran said.
Around him he saw almost everyone was passed out with a few groups still eating and drinking.
"Is everything okay?" Obran said. Tori looked obviously troubled.
"Something has happened. We should wake the others and go to the quarters the King prepared for them. I can take us there," Obran said.
Mara, who had been sleeping on Zico's chest as she usually did, sprang up, floating in front of the princess.
"Tori, I'm so glad to see," Mara said. "We missed you when you left the party."
"I missed all of you too but now we have to go somewhere private," Tori said.
"Understood," Mara said.
Mara roused Zico while Obran woke Erkin and Tomas.
"We'll talk in private," Tori told all of them after greeting them good morning.
They all quickly left the main ballroom and walked down several long corridors in the castle until they entered a small in a corner hallway. It was a quaint room that had several beds covered with decorative linens, along with a table full of fruit and fresh water. There were also clothes of various sizes on one bed. They all made themselves comfortable and Zico poured water for everyone.
"I have something to tell all of you but it's important that anything I say doesn't leave this room," Tori said.
"Of course," Obran said and the rest of them agreed as well.
"The King became suddenly ill, shortly after you left us Obran," Tori said. "He is unconscious now, his personal doctor is with him along with his two sons, and consuls Collatinus and Lucius too. Prince Drusus, his oldest son, is giving orders now."
"What happened exactly Tori?" Obran said.
"The King and I were alone and we spoke for a time after you left, nothing of importance," Tori said. "But then King then suddenly became short of breath and started to cough and heave, as if he'd eaten or drunk something poisonous; then he collapsed." Tori said. "I yelled at his guards to get the King's personal physician and to bring his sons while I held him on the floor, praying to the gods that he'd be okay."
Tori didn't cry or show any emotion; Obran wondered if she was in shock.
"When they came they moved the King to his personal quarters. The King was unconscious but alive. I stayed with him for several hours but his condition has not changed. His sons and consuls Collatinus and Lucius asked me not to tell anyone but something seemed wrong as if they are more concerned about what will happen if the King dies and not if he will get well," Tori said.
"What did the doctor say?" Obran said.
"He's a Greek doctor, his name is Galen; but he only spoke to princes and the two consuls," Tori said.
"Was anyone else there?" Obran said.
"No, just Collatinus, Lucius, Drusus, Gaius and doctor Galen, but I saw Armenus arrive as I left, escorted by praetorians. When I left the King was still unconscious; it almost looked like he was in a deep sleep," Tori said.
"Tori, does anyone else know about your plans to leave Roma?" Obran said.
The rest of them looked to Tori in surprise.
"Are you leaving us Tori?" Mara said.
"Mara, the King just told me and Obran last night, before he became ill," Tori said.
Tori told them all about their meeting with the King. How she was going to leave Roma and that Obran would escort her to Genoa where a dwarf ship would take her to Carthagio.
"You are going too? Why didn't you say anything last night," Erkin said.
"I didn't want to ruin the party and I was going to tell all of you this morning. It would only be for a couple of weeks at most," Obran said. "But Tori, who else knew? Did the King say anything after I left."
"We didn't talk about that," Tori said.
Just then there was a knock on the door. They all jumped up in unison.
"Everyone stay calm and let me do all the talking," Tori said.
Obran didn't have any weapons and didn't see anything useful in their quarters. Instinctively he started to rub his nails together as Tori opened the door.
"Consul Collatinus, general Armenus, good morning, has the King's condition changed?" Tori said.
"May we come in your highness," Collatinus said.
Obran relaxed a bit when he didn't see any guards behind the consul and general.
"Of course, please come in," Tori said.
Armenus and Collatinus both entered the room and closed the door. Collatinus invited them all to sit down.
"General Armenus, Consul Collatinus, you know Obran, this is his brother Erkin, and his friends, Zico his wife Mara, and Tomas," Tori said.
"We met at the party," Armenus said, winking at Mara who sat on Zico's shoulder.
Mara looked annoyed and disgusted, but kept quiet.
"Your highness," Collatinus said. "The King has what the doctor Galen calls the sleeping sickness. Galen is doing all he can but he is not sure the King will wake up again, let alone recover," Collatinus said.
"Consul, should we meet in private," Tori said.
"It is important everyone hears this," Collatinus said. "News like this will not be secret for long, it never is, and everyone will soon no doubt know about the King's condition. Besides, I know our new friends will be discreet."
Obran, Zico, Erkin, Tomas and even Mara all nodded quietly. They are scared, so am I, Obran thought.
"But that is not why I am here your highness, unfortunately Galen believes the King has been poisoned."
Everyone appeared shocked and dumbfounded.
"But who would do such a thing?" Tori said.
This is bad, Obran thought. First an attack by the dark elves, now the King has been poisoned. right after he decided to send Tori away. Obran knew something was happening and he was caught in the middle of it.
"We don't know. But the prefect of the praetorian order, a man named Macro, I believe you know him your highness, has already started an investigation and let's just say his methods are not always pleasant," Collatinus said. "I will of course aid in the investigation but I don't know when we will have any answers."
"But who is in charge now? Surely Drusus will take charge. He's the King's eldest son," Tori said.
"Macro has been given consent by prince Drusus to take charge of the investigation but it is all not so simple my lady. Macro and his praetorian as part of their duty have sworn to protect and avenge the King at any cost, a vow all praetorians make. But by tradition if a king is ill or if there is no king of age, the two consuls share stewardship of Roma until a new king is crowned. So for now I will share control with my fellow consul Lucius, but Drusus has the support of the praetorians," Collatinus said.
"Just get to the point, Collatinus," Armenus said. "All you politicians talk and talk and never say a thing."
"I was getting to that, general," Collatinus said. "Unfortunately, some praetorians think you might be involved. So I think it best if you leave Roma as soon as possible like the King ordered; it was after all his last decree and something he shared with me and my fellow consul Lucius."
"Flee? But won't that just make me look guilty," Tori said.
"You are still popular here with most commoners and Prince Gaius' trust in you is beyond question. I will tell Macro I interviewed you and Obran, along with his friends and that I was following the King's strict orders to send you back home. My fellow consul Lucius has already agreed. Unfortunately, Gaius and Drusus did not know of your departure but legally they can't do anything to stop it," Collatinus said.
"Since Drusus will be leading the legions to the Dwarven mountains, I don't want him to think I aided in your escape princess," Armenus said. "So I want you to leave as soon as possible and I will meet you in Remus."
Remus was Roma's sister city, founded in the same year and was located about a day north of the capital.
"All of us?" Tori said. "What do you mean? Who?"
Erkin, Tomas, and Zico all appeared nervous but Mara now flew besides her husband, with a determined look on her face.
"It will be better if you all left as well, at least for a time," Collatinus said. "Either until the King has recovered or we until find out the truth about all that has occurred."
"Is it really necessary they all leave Roma, consul?" Obran said motioning to his brother and his friends.
Obran didn't want anyone else, especially not his younger brother to be caught in his troubles.
"Yes, I believe so, Obran. You have to trust my judgement in this matter," Collatinus said.
"Consul, with all respect I have a life here. Me and my wife are not involved in any of this," Zico said.
"Young Zico Kender, I know of your food stand, of your wealthy gnome family, and how you forsook it all for your wife, Samara," Collatinus said. "If I know all this soon the praetorians and maybe the dark elves will know it too, as well as whoever has betrayed the crown. Young gnome, I may not be consul for much longer and this may be the only chance I may have to help you. The last thing any of you want is to be arrested and question by the praetorians, trust me."
Obran knew Collatinus was right; he'd seen how Romans questioned and tortured prisoners during the war.
"Consul, we will do anything to help Tori," Mara said.
"But may I ask why are you helping us consul?" Obran said.
"The King has saved my life more times than I can count and this is what he wants, Obran. I will honor him by fulfilling his wishes. Besides I cannot help Victoria or you Obran if I abandon your friends and family. But do not worry Zico, I will make sure your stand is well taken care of and that goes for you Erkin and Tomas—you will be allowed to return to the university when it is safe since your performance there has been exceptional, and Obran, only you know of all the decisions you have to make," Collatinus said.
But what choice do I or any of us have, Obran thought. 223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEZ4YCwOkE
