Chapter 12 The Sick Village

"Sir Lincoln," Seraphina said, "I need you to go back to the camp and alert the prince as to what Is happening here," Seraphina said. "Tell him not to come here," she added. "What about you, your highness?" Lincoln asked.

"I will gather herbs in the forest in attempt to alleviate the symptoms these people have," Seraphina replied. Seraphina walked past him and pulled out a handkerchief from her dress. Then knelt down and wiped the blood away from the woman's eyes. "I will do everything I can to help you" seraphina said to the woman. "Thank you... thank you" the woman cried as Sera stood up and turned to Lincoln.

"I can't leave you here alone, your highness," he said. "You must" she told him "it is an order" she added. "I'm sorry your highness but I only take orders from the prince" Lincoln said. "Unlike you sir Lincoln I have been exposed to this illness, from the symptoms this woman has it appears to be larax which can be deadly if not treated, after you return and alert the prince of the situation I need you to go and alert the queen so she can send medicine and make sure no other villages are affected do you understand?" Seraphina said.

Lincoln let out a sigh. "Yes, your highness," he said. "I will do as you say?" He said with a bow before turning and walking back towards the woods. Serphina turned back to the woman and knelt down. "Has anyone died of the illness yet?" Seraphina asked.

"Only one your highness," the woman spoke. "How long have the people in the village been sick?" Sera asked. "It has only been a day, your highness, but it's all the same," she replied. "It starts with bleeding from the eyes, and a fever, then they cough up blood, after that it's not much longer until they fall unconscious" she told seraphina. "It took a day for the first sick person to die," she added.

"It sounds like a progressed version of larax" Seraphina whispered to herself as she stood up. "I'll go collect some herbs to help with the fevers" seraphina told her.

Lincoln made it back to the camp with storm. As soon as they landed he jumped off her back and ran to the prince. "Where is the princess?" Daniel asked slightly concerned, as Lincoln knelt down. "The people of the village are seriously ill your highness" Lincoln said. "Her highness has told me to return to you and inform you not to go to the village so the people of the camp do not get sick" he continued. "She also told me to head back to the capital and alert the queen if what I'd happening as the princess believes the illness ro be larax" he finished.

"I will ask you one last time Lincoln where is the princess?" Daniel asked again, annoyed. Lincoln looked up at Daniel. "She was exposed to the illness and chose to stay as not to spread it" he said solemnly. "Dammit!" Daniel yelled. "Go do as the princess said" Daniel told him. "When you return head straight to the village" he added. "What will you do your highness?" Luna asked. "I will go retrieve the princess" Daniel said as he walked towards the red dragon, Flare. "You mustn't" Luna said following him. "What if you get sick larax is deadly" she said as Daniel stopped in front of flare. "I won't" he said as he stared up at the large red dragon.

"Alright dragon, we must go save your master" Daniel said. "I don't think you can talk to a dragon, your highness," Luna whispered. "Dragons are smart" said Daniel. "Much smarter than humans, I have no doubt it can understand me," he added.

"Your highness I beg you stop this" Luna pleaded. "Be silent," he snapped. Flare laid down and allowed Daniel to climb on his back. "Let's go," he said to Luna. Hesitating, she also climbed on flares back.

Flare took off into the air. This felt so strange to him.... riding on a dragon... flying in the sky.

It didn't take them long to get to the village. They landed just outside of it and as they entered they were stopped by an invisible barrier. That was when seraphina walked out of one of the houses. "Prince Daniel," she said, surprised. "What are you doing here?" She asked, walking close to the barrier.

"I very clearly said not to come," she added. He just stared at her for a moment. In the short time she had been gone, her skin became incredibly pale and bags had formed under her eyes. "Are you alright?" He asked as he just continued to stare at her.

"I'm fine" she said. "I used to much magic while setting up the barrier and making potions" she told him. "Your sure your not sick?" He asked again plainly. "Not yet" she told him. "But I wouldn't be surprised if I do become sick" she added. "Why you haven't been here long?" He Questioned. "All the symptoms I've seen point to Larax. But it is progressing far too fast" she told him. "The first person sick was only sick for a day before death, since I've been here 3 more have died" she said sadly.

"You should get out of there before you do get sick" he told her. Seraphina shook her head. There's no point, I'm most likely already infected. And these people need someone to take care of them" she said. "AND WHO WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU IF YOU BECOME SICK?!" Daniel snapped. "I'm hoping by then Lincoln can return with a sort of cure" she said honestly.

"Why?" Daniel asked "why would you risk your life for people who aren't even yours" he asked as he banged on the barrier. "Because they are by people" seraphina said. "Geria may not yet be a part of Sengrid, but these people are still part of my blood" she told him. "And if this illness gets out it can affect thousands" she said. "And because of that I don't mind bearing it so they don't have to" she said.

Daniel's eyes went wide. "Sera..." he said. "Finally done calling me Princess huh" she said sarcastically. But his look was still the same. "What is it?" Seraphina asked concerned.

"Your eyes..." he said. "Your eyes are bleeding" he added.

TO BE CONTINUED