
CHAPTER 10
The next morning was, sadly, eggless She’d taken the mid-day and evening meals to the medical building to eat, but this morning they were planning garden expansions. With limited space within the compound every small section of garden counted and needed to be used to its full potential. This meant they often transplanted vegetables from one area to another trying to find that perfect balance.
The drums started partway through their discussion on whether the root vegetables would do better transplanted to a different, more sheltered location. The morning trials, where the Livarian warriors sparred with one another in a combined effort at training and attempt to garner interest with the women in the hall.
Usually, it was a sight to behold. A combination of martial arts and raw brutality that was both fascinating and impressive to watch. This morning, however, Cassidy found herself a little annoyed with the display, she wanted to get the garden plan finalized and get started on the samples of the healthy trees that she and Tor had discussed the day before.
She sighed when she noted it was Gorth who climbed the stage, his huge, muscled form impossible to miss. The white strips of bandage still covered the place where his fingers had once been.
Well, there went the morning’s productivity. There was no way she would get Becky to pay attention now.
Indeed the man grinned down at his audience, quickly finding Becky, and gave her a knowing wink.
The fork the woman had been holding crashed to the table, and the brunette blushed furiously.
Poor Tor. He really didn’t stand a chance.
The drums intensified, announcing the beginning of the battle, raising tensions until they fell silent and the men, Gorth, and another larger Livarian she didn’t remember the name of, leapt for each other.
Cassidy leaned back in her chair, if she had to wait then she might as well enjoy the entertainment, but something to her side caught her attention. It was Becky. She wasn’t watching the trial at all, but trying in vain to pick up the fork she had dropped. Her fingers shaking, she would grasp the utensil only drop it once more. Her eyes were more than a little panicked.
“Uh, Becks?” Cassidy leaned over. “I think it’s time to go and see Tor.”
Becky, the stubborn ass, shook her head. “It’s fine, I’m just tired and I think I slept on it wrong.”
As she spoke she managed to grasp the fork at last, easily picking it up, as if there had never been an issue to begin with.
Cassidy frowned. This was ridiculous.
“Maybe you should go Becky,” Emily commented from her other side. She hadn’t missed the trouble either.
Becky shook her head, but Cassidy held up a hand to stop her protests. “Look, Becks. I don’t want to be a bully, but if you don’t come and let Tor check you I’m going to tell him you’re sick, and then there’s no telling what he’ll do.”
“...why would you do that?”
“Because it needs to be done. What do you think happens if you have something contagious? There’s one medic in this entire world, and I know for a fact he’s working with limited supplies and equipment. One out of control infection is all it would take to wipe out this entire compound. Just like the trees in the orchard.”
Becky paled, clutching her right hand with her left, Cassidy doubted she had ever really considered the precarious position the compound was in. “Yeah...okay,” she agreed at last.
They didn’t wait for breakfast to finish, Cassidy pulled at Becky’s arm until she rose from her seat and followed her out of the door of the meal hall. One of the Livarian guards broke away from a street patrol to meet them.
“What’s happening?” he wanted to know, clearly not expecting the women to emerge until after breakfast was over.
“Becky isn’t feeling that well, we’re going to the medical building to ask Tor to check it out.”
The man eyed them, but nodded his assent and gestured for Cassidy to lead the way. She took Becky to the main entrance, rather than the side door she used when attending her duties, and ushered the rather reluctant woman through the front doors.
“Tor?” she called when they were firmly inside.
The building was silent, but that didn’t deter her. She knew he was there somewhere.
“Tor?” she called again, this time louder.
“Go away, I don’t have time for you right now,” the gruff reply came from somewhere down the right hand hallway.
Becky’s eyes widened and she shrunk back a little, stepping toward the exit.
“No you don’t,” Cassidy grabbed her friends arm, anchoring her in the building. “You have a patient...it’s Becky” she yelled.
Becky slapped at her. “Don’t do that.”
“What?”
There were a few soft curses from the hall and then Tor emerged, wiping his hands with a sterilization cloth. His eyes landed on Becky and then narrowed at Cassidy suspiciously.
What? Did he think she was faking patients?
He approached them, studying Becky intently, a slight frown marring his features. “What is it?” He demanded at last.
“Ah..my arm feels a little numb, but I think I just slept on it wrong.”
“You couldn’t pick up your fork this morning, and you were dropping things yesterday too,” Cassidy reminded her.
Becky sent a frown her direction.
“Is it numb now?” Tor wanted to know.
Becky hesitated. “A little bit of pins and needles.”
Tor held out a hand and Becky reluctantly placed her arm in it. “And yesterday?” He asked flipping her arm over and pinching each of the fingertips lightly.
“Just dehydration I think. I’m sure it’s fine. I’ll just go and rest and it will be back to normal.”
Tor ignored her. “How long has the numbness been present?”
“At least two days, if yesterday was anything to go by,” Cassidy interjected helpfully.
“Yesterday I was just clumsy, I told you…”
“How. Long.” Tor growled, the tips of his fangs showing rather threateningly.
Becky swallowed. “About a week.”
A week? Seriously? This could be far more serious than she thought.
“I was wrong about you,” Tor’s voice softened a little.
“You were?” Becky frowned.
“Yes. I was under the impression that you were somewhat intelligent.”
“...are you calling me stupid?” Becky stiffened.
“You waited nearly a week to report a neurological symptom. I could say my assessment is accurate.”
She didn’t think it was possible but Becky paled farther.
“Hey,” she patted her friend’s arm. “I’m sure it’s nothing serious.”
“If she’s lucky,” Tor asserted. “If whatever this is hasn’t progressed to her brain. That could very well kill her.”
“Jesus,” Becky pulled her hand back automatically, her eyes brightened with tears.
Cassidy was not doctor, or trained medic, but she suspected Tor might be playing the danger up a little bit. For what purpose she couldn’t guess, he wasn’t one to do such a thing out of spite.
“Maybe,” she sent him a significant look, “we should see what it is before we jump to conclusions?”
Tor gave a soft grunt and gestured toward the left hallway. “Come to the exam room. I’ll run what tests I can.”
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