Chapter 24

Philip was led to the king's chambers just as his nurse maid had begun to feed him. "Who are you?" she asked him.

"I have been sent to treat the king in the queen's absence," he said, careful not to reveal his identity to her. He didn't wish to answer any more questions than necessary. She was wary of him, but chose not to pursue her inquisition as the guards had confirmed his statement. She left the king's meal on the table next to the bed and rose to leave him to his tasks. "Pardon me, ma'am," he asked as she was leaving. "Do you know which cabinet the medication is kept in? Queen Amri had said it was near the bed."

She walked over to the shelf near the bed and retrieved the bottles. "This is the one he is to get in the evenings and this one is for mornings."

"Yes, yes I know the order. Thank you." He took the bottles from her and led her to the door. Once she had gone he closed and locked the door. He padded back to the king's bed. "Now, let's see what she has been doing to you." He said as he opened the bottles. He noticed the fear and anger well up in the king's eyes. "Fear not, your majesty. I have been sent to help you. Am I to tell you that the lily blooms full this day and your time as king nears its end, though your life is to be restored."

The king could hardly believe his ears. Lily was still alive?! Oh, praise the Great Spirit of the Forest for reviving his hope. Philip examined the king quickly to determine the extent of the damage done and decide what would best be used to reverse it. "Let's see, clear eyes I see. That tells me that your mind is clear." He took the kings hand and asked him to squeeze his hand. There was no response. "Ah, a nerve tonic. Very sly. Very sly indeed." He took the bottles and emptied them into a basin mixing them together. The mixture created a bittersweet odor that told the old man what ingredients she had used. "She used chigger's root and stevia; to hide the poison of ratskin. She definitely did her homework." He sniffed the odor again and noticed bristle patch pine which was used to keep him alive against the poison's effects. "We'll just have to make a new batch, now hadn't we?" He took the basin and emptied it contents out the window and proceeded to create replacement potions to carry the same odor and color so as not to alarm Amri. He mixed the tonics with ease and returned the filled bottles to their original places. He then took a small amount of what he had mixed and administered to the king. "This will work quickly, but not completely as you will need several doses. Amri herself will give the rest of your medicine without ever knowing it. You must, however, play along. You must be careful not to let her know of your recovery until you are complete for I fear she will kill you otherwise. Blink if you understand." The king blinked. "Good, Now I will have to go before your wife returns to find me here or all will be lost."