Daryn fought sleep as she slumped down and sat at the base of the door. She had crammed the herbs into her swollen leg and then wrapped it in a piece of hot cloth that Amaria had given her. While she fought to keep her eyes open, she watched the old lady and her brother bustle about. Amaria was a mage, but she didn't use her magic unless she absolutely had to. Instead, she used her knowledge of other healing methods. Brews and the like. Amaria lay Triver out on the table and laid both of her hands on his chest. They stayed like that for a very long time, and Daryn knew that she was countering whatever poison was killing the prince. Suddenly, the old mage pulled back, slumping against the back wall. Daelyn moved to help her stand.
"Move him to a bed beside his sister," the old lady whispered, patting Daelyn's arm, "She will be upset when she wakes up. He will want her as well, I assume." Amaria glanced at Daryn whose eyebrows were perked up. The lady chuckled. "Didn't know they were related, huh? Well, there's a lot you two don't know. Protect the Prince like your life depends on it," she said, walking out of the room, "Because, my twins, it does."
Daelyn followed her command and moved Triver to a cot right beside Ser'deni. He covered the boy up and moved away. They were siblings. He could hardly believe it. They didn't look alike at all. At least Daryn and he looked the same. Daelyn sat down on the floor beside Daryn, who wrapped her arms around his body. She hummed a song to him, quietly, and he knew she was going to fall asleep.
"I'm sorry I got you hurt," he said, closing his eyes and falling into the sound of her light voice.
"You did nothing," she said, "It was all my idea. I owe the two of them an apology."
They spent a few minutes in silence, leaning against each other with their eyes closed. Sleep came quickly but unwillingly. It was Daryn who woke up first, hearing Ser'deni hit the floor. She jumped but remained still, waiting and watching the young mage tend to her brother. Daryn patted Daelyn's head and finally stood, moving into another room in the house. The kitchen. Already, Amaria was cooking, and whatever it was smelled better than the castle food had during their short day there. Daryn offered to help, but the old woman scolded her away. So, she waited by the door, watching the prince and Ser'deni. How had Amaria known about them being siblings? More importantly, how had she known it was the prince? Daryn had her guesses, the first being that Triver was very hidden without his hat. Anyone would know who he was now. She made herself a goal to find them new disguises.
"Daryn, set the table," Amaria barked from behind her, pressing a stack of ceramic plates in the girl's hands. Daryn didn't argue, knowing it was useless with the woman. The same table Triver had been healed on would be dined on this morning. The tan wood of the table was carved and burned with different markings, words and letters and symbols that Daryn couldn't read. She glanced at her brother, who was sitting up and rubbing his eyes. Amaria entered the room with food, some sort of meat that filled the room with its scent.
"Now, we wait for the boy to get hungry," Amaria said, sitting down at the table with a chuckle.