(5) The Physician uses poison...

Alaric placed Selena down on the examination bed with such gentleness and care that dispelled the Physician's suspicion. "No sir it wasn't I that harmed Princess Selena," but Alaric gnashed his teeth and said hateful, "But I know who did! He will pay!"

The Master Physician nodded and got to work and quickly cleaned Lena's wound, disinfected it, smeared healing salve blessed by the Priestess' court and stitched her arm up. "The Princess lost a lot of blood. She needs someone to donate some blood to her. Only I am not qualified to do so. Go ask the High Priestess to come. She has the knowledge blessed to her by the God-ine of Medicine Vurtii."

Alaric nodded still worried. "Yes Master Physician, I will go now." His eyes lingered on Lena as he left. Once he exited the ward, Alaric sprinted across the palace to the Chapel-Court where the High Priestesses resided. Panting Alaric skidded to a stop outside the great door of the Chapel-Court and calmed himself down. Once his breath was steady after a minute or two he knocked on the door.

Alaric didn't mind the curious looks of the guards that were stationed on either side. Nor did he pay attention to any of the several guards that had watched him the entire half hour from their various sentry positions. One had immediately went to the Cheiftess 's courtyard to inform her of her daughter's injury as soon as he saw her show Alaric her arm.

.....

An attendant to the Chapel-Court opened the door not long after Alaric knocked. "How may I help you young Prince?" she asked politely. "Is the Priestess Blessed by the God-ine of Medicine here? The Princess was injured and requires her knowledge." Alaric spoke anxiously but politely. The attendant gasped and gestured for Alaric to enter. "Sit here please I will go ask Holy Lady Ivette to come." Alaric nodded and sat down exhausted from mental fatigue. Time ticked away extremely slowly for the anxious Alaric. Three minutes later and a tall lithe but scarred woman was led to Alaric.

"Young Prince, I can help the Princess. Please lead the way at a steady pace." Alaric stood up without a word to anxious to speak and led the High Priestess to the Physician's Ward. Once they passed through the halls they met the Cheiftess who quietly joined the two on the way to the ward. Not long after they arrived in the ward and the Master Physician heaved a sigh of relief. "Greetings to Master Irwin," Lady Ivette said. She immediately looked over Selena and frowned. "Saborah attack." Master Irwin nodded. Cheiftess Lumen became icy calm.... a deadly type of calm. Laying down on the examination bed beside her daughter she prepared for the exchange of blood. Lady Ivette quickly did the procedure.

.....

An hour later Alaric finally felt relief knowing that Lena would be okay. He slumped down and almost passed out to the surprise of the Physician. Master Irwin checked him over and noticed a peculiar thing.... He saw a tip of a scar on Alaric's chest, peaking from his shirt. Directly above where his heart was. Uncaring about if this patient wanted to be exposed or not Irwin pulled Alaric's shirt off and exposed the surprisingly thick and ugly scar that went from his collarbone to bottom of his rib.

"This... Young Prince Alaric, how did you receive this scar?" Irwin asked drawing the Cheiftess' and Priestess' attention. Alaric weakly gave his reply. "It was from an assassination attempt when I was 3 years old. My chest still hurts me if I play too hard or run to fast... like I did for Lena. I don't really trust the healer shaman in my village but I feel that I can trust you. My heart still hurts....." Alaric trailed off as he revealed the depth of his daily life's injury.

....

(Flashback)

...

Alaric wakes up suddenly feeling uneasy. He cuddles his blanket inside his crib rolling onto his back. The moonlight filters through his nursery window and the curtains flutter in the breeze. Alaric fuzzily thought that he didn't remember the nanny opening the window before he slept but yawned sucking his thumb. Suddenly a figure dressed in dark browns and black stood in front of Alaric's crib, their shadow casting over him. Alaric started feeling scared.

"Hmmph why does my Lord want you dead? Why not kidnap you? If you were raised in a foreign land you would soon forget this place. Hmmph! Orders are Orders. I wish you to rest in peace child." The assassin quickly drew his blade and slashed at Alaric who was frozen in fear. The blade sank into his chest and touched his heart injuring him to the extreme.

At the first touch Alaric instinctively screamed to any intelligent creature for help telepathically. A Saborah heard his cry and rushed to his side. She pounced seeing the assassin. The assassin screamed in pain. The Saborah had climbed into the nursery through the window and attacked the assassin. Her ferocious teeth bit down on his head and her mighty claws ripped through his clothing and flesh as if it was paper being shredded.

Guards came running in and immediately understood the situation in the torchlight. They tried to pick up Alaric's crib when the Saborah dropped her fresh kill and growled at the guards circling the crib to protect what to her was a defenseless cub. She was a young mother and her instinct was strong. The guards knew her and ran for the nanny and the healer shaman.

Alaric whimpered in pain as he slowly bled out... the knife still piercing his chest. The Saborah promptly climbed into his crib and curled around him protectively. She bared her teeth at the remaining guards as if daring them to harm her cub.

Soon the nanny and the healer shaman arrived. The Saborah knew the shaman. he attended her birthing. From scent she knew the nanny. She glared but allowed the nanny and the shaman to approach. The nanny wept quietly while gently holding Alaric's shoulders still while the shaman removed the blade and quickly cleaned and closed the gaping wound, stitching it up and bandaging his chest. The Saborah twitched, growling in warning as Alaric cried out in pain. The nanny and healer shaman backed away quickly, carefully and went to report to the Cheif.

.....

(end flashback)

...

The Master Physician heaved a deep breath and exchanged looks with his Cheiftess and the Priestess. From what they had observed of this boys character he was a good lad and an honest one. to think he was still suffering from a hidden heart injury at such a young age.

The High Priestess Ivette spoke. "Young Prince Alaric, I have a method to help heal your heart. Will you allow me to try?" Alaric glanced between them all. "I will, just not now. That beast that rides Bloodypaw needs to die with his mount!" Lumen became icy in agreement. "Alaric what do you think should be done? Even though you are only a child you know this person well enough to call him a beast," the Chieftess said. But before Alaric could answer the Physician pulled open a drawer and grabbed a white bottle with black stripes. "All beasts deserve to be put down by poison my Cheiftess." Lumen disagreed but knew that her Master Physician was also highly skilled unknown to others retired assassin with a bloody history. His poison would be quick, and excruciatingly painful. She would not refuse him. He doted on the Princess as if she were his own child. "Then do as you see fit Master Physician." Lumen stated. Alaric was relieved and shocked everyone by passing out.