Avril could hear the music swelling, reaching it's climax, going into the last movement before the end of it. She nodded to Hiro and made her was to stand on the landing overlooking the dance floor, taking a glass of sweet, fizzy wine from a passing servant and taking a sip. "You'll be the center of attention of the whole room," he told her. "Everyone admiring you. I think you should enjoy it. You could make any request and who would refuse you on your birthday?" He seemed to think it simple, bu then he enjoyed the attention. His last birthday had consisted of a hunt in the morning and a grand evening party. Avril's own were very similar, though the theme was very different. "Any ideas what theme you'll chose?" he asked with genuine curiosity. "Please say mud. I think that would be hilariousness." As the music drew to a close, Edward bowed genteelly and escorted her from the floor. "On your birthday, I'll ask you to make one request," he told her. "I expect you to think carefully about what you want." He bowed again, gave her a smile, and then was heading toward a group of girls, all of whom seemed to want to be his next partner.

"Mud? You think that would be an appropriate theme?" Alessandra laughed, feeling a lot more comfortable with Edward than earlier. Maybe someday she'll get to know him better, see through that veneer. Maybe. But for now, he was the charming first born and he had guests to entertain. She gave him a curtsy at the end of the dance and let him lead her off the dance floor, right where a group of girls were obviously waiting for him. And... Oh no... Lambert. His smile immediately turned to a frown as soon as Edward returned to the dance with another partner. "Enjoyed yourself?" He asked haughtily. "I expected you to decline the Prince since we're together." His voice was loud enough for the people near them to hear. Several glanced their way. Alessandra was sure he was doing it on purpose. She felt her temper rising at his tone. Her cheeks already flushed pink in anger, she fought to maintain her composure and gave him a tight smile. "Oh, we are? A few visits and a few gifts DOES NOT mean we are together, Lambert. I remember explicitly telling you that." Damn it. She cursed herself for the hundredth time for wearing the rose pin he had given her that one time. A chagrined look crossed Lambert's face, making him look like he had eaten something sour. "Well then why don't we make it official?" He asked, turning the sour look into a sweet smile or at least what he thought looked sweet. "No." Alessandra automatically replied, growing more and more irritated at the blonde haired boy by the second. Before he could say anything else, she turned on her heels and marched away, desperate to get away from the man boy who seemed to think she liked him. She weaved in and out of the crowd with no real plan on where to go. The important thing at the moment was to get as much distance between them as she can. It seemed to take forever to dodge people here and there. Several times she had to pause to greet an acquaintance. But soon she found herself standing in front of a glass door. Through it, she could see the garden she played in when she was a child. She could remember a spot in the garden hidden by a copse. She looked behind her. Lambert was nowhere to be seen but she was sure he'd be looking for her. Ugh. There were so many words she can think of to describe him but right now, she had to hide. She reached out, pushed the door open and slipped out, making sure no one noticed. No one did. She wasn't as important as Edward to be noticed. Once outside, she sighed in relief, letting the cool breeze blow through her hair. It had been so stuffy in the crowded ballroom. She paused for a second, lifted her skirt off the floor and headed into the garden, following the cobblestone path and keeping an eye out for that hidden pathway that would lead her to the spot she knew Lambert wouldn't be able to find.

Avril was unable to make out a word of the exchange from her position on the balcony, but she could see their expressions and those of around them. Clearly Lambert was at it again, bothering poor Alessandra. She wondered what in his mind made his think she liked him. She'd only met him at these affairs once or twice, but he seemed to think he owned Alessandra, or at least that she should be grateful for his attention. She kept her eyes upon them as she crossed the balcony to head down the stairs, but she was too late, her friend already heading away from the boy. She'd been too slow. She paused on the stairs, but unfortunately that was a bad move. “Your majesty,” came a voice, which belonged to one of the boys who had been talking to her before. He was flanked by 2 others, all of them smiling in a friendly way, and seemed to think this the time to speak with her. “Will you attend the hunt tomorrow?” the one on the left asked, which was quickly answered, not by Avril, but by his friend. “Don’t be stupid,” his friend said with obvious annoyance. “She’s a lady. Ladies don’t do anything like that.” There was no need for her to speak, for the 3rd interjected, saying that ladies could hunt if they liked. It was the problem with groups of boys like these. They heard each other but never noticed that the female had not uttered a word. She found herself stuck, unable to go after her friend, nor to do anymore beside politely smile and hope that it would be over soon enough. All through the palace gardens, there were scattered guards, holding candles like those on the path to the palace. They were still and silent, like statues in their black uniforms for their evening dress. They wore blue in the day, but even with their candles, they were often over looked them. However, if a higher ranking officer, or a member of the royal family had asked them, they would be able to advise if a guest had left the party. They had never really been asked by anyone else, so there was no way to now how they'd react to anyone else. So whilst Alessandra might have been alone in a sense, eyes watched her make her way from the party into the warm and pretty night.

Several more steps and Alessandra found the hidden path between the thick but well maintained shrubs. She looked back, half expecting to see Lambert following her. When all she saw was an empty pathway, she sighed in relief and wasted no time to cross the border between visibility and invisibility. She reached down and gathered her skirt about her to keep it from catching on the plant stems. Hidden by trees arranged in a maze like configuration, she made her way to the center, her soft soled flat shoes making no sound on the granite floor. It was the same pair of shoes her aunt had told her not to wear. But it was because she felt most comfortable in them that she did, despite having a choice between several high heeled varieties. If her aunt only knew, she would most probably look at her with that exasperated look she always gave her whenever she did something the older woman thought silly. She chuckled at the thought. Several more steps and she was in the small clearing in the center of several trees in a circular configuration. Although she hadn't visited the spot for several years, she knew it well from memory. The moonlight shone on the old swing that hung on an old gnarled tree in the center of the glade. She laughed gleefully at the sight of it as it brought about so many fond memories. Playing in it with the Queen and the youngest royal child, Avril, being the majority of it. Comfortable in being alone, she again lifted up her skirt and almost ran to the wooden swing. Upon closer inspection, she noted that the swing seat has been replaced by a shiny and smooth new slab of wood. Even the rope that secured the swing onto the huge tree branch looked fairly new and sturdy. She smiled widely, thankful that someone had the good sense of maintaining the area and the swing itself. She took hold of the rope, sat herself on the wooden seat and pushed off. She began giggling like a child as she felt the wind blow through her hair as she went higher and higher.

Avril managed to excuse herself from the boys and then used a guard as both deterrent and information source. It took him only a little time to pass her the information, and soon her was in the gardens, though she moved without speed, checking with guards for the direction and, because she had no wish for anyone to follow, looked behind her often. It took her a while to find Alessandra, even though once she started to understand which way she'd headed, it wasn't hard to know where she was going. Avril and Alessandra hadn't been there for sometime, but sometimes Avril went there on her own. There wasn't many places that Avril could go and be left, mainly, alone. Stephen could vanish and, unless he had gone to his room, it was nearly always impossible to locate him if he didn't want to be. Edward was easy to find, between his hunting parties and his many friends being around most of the time. Avril, just sometimes, liked to be alone. She paused in the opening which exposed her friend swinging with an innocent delight, which brought a smile to Avril's lips, and she said nothing for a time, just enjoying her friend's clear thrill. "Remember how we used to always come here when we were younger?" she finally said, by way of announcing herself, a playful smile on her face.

Alessandra closed her eyes and imagined herself flying as her seat swung back and forth. With one hand, she reached up and unfastened her hair from the purple comb that held it in place. Her long black hair fluttered around her face. It was a moment of freedom. There were no titles to uphold and no rules to be followed. It was just her, the swing, the wind and all the fond memories she has. Her giggles soon faded to silence but the pleasure was still evident on her face. She brought up in her mind a rare memory of her spending time with the Queen, Avril and curiously, the two princes. It was in the same place as she was now. She had been 10 and was on the swing with little Avril pushing her to go higher. Stephen was silently watching them while Edward bragged to his mother about a deer he had hunted with the King. It felt like she belonged with the family and not just merely a friend to the princess. As soon as she heard Avril's voice, the memory faded and her eyes flew open. As she focused her eyes on the Princess, her smile widened. "I was just thinking the same thing." She said as she let the swing slow down. "What are you doing here? Your mother and the adoring group of boys will be looking for you." She gave Avril a teasing grin.

Avril pulled a face at her words, but then smiled. "My mother, thank goodness, hasn't left her throne," Avril informed her good friend, walking toward her, though keeping carefully out of the way. "Please do not mention suitors, thought I saw your favourite seemed to want your attentions." Avril knew well of Lambert through her friend's telling and her tone was teasing, but her face then grew concerned. "I wonder if he would ever understand the idea of rejection," she said with a shake of her head. In her heart, she wanted her friend to be happy. She wondered what would have happened if she had such a suitor. Her's were young boys who were harmless, though sometimes difficult to deter. Lambert was stubborn and determined. "Has he spoken to your father?" she asked, though she felt her friend would have told her if there was a fix upon her union. "Surely he would not wish you unhappy?" She knew her own parents, especially her father, would not wish her unhappy, but if her mother felt something was in her best interest, there would be determined encouragement.

At the mention of Lambert, Alessandra rolled her eyes. It was something she only did when she was alone with Avril. "Ugh. I think he thinks I like him because I wore that stupid brooch one time. And earlier he said he expected me to decline that dance with your brother because of him." She jumped off the swing when it was slow enough for her to get off. She stomped her feet in irritation, remembering the haughty way Lambert had talked to her earlier. And probably for more than a hundredth time, she wondered how best to finally get the boy to leave her alone. She looked at her friend when she asked about Lambert speaking to her father. "He did actually. I overheard them the last time he came to visit." She shook her head in a disgusted manner. "He was offering father several lands in the country side if he promised my hand in marriage." She sighed. "My father said no, thank God. He said that the decision lies with me. Lambert threw a fit." She shook her head again. "Can you imagine having to deal with that every single week? I am almost tempted to ask Adrian to pretend as if we liked each other just to shake him off." Adrian Thornton was one of her childhood friends. He was a whole ten years older than her and she treated him like an older brother.

Avril nodded, only knowing of Adrian rather than actually knowing him. Alessandra's life beyond the palace was a mystery to her, though her friend spoke much of it. Avril wondered what it must be like to walk so free among normal people, to be a face amongst others when you wanted and to have such varied society. She had nothing like that, for there was only company when a party was held and that was not what she wanted.
Still her friend had her own concerns.
"Or Edward," she said, partly to herself. "I don't think he'd dare object should he be interested in more."
She said this as an idle thought, knowing too well this would not come off well. It would mean deceiving too many people, including most the country.
"Maybe I should flirt with him," she said teasingly to her friend. "I wonder what he would do if I pretended to show him some interest."
Avril was not the kind of girl to give any man such encouragement, she was too innocent of them for that. Still, she didn't know how to appeal to Lambert that Alessandra had no interest.
"It's a shame you don't have someone you like that you could tell him," she said. "Is there no boy in the kingdom which attracts your eye?"

"Edward?" Alessandra raised an eyebrow and then chuckled. "I don't think people would be convinced. He has eyes for all the pretty girls in the kingdom and I'm not one of them. I bet your mother was really persistent tonight for him to ask me to dance." It didn't seem like she minded that fact.

When Avril suggested herself flirting with Lambert, Alessandra's head snapped up. "Ugh. You have no idea how horrible he is. He throws tantrums. He's rude, he's spoiled, he thinks everyone's below him. He's just...ugh!" She shook her head in frustration. "If you show him interest, he'll hound you too." She blinked and then shrugged. "But, you know...if you like him, you're free to take him off my hands." She walked over and peered at her friend's face, trying to figure out if she was serious.

When the princess asked about who she was interested in, several faces flashed through her mind. Adrian, Stephen, Michael and Edward. Despite being older than her, she found herself admiring Adrian. He always listened to her, spent time with her when she felt down and gave her advice. But no way in a million years would she admit that she liked him more than an older brother. Stephen, the younger prince, was nice but too shy. He had always been silent where his older brother had been friendly and outspoken. But there was that mystery to him that always made her curious. On the other hand, the charming older prince always intrigued her as well. What would it feel like to be in the receiving end of his affection? And finally, Michael. He was the son of her father's businessman acquaintance. He visited only twice a year and she always found herself looking forward to it.

But none of the boys would probably pay her any attention beyond the usual hellos and how are you. Maybe Adrian would. But he only thought of her as a younger sister. And so to answer Avril's question, she shrugged.

She grinned.
"You will marry happily, I'm sure," said Avril with sweet tones. "Your father would make sure of it. As for Lambert, maybe once you are engaged he will give up his endevours."
Avril looked up at the sky.
"How late it gets," she said. "The party will soon be over and your father will fret if you are not with him."
Avirl linked the other girl's arm, leading her back the way they had come with no great speed. She was all smiles.
As they approached the party once more, it was clear it was reaching it's end. There were many people still milling around, but there were also those saying their farewells and heading out to their carriages.
The Queen, upon seeing them, waved them over, though it was clear is was her god daughter she was most interested in.
"My darling," she said affectionately. "I would love to see you for tea tomorrow, if you are not already engaged."
Avril had released her and had respectfully taken a step to one side.

"We will both marry happily." Alessandra grinned as Avril linked arms with her. "You will be my children's godmother and I expect I'll be your children's godmother in return." She added, all thoughts of Lambert gone from her mind. "I'd like four. Two girls and two boys." She continued as they both made their way back to the party.

As soon as the two girls were back in the ballroom, Alessandra craned her neck to look for her father. She saw him conversing with a duke just as the Queen waved them over. "Oh. She might mean to talk to me about my upcoming birthday." She whispered to Avril as they made their way over.

Alessandra gave the Queen a polite curtsy before she answered. "I have no prior engagements tomorrow, Aunt Catherine." She decided to be less formal since there weren't as much people in the ballroom as earlier. "May we invite Avril to join us?" She asked and flashed Avril a grin. If tomorrow was going to be about a party then the princess should be there. Avril was better with social gatherings than she ever was.

The Queen beamed at her god daughter with clear adoration.
"My dear," she said, standing and taking her within her arms. "I'm so pleased that you will come to see me."
She looked at her daughter and nodded, still smiling.
"Of course, Avril will join us," she said. "Edward will be gone all morning so we shall have all the time we want."
Avril, silent on the subject, wondered why she never mentioned Stephen or her father, though she supposed either was unlikely to interrupt it. Once the party was over, she determined upon herself to find Stephen though.
The Queen arranged that Alessandra should come the next day and that she'd meet in her garden. The palace gardens were a sight, but within them the Queen had her own little inner sanctum, which was gated. It was where she grew her own plants and the gardeners didn't enter. It was rather pretty and all the plants had been cultivated by her. The red rose were so sweet in their scent, mixing with the honey suckle on the trellis.
It was the Queen's pride and joy.
"But you have a wonderful night, my dear one," said the Queen, releasing Alessandra. "Your father must be awaiting your return to him."

When the Queen mentioned her father, Alessandra nodded and quickly scanned the crowd. Her father looked like he was just wrapping up whatever he had been discussing with the duke. She turned back to the Queen. "Have a good night, Aunt Catherine." She stepped forward and pressed a quick kiss on the older woman's cheek. And then she turned towards Avril, grinned and gave her a hug. "I'll see you tomorrow." She said.

Before she let go of the Princess, she whispered something in her ear. "Tell Stephen he owes me a dance." She gave Avril another grin before she turned and headed towards her father.

The duke was just walking away when Alessandra reached her father. The baron looked up and offered his only daughter a smile. It looked strained and his eyes looked tired. "Are you ready to leave?"

Alessandra nodded. "Yes. Are you all right?" She looked towards the duke who was disappearing out the door. "What was---?"

"It's nothing. It's nothing." The baron shook his head and took his daughter's arm. "Shall we go?"

"Yes."

Father and daughter walked out of the ballroom in silence. She knew well enough not to ask any more questions about the duke. When the baron dismissed her questions, it always meant that the topic was something not to be further discussed. But despite learning not to ask too many questions, it didn't stop her from wondering why he looked so tired when he had looked so relaxed when they got to the castle earlier. She stole glances at him as they waited for their carriage. The baron's brows were furrowed, the lines making him looked older.

Alessandra smoothed her skirt when she sat down in their carriage. The baron sat beside her. He remained silent and lost in his own thoughts. And so for the next few minutes, Alessandra found herself worrying and listening to the sound of the horse's hooves on the cobblestone path.

The castle was well behind them and the horse's hooves silent on the soft earth when Baron Peter finally spoke up. A gentle smile was on his face. "I saw you dancing with Prince Edward earlier. Did you have fun?" He asked pleasantly.

Alessandra smiled. "I did." She temporarily forgotten the look on her father's face as she narrated what happened in the ball. "It was really Prince Stephen who first asked me to dance but when we got down from the balcony, Prince Edward came and asked me to dance. It was all so confusing, Father. But it was nice to be asked."

"I expected Lambert to be the first to ask you to dance." The Baron gave his daughter a teasing smile.

"Ugh! He almost threw a fit when I finished dancing with Prince Edward." Alessandra shook her head in disbelief.

"He is quite the brat, isn't he? Tomorrow I shall send word to his father that you will no longer entertain him as a suitor." The baron said.

Alessandra's eyes grew wide. "You will? I thought you approved of Lambert?"

"I hoped you two would get along since his father is a dear friend of mine. However, I wouldn't impose on you if you found him unpleasant." The baron chuckled. "Which I believe you did."

Alessandra laughed. "Oh, I most certainly did, Father." She replied, relieved that Her father would ask Lambert to finally leave her alone.

"Well then there's no need to pretend that you tolerate him anymore." The baron smiled, leaned forward and kissed her daughter's forehead. "I always want you to be happy. I--" The baron's words were cut short by a loud banging sound.

There was no time to react. Suddenly, the carriage lurched forward, throwing father and daughter against the opposite wall. Alessandra felt her father's arm wrap around her protectively as the carriage flipped over. And then everything went dark.

Their progress was one of a procession, so the accident was witnessed by several drivers, along with some of the guard and a the youngest prince.
Stephen had changed his clothes into those of a guard and had joined the ranks to line the path from the palace to the kingdom. His mother knew nothing of this, though Stephen had been doing so for well over 2 years now. It was how he'd met Hiro and the only ones who knew were Hiro and the General, Kelin. His father understood that he went to the imperial training grounds to learn with the other soldiers, but not that his own son had been an active part of the guard. Of course, the other soldiers didn't know who he was. No one paid Prince Stephen much attention, so why would they realize that the kid named Wren was in fact royalty.
It had been Kelin's idea, which had been discussed with the king. They'd offered Stephen an opportunity to be active and, though they didn't say this to him, prevent him some becoming too insular. Kelin would keep a close eye on him and no one was to know who he was.
Unfortunately, Hiro was brighter than most and keen, so when he realized he was sworn to secrecy.
The accident had happened a little beyond the gates, caused the scream of horses, shouts and cries. Stephen, along with several other guards, ran to the rescue of the carriage. They were all fully helmeted, their faces masked completely, and identical in their uniforms, but they worked like one, two going to the rescue of the driver and the other 5 to that of the occupants.
Stephen and 2 others were hoisted onto the side of the carriage to help those inside, the other 2 awaiting report.
Stephen opened the door within to see how the occupants faired, saying that he would climb inside and pass them to the others.
His heart almost stopped when he realized whose carriage he was now looking into and how was within.
"Send word to the palace," he shouted. "It's Baron Kent and Lady Alessandra."
A ripple went through those around and Stephen could imagine the message being passed. It was not a secret that Lady Alessandra was practically a royal child herself and a great favourite of the Queen.
Stephen turned back, to decide what was the best course of action.

ooc: I've not put any detail as to how the occupants are etc. I thought I'd leave that bit to you. ;)

The two horses laid pinned underneath the carriage. One had a huge gash on its right hind leg where the carriage had hit it when it flipped over. One of its front legs was caught in a spiked foothold trap. It neighed and kicked, desperately trying to shake off the trap and at the same time free itself form underneath the overturned coach. The second horse was luckier as it was merely trapped by the first horse's weight and partially by the carriage. The driver of carriage had been flung from his seat and now laid on the ground several feet away. He was unmoving, his neck twisted in an unnatural angle.

The inside of the carriage fared no better than the outside. The baron laid among dented steel and broken glass. His face was ashen beneath a thick layer of blood continuously flowing from a deep gash on his forehead. His arms were wrapped tightly around Alessandra who appeared to have sustained only minor injuries but was unconscious.

Stephen felt the carriage lurch as the house tried to move, bracing himself.
"Loose the horses!" someone called before he could.
Carefully, he lowered himself into the cab, though when the next lurch came he had been hanging down so it shook him loose. He landed without being the others. But it was a close thing.
He touched the baron, who didn't seem to respond, but there was little, at this point, he could do whilst his daughter was there. Moving the man's arms, he pulled her to sitting and then called up to the waiting men.
"Hoist her," one said, and Stephen raised her carefully, till the men could take her. She was whisked out of sight, leaving Stephen with the baron.
He knelt by the man, ripping the sleeve from his shirt and tying about his head. The gag would need stitches and Stephen was no doctor, but he had to do what he could.
"My lord," he said softly. "You're daughter is safe."
He didn't know if the man could hear him, but he felt better talk to him.
There were shouts outside but Stephen paid no heed. He shouted for assistance.

Outside with Alessandra, the men had moved her away from the carriage. It was Edward who rode up to them and seeing her made the men pass her onto his horse. He rode away toward the palace with her safely in his arms, only stopping on reaching the cattle, where his parents and sister were waiting looking shocked.
" My darling, " the queen murmured as Edward dismounted with her.
"I'll take her in," he said, and the written and princess followed silently as she was taken to a chamber, a doctor being called for.
None of them embed to remember her father.

The men helped Stephen with the baron, then lowered him down. A doctor was sent for and Stephen sat with him, looking at the damage the impact has done. No one has said hey how it had happened, but Stephen was more concerned with the man.
When the man arrived, he was only a local doctor, the best having been sent to the palace. Stephen didn't dare remove his helmet, but sat with the doctor and said anything he needed would be his.

Alessandra was brought to one of the castle's guest rooms and placed onto the luxurious bed. She hadn't regained consciousness and looked small and frail underneath the blankets. The doctor came and immediately examined her. After a few minutes, he declared his assessment. Alessandra suffered a concussion, a broken arm and numerous cuts and bruises. The doctor assured that she would awaken after the initial shock had passed and then proceeded to splint the broken arm and treat the abrasions and cuts. Once done, he discussed with the queen what the young woman would be experiencing upon waking up.

---

Meanwhile, back in the site of the accident, a doctor responded to the call of the castle guards. He gave Stephen a curt nod, unaware that he was the prince. After which, he gave his full attention to the baron. He looked at the makeshift bandage wrapped on the man's head and then immediately reached out, lifted the baron's eyelids and shone a light into them. "We need to take him to the hospital." He said. The doctor's voice was urgent.

The Queen listened intently to the doctor, listening carefully and nodding her head.
"Please, doctor," she said sweetly. "She's my god daughter. Anything I can do."
Avril had stayed by her side, her hand resting on the uninjured one of her friends. Only an hour before they'd been laughing together, now her friend was unconscious.

------------

Stephen nodded to the doctor as he spoke, rising to look around for a way to carry the man. He headed toward the closest carriage, but the man who was driving it ignored him, riding off. The horse who was uninjured from the accident had been moved and the wreckage was being cleared out of the path, allowing guests to pass whilst spying on the accident.
Stephen began to feel desperate, when Kelin arrived.
Kelin was a tall imposing figure, a drow elf who wasn't beautiful but had a striking resemblance. He stood over Stephen, glaring at him with his penetrating stare. Stephen knew he understood who he was.
"Sir," Stephen said, though he technically was senior to Kelin, "Lord Kent needs assistance. He must be taken to hospital, but we need..."
Kelin raised his hand and the next carriage stopped without any protest.
Kelin told the driver, in no uncertain terms, that he needed the carriage and that the King would reward him, and those within greatly, should he accept. He also had the next carriage take the occupants.
That settled, the carriage was brought to where the Baron lay.
The driver remained seated, ready to go at their word. Kelin loaded the still figure into the carriage and, before he could say anymore, Stephen climbed in also. Kelin entered also, and the carriage pulled off to the hospital, with some speed.
On reaching the hospital, Kelin removed the baron and, Stephen on his heels, they followed the doctor.
"You should go home," Kelin said softly to Stephen as they walked, but Stephen merely shook his head.
"I am more use here," he said simply. "Maybe I can learn medicine to be of more assistance next time."
Kelin's lip twitched. "Your mother will be pleased," he said sardonically.

"All you can really do is wait for her to awaken." The doctor gave Avril and the queen a sympathetic smile before he politely asked to be dismissed. "Please don't hesitate to call on me again when she regains consciousness." He added before he left the room.

Meanwhile, the baron was faring worse than his daughter. As soon as he was transported to the medical facility, the doctor who had initially examined him began barking orders to the nurses who immediately sprung to action. The baron was immediately carted in.

The doctor turned to both Kelin and Stephen. "If you know any of the patient's relatives, please send word to them. He might not survive the night." He paused, looking distressed. It seemed like he had more to say but he shook his head instead. And then he promptly turned away and followed after the patient.