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Kaerius pointed at several fading bruises on Brighton’s upper arms and a newer, darker bruise on his right outer thigh.

“Probably from training; he spars with his men every morning. These are days old, and this one probably from yesterday.” Sir Vincent dismissed these with little concern. “I don’t see any injuries on his body to be concerned about. Sir, can you turn so I can see the back of your head?”

Brighton grunted softly but did not otherwise respond.

Sir Vincent said more sharply, “Wake up!”

The guard grunted again, but seemed no more alert than before.

The physician cursed softly under his breath, pulled something from an inside pocket of his jacket, and then put a vial under Brighton’s nose.

Brighton groaned in more emphatic protest, but he did not answer any of Sir Vincent’s questions. The physician supported Brighton’s head and instructed Kaerius on how to turn the man over with a minimum of jostling, and then examined the back of Brighton’s head with careful fingers.

Finally he said, “Captain Brighton, can you hear me?”

Brighton didn’t even twitch, and Sir Vincent sighed.

Will he live?

“What?” The physician looked at Kaerius. “Are you asking about him?”

Kaerius nodded.

“I ought to tell Her Highness first.” Sir Vincent stood and pulled a blanket over his patient, tucking it in carefully around his body.

When he opened the door, he said, “Your Highness…”

At that moment, Brighton’s wife Lila rushed in from the hall. She looked at Sir Vincent with wide eyes. “Where is he?”

They followed the physician to Brighton’s bedside, and Lila knelt before her husband and kissed his cheek. “What happened?”

Chapter 17

The young guard was eventually ushered back out to the hallway to take a position at the door with his fellow soldiers, having been told in no uncertain terms that he was not to give any information about Brighton’s injury to anyone, especially not to any of the foreign servants or diplomats.

Sir Vincent said, “If his condition worsens, alert me at once.”

“What will you do?” Lila’s lips trembled, and she pressed them together. “What are our options if he gets worse overnight?”

The physician swallowed and looked down. “There isn’t much I can do,” he admitted in a low voice. “Head injuries are always chancy, and there’s very little we can do other than wait and see.”

Lila nodded once, her face pale.

Sir Vincent indicated that Kaerius should precede him out of the room, and the Mer prince complied.

May I stay?He looked at Marin.

“What does that mean?”

Kaerius signedsleepand pointed at the floor outside Brighton’s room, where he would be able to both guard Marin’s private quarters and know immediately if Lila called for help.

“You want to sleep there?” Marin swallowed. “It isn’t… well, it isn’t proper.”

Kaerius bowed deeply.Please. I mean only to protect you and to help Brighton, if I can.

Marin looked at the physician. “Take an escort when you return to your quarters. I don’t trust everyone in the palace.”

“Are you letting him stay?” Sir Vincent said in surprise.