He nodded. “Everyone here is very sick. This is the dying room.”

I stared at him for a moment. It was all I could do as waves of dismay swept through me.

He stared right back. Suspicion lurked in his golden-brown eyes. “Shouldn’t you know all this?”

The boy acted older than he looked. I crouched down next to his bed so we were eye level. “You’re half right. I am new here so I don’t know everything. But I want to.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t like it when kids are sick.”

“I don’t, either, but no one can stop it.”

“Why not?” I asked.

“We’ve been chosen by King Tohon for an important job. He says we’re helping him learn what medicines are good for his soldiers. And no one disobeys the king.”

The boy reminded me of Flea—wise beyond his years. “How many rooms are there?”

“Three.”

It was difficult to keep my expression neutral. Tohon must have a room for each stage of the toxin. “All filled with kids your age helping the king?”

“Yep.”

“Is there a room for those who have survived?”

Another shrug. “Don’t know.” Then he smiled. “Guess I’ll find out.”

“What’s your name?” I asked.

A guarded look replaced his grin. “Who wants to know?”

“I’m Avry. I’m working for King Tohon, too, but it’s like you said, I can’t refuse the king.”

“I’m Danny.”

I shook his hand. “Danny, can you do me a favor and not tell anyone I was here?”

“Why not?”

“It would get me into trouble with the king. I doubt anyone will ask you, but just in case.”

“Okay.”

“Thanks.” I stood to leave.

“Will you come back and visit me?” Danny asked.

“If I can, I will. However, I have a feeling the king might bring you to me at some point.”

“Why?”

“To help care for his soldiers.”

He hugged his thin arms around his chest and shivered.

I rushed to assure him. “But not as a test subject. As a…nurse.”

“Oh. That would be fun. I hope he does.”

Smiling, I pulled his blankets up as he lay back on his pillow, tucking him in. If he considered being a nurse fun, then he would make a great healer.

My thoughts swirled as I left the room and Tohon’s lab, locking the doors behind me. How many more children would die because of his experiments? How could I stop Tohon? Cutting off his supply of toxin would mean killing all the Death Lilys in the compound. And what would keep him from planting more? Assassination was the only solution I managed to produce. My contract with him hadn’t included a clause for attacking or harming him. But could I? One-on-one, my magic wasn’t strong enough. But with Kerrick’s? Maybe, and only if we fought him in the woods.

I arrived at the infirmary without any memory of the trip. My workers moved around the main room, snuffing the lanterns and attending to the morning chores. Once they understood that the new procedures improved a patient’s health, they were quick to adopt them. Those who refused had been replaced.

Starting near the door, I checked on each patient. A few slept, but most woke with the activity and brightening sunshine. Sweat beaded on the forehead of one soldier, who didn’t stir when I placed a hand on his cheek. His skin burned.

“Emre, when did you last check on Gantin?” I asked.

“Before bed. He was sitting up and making jokes with Lieutenant Fox.”

In the bed next to Gantin, Fox pushed up on an elbow. “He didn’t complain of anything.”

I glanced at the lieutenant. “Gantin wouldn’t. Don’t you remember how he kept quiet the whole time I stitched him up?”

Fox grinned. “No, ma’am, I believe I passed out after the first sight of blood.”

“And you call yourself a soldier,” I teased.

His humor faded. “I call myself a farmer, but King Tohon called me a soldier.”

“We have something in common. He called me, as well. And he’s a hard man to refuse.”

“We could resist,” Fox said. “But then we’d be dead and still working for him.”

I shared a sympathetic look with Fox before I turned to my helper. “Emre, fetch me a tablespoon of fever powder, please.” I inspected Gantin’s stomach wound. It had been stitched closed five days ago, and the sutures would be removed in the next couple of days. No puss or red streaked his skin, therefore no infection. Which meant the cut had gone deeper than it looked, causing internal bleeding or it could be another problem altogether.

Emre returned with the medicine.

I mixed the white powder in a glass of water and handed it to Emre. “Dribble a little of this into his mouth at a time, letting him swallow between them. It should reduce his fever.”

“What if it doesn’t?” Lieutenant Fox’s face creased with concern.

“Then I’ll take care of him personally. Don’t worry.” I moved over to the lieutenant’s bed to let Emre finish the job. “How’s the leg?” I asked him.

“Better.”

“Ready to put weight on it?”

He gave me a queasy look. “No.”

I pulled back his covers and pressed my hands to his right leg. The thigh bone had been broken in three places and I’d had to heal him. His shin bone had also been fractured, but I allowed that one to heal on its own. The leg felt strong.

“I know you’re enjoying being spoiled, but you have to work your muscles. Come on, up on your feet.” I pulled his legs off the bed.

He groaned, but not in pain. “You’re a hard lady to refuse.”

I put his arm around my shoulder and helped him stand. Fox wobbled on one foot, leaning on me.

“Put the other foot down. Your leg will hold. Trust me.”

He cringed in anticipation, but blinked with surprise. Distributing his weight, he straightened.

I beamed at him. “See? I wouldn’t lie to you.” I called another one of my workers over. “Please take the lieutenant for a walk. Once around the room.”

As she led Fox down the aisle, I checked on the next patient. “How’s the arm, Henson?”

He didn’t get a chance to reply. A bang sounded as a group of bloody soldiers pushed through the door. They carried six wounded men. I rushed to them, calling for a few helpers. The injured men were all unconscious, which, considering the severity of their wounds, was a kindness.

It was times like this that I wished for another five healers. All the men needed extreme measures. One died as I inspected the gaping hole in his stomach. Three others wouldn’t make it another hour. The remaining two had the best chance. But which one should I take first? I chose the weaker of the two. Before assuming his injuries, I instructed my helpers on how to keep the other alive. And how to assist with the walking wounded who had carried their buddies here.

My magic felt as if it jumped when I placed my hands on the first soldier. He had broken five ribs and one had pierced his lung. Breathing became difficult as pain ringed my chest; I collapsed on an empty bed. The commotion in the infirmary faded.

Darkness had fallen by the time I woke. Voices muttered, but no one in the infirmary was awake. In fact, it appeared as if everyone had been tucked in for the night. I reached over to the man lying in the bed next to me. The second man had survived the day and his pulse felt strong. Emre dozed in a chair next to him.

Before healing the soldier, I woke Emre.

“What’s the status on Gantin?” I asked.

“Better. No fever and resting quietly.”

“Good. Go to bed, Emre. I’ve got this one.” Plus the night nurses would be doing their rounds soon.

The voices outside stopped when Emre left. I would have ignored them except I heard Estrid’s name. The injured man would last a few more minutes. My ribs ached as I stood and searched for the source of the voices. They came from behind the infirmary. I crept back to my office. Glad the high window had been opened and no lanterns had been lit in here, I climbed up on my desk to peek outside.