A Mysterious Illness Strikes the Castle

Wald woke up with a start, his heart racing. He'd been dreaming of Madison again, her smile fading as she slipped away from him. Rubbing his eyes, he tried to shake off the lingering sadness. 

As he got dressed, there was a frantic knock at the door. "Come in," he called, pulling on his boots.

Roran burst in, looking pale and worried. "Your Majesty, we have a problem. A big one."

Wald's stomach dropped. "What now?"

"There's some kind of sickness spreading through the castle. Started last night. People are dropping like flies."

"What?" Wald's mind raced. "How many?"

"At least fifty so far, maybe more. It's hitting everyone - guards, servants, even some of the nobles."

Wald swore under his breath. This was the last thing they needed right now. "What are the symptoms?"

"High fever, weakness, some kind of rash. The healers are stumped. They've never seen anything like it."