Page 4 of The Lost Art of Revealing Hidden Truths (The Lost Arts #3)

Chapter Two

P erian made a shushing sound and gestured a little wildly at Renny, who made a noise but didn’t rouse.

He carefully closed the book and shimmied off the bed, then gestured at the door.

They all trooped back into the sitting room, where Molun offered him a look of sympathy and then pulled the door nearly closed again, presumably so that Renny wouldn’t be roused by the fight they were about to have.

“I was reading to Renny,” Perian said, though he thought that rather obvious.

“The Princess isn’t meant to have visitors,” Cormal said stiffly.

Brannal had several times told Perian that Cormal was an able Secundus who supported Brannal in his duties, but every interaction had demonstrated that he was determined to dislike Perian.

Did he wake up that way every morning? Did it come on suddenly when he saw Perian?

Perian tried not to engage, really he did, but sometimes it was hard.

With as much patience as possible, he explained, “The doctor asked me to deliver Renny’s tonic.”

He hoped this wouldn’t get the doctor in trouble, but he’d already announced it to the Warriors present, so it wasn’t like it could have remained a secret.

“I don’t see how that necessitated sitting on her bed and disturbing her by reading! ”

Brannal clucked his tongue, looking amused. “Come now, Cormal, that is taking the matter too far.”

Cormal shot Brannal a resentful glare, then turned it on Perian. “If she was sleeping, she shouldn’t be disturbed!”

“She wasn’t sleeping when I arrived,” Perian defended himself again.

“I offered to keep her company because she was bored, and she fell asleep as I was reading.” Not able to explain that he’d kept reading in large part for the invisible brother they all thought was dead, he shrugged.

“I think she found my voice soothing. The book was rather boring.”

Cormal looked like he was going to take exception to everything that Perian had just said, and Molun interceded.

“She sounded happier than she has since she wound up in bed,” he said firmly, sounding more serious than he usually did. “And you know how much trouble we’ve been having getting her to sleep with all her fretting. Perian was very helpful.”

Cormal clearly didn’t agree. Perian suppressed a sigh and held his tongue, because it was more important that he got to spend time with Renny than that he got to tell the other man what he thought of him.

“I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize her health,” Perian assured everyone. “She was feeling very down worrying that this was her illness coming back worse than before. Having someone to talk to cheered her up.”

Cormal blew air out through his nose, like he couldn’t actually object to the words but was thinking of lobbing a fireball anyway.

“You know the Princess likes to spend time with Perian,” Brannal said gently.

“Then you shouldn’t take him away from her, should you!” Cormal snapped before turning on his heel and stalking out of the room.

They all exchanged glances. Was that Cormal switching from blaming Perian for being there to blaming Perian for not being there?

Perian wasn’t the only one who seemed to think that was a little excessive, but after a rather awkward moment of silence, Brannal spoke.

“I wanted to come see how the Princess was doing myself.”

“Much happier since Perian has been here,” Molun repeated promptly, and the other Warrior nodded in agreement.

Just in case Brannal might feel nonsensically guilty thanks to Cormal’s words, Perian added, “And she was delighted to hear all about our weekend.”

Brannal’s eyes widened slightly.

Perian amended, “All the safe-for-twelve-year-olds details about our weekend.”

Molun laughed out loud, and the other Warrior looked like they were trying not to do the same. Brannal rolled his eyes.

“Thank you for censoring yourself. How did you find her?”

“Not as well as when I last saw her, obviously,” Perian admitted unhappily.

He rallied: “But she said she hasn’t felt any other dizzy spells since then.

She seemed happier when I was talking with her, and I tried to remind her that setbacks could happen but positive steps forward could still occur after.

I thought she was actually in pretty good form just now.

I wouldn’t be at all surprised if she were up and ready to face the world by the end of the week. ”

Brannal raised a hand in protest. “Let’s not rush our fences.”

“I didn’t tell Renny that,” Perian clarified. “Just assured her that I thought she would get better and that she’s starting off much healthier than she was, so there’s every reason to suppose she’ll get over this quickly.”

Brannal opened his mouth, clearly about to protest.

“Look,” Perian hurried on, “I know it might not be true, but wouldn’t you rather have her cheerfully facing her future and believing it’s possible?”

Frowning faintly, Brannal said, “But what if she gets more upset when a fast recovery doesn’t happen?”

“If,” Perian corrected. “ If a fast recovery doesn’t happen, then I’ll remind her that I can’t actually see the future and can only wish for the very best for her.

Why borrow trouble, Brannal? Why not give her hope?

I’m not promising she’s going to be completely well tomorrow and never be ill again.

Just telling her what I do believe, that she can recover from this and keep going. Isn’t that what we all want?”

Brannal nodded, conceding, “Yes, of course.”

Smiling, Perian said, “I should go let the doctor know I administered the tonic.”

Because she had to be wondering, several hours later, after she’d given him an excuse to go visit, right?

“I’ll go with you,” Brannal told him.

Oh. He’d rather gotten the impression that Brannal wanted him to go away, but that was fine.

“Dinner in the dining hall?” Perian asked Molun .

Molun nodded, flashing him a wide grin, blue eyes bright. “I didn’t hear most of those details about your weekend away, and I want them all .”

“We might need a more private setting in that case,” Perian said with a wink, and the Warrior next to Molun stifled a laugh.

Brannal rolled his eyes. “Come along.”

Perian waved goodbye, and he and Brannal passed out of the sitting room and back into the corridor.

“The doctor gave you her tonic?” Brannal said. “Really?”

“She absolutely did,” Perian said earnestly. “You didn’t really think I wouldn’t get in to see Renny, did you?”

Brannal huffed a laugh. “I was entirely certain you would want to be there, so I was going to make sure I had a report for you.”

Aww. Perian had assumed he’d been there solely as Summus. That was so sweet. Perian squeezed his arm.

“Thank you. I really appreciate it. I kind of panicked when the doctor told me what happened.”

Carefully, Brannal asked, “Do you wish that we’d been here?”

Wraiths take Cormal , Perian thought viciously . Even if Perian had briefly wondered the same thing, it was not all right for Brannal to feel guilty about this.

“I don’t suppose it would have helped at all, would it?” Perian asked calmly. “I always want to be here to support her, of course. But I loved our weekend away, and I can’t imagine not having experienced it. So I guess I’d like for the two things not to have happened at the same time.”

Brannal’s lips tipped up, his expression softening. “If we can direct the doings of the world.”

“Exactly,” Perian agreed cheerfully.

If only. Perian would have some suggestions about a certain Secundus’s behavior, that was for sure.

At the doctor’s office, Perian made sure it was all right to sip the tonic. Thankfully, she confirmed it was fine, though it would work best if it were consumed within an hour at the latest.

“Trying to stretch out your time together?” she said, not sounding surprised.

Perian nodded, expression rueful.

“Is there anything you can tell us?” Brannal asked.

The doctor shook her head. “It was a dizzy spell similar to the ones she used to have much more frequently. She seemed very frustrated by this one, though, her mood much bleaker.”

“I believe Perian has helped with that,” Brannal said, smiling at him.

Perian explained how he’d tried to give her hope. The doctor considered this and then nodded sharply.

“I think that will do more good than harm if it improves her mood. We must not make completely unrealistic promises, of course, but I think your premise sound in the absence of other evidence. The Princess has shown herself to be growing in resilience, and that can certainly make a difference.”

Perian blew out a relieved breath.

“We’ll have to continue to monitor her closely,” the doctor continued, “and if you are such an improvement to her mood, then I will recommend to the Queen that you be able to visit her.”

Brannal’s lips tipped up faintly, and Perian realized belatedly that was part of the reason Brannal had insisted on coming.

Oh, he was getting so much loving tonight.

Perian admitted, “I did sort of promise her that I’d have an indoor picnic with her tomorrow, one that could even be a bed picnic if that was what was needed—but I said she needed her mother’s permission!”

In case they thought he was completely reckless. He was only mostly reckless.

They both looked amused, thankfully.

“Shall we broach the matter now?” Brannal suggested.

The doctor nodded after considering for a moment. “Yes, if you believe there has been a material improvement, we should speak to the Queen without delay.”

Brannal nodded. “We left her peacefully sleeping after Perian read to her.”

The doctor looked pleased. “I was considering sleeping aids, which is not my preference. This is definitely preferred.”

“I’ll see you later?” Perian asked.

He was quite sure he didn’t need to be present for this battle, especially if Cormal was consulted .

Brannal nodded. “I’ll try to make it to dinner, but feel free to head down there yourself.”

Perian nodded, and to his surprise, Brannal leaned over and pressed a chaste kiss to Perian’s lips.