PHIN

anctuary of Gideon's room. Staring at his still, peaceful face, a

start with

dark, bitter-smelling concoction made from rare herbs, many of which only grew on

ry day. "He cannot swallow, my lady. We have to force h

asic nursing skills while caring f

arden. With a small knife, I carefully sharpened

that for?" Garet

tly to the back of his throat," I explained.

eezing his jaw to open his mouth. I used the reed to

lmost none of the prec

xture of amazement and awe. "My la

relative," I said, offering a simpl

the physician not sh

scription and performs a brief examination. He has nev

l like this wasn't a minor oversigh

al? If it was intentional, it meant some

ng Keep felt like a fortress, but

affairs and the garrison-the "outside business." The "inside business"-procurement, staff, an

my past life, she was infamous

has managed the household in his name. The account bo

d protect Gideon, I had to seize control of

a soft cloth. My fingertips brushed against his mouth, and the u

pulled my hand away. This was

, "Don't worry. I will find the truth. I wi

f movement in my peripheral visio

ey had trembled,

g, but he was still again,

f the light? Or