Sarai merely gazed out of the window from her bed, allowing her thoughts to drift aimlessly towards the darkening sky. She was lost in her own world doing everything she could to not let her worry for her father tempt her anxiety. Then an abrupt knock came to her door and interrupted her reverie.

“Come in,” she called out, adjusting her position on the bed to face the door on her other side. Sarai wrapped her arms around one of her larger pillows, a habit that always brought her comfort. Lately, she had been feeling weaker than usual, but it was nothing out of the ordinary.

The door opened slowly, and Margaret entered the room, still wearing her night gown. “I found your father, the king, my lady,” she announced. Sarai’s shoulders tensed just slightly enough for them to quiver. Margaret was suddenly being very formal. She's never formal. Not with her.

Something is definitely wrong.

“Thank you for doing that for me,” Sarai replied, with a hint of gratitude in her voice. “I know it is terribly late for such an errand.”

“Of course, your highness, but you should know that I did not get any specific information out of him,” Margaret continued.

“What do you mean?” Sarai asked with a more stern tone of voice.

Unwavering in the response, Margaret replied, “I mean that he did not tell me anything specifically, however, I do get the sense he does plan to leave the city for a while, it would seem.”

“Why would he do that?” Sarai’s voice rose in concern.

Margaret noticed Sarai embracing her pillow even more, “My guess, it would seem he is under the impression that he can find a cure for you somewhere else, my lady.”

“What,” Sarai gasped. “And without support? Is father asking to die?” The sudden emotional burst caused her to bend over and cough into her pillow with reckless abandon. She couldn’t prevent the fresh blood from staining the pillow’s pearl-white decor through her fingers.

Quickly, Margaret grabbed a towel at Sarai’s bedside, handing it to her to wipe away the blood. “Thank you, Margaret,” she said, placing her hand on her chest to settle herself before continuing. “I need you to do one last thing for me before you retire for the night.”

“My lady?”

“I need you to find Commander Illiah and have him find my father,” Sarai requested urgently. "I would imagine he is in the military faction barracks."

“As you wish, your highness. I will leave immediately to find him, but please, you must rest. Your health is of utmost importance right now.”

Sarai's face hardened at the thought of being seen as a weak and helpless child. "I can fend for myself for Margaret. We need information and my father needs to come back and not leave the city."

Margaret bowed her head. "I understand, your highness. But please, let me do what I can to help you. You don't have to face this alone."

Sarai gave a weak smile. “Thank you, Margaret, your concern is appreciated. But I will not be alone, Master Dimir planned some days ago to come by sometime tonight to tell me something. He might have figured something out. I am well aware of what my father has done for me. Moreso than most…” Her voice trailed off and her eyes began to wander elsewhere from Margaret’s gaze. “He needs to stop… Thomas is too old, so I have been managing the city’s ledgers and documents in my father’s stead…I still don’t think he knows...”

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Margaret’s eye twitched and stepped closer to the bed, “As you wish, my lady, I will do what I can to help you, so that you do not have to suffer in infrequent company at least,” Margaret said reassuringly before bowing and making her way out of the room.

Sarai sighed, feeling a small measure of comfort in Margaret’s words. She knew she was not alone, that there were people who cared for her and willing to help. But the fear and uncertainty gnawed at her, leaving her feeling powerless and alone.

She leaned back into her headboard, feeling the weight of the situation heavy on her chest. She closed her eyes, to calm her racing heart and prayed for her hope to never cease. There must be a way to cure the seemingly incurable. After some moments, Sarai opened her eyes and gazed once more toward the endless sky.

----------------------------------------

Sarai waited another hour before she heard a knock come to her door. Despite her fatigue, she couldn’t afford to miss any more vital information and welcomed the nightly interruption with a smile. “Please come in,” she called out, careful not to strain herself again.

Margaret poked her head through the door into the dark room and announced herself. Sarai’s face lit up enough for Margaret to just catch her beaming presence from across the room. “I’ve found Illiah and informed him of your request, my lady,” Margaret said without making eye contact with her.

Again with the formality?

Somewhat relieved, Sarai responded, “That’s great news, thank you. I hope he didn’t object, as he usually only takes direct orders from the Field Marshal or father.”

Margaret reassured her that Illiah was more than willing to comply and had immediately set off on his dragon. Sarai sank back into her bed covers and relaxed at the news.

However, in the back of her mind she still remembered her father had mentioned something in the distant past, and it gnawed at her. Something about traveling through the underground water system of some kind, but there was no way her father would possibly venture in such a direction. His vanity and pride wouldn’t allow for him to stoop so low. Not for anyone... unless it was for himself?

Is he in trouble afterall?

Margaret noticed Sarai’s distracted uneasiness and quickly left the room, silently closing the door behind her. As Sarai pondered her thoughts, the sound of jingling keys caught her attention, and she realized that the door was being locked from the outside.

Sarai sprang from her bed and rushed to the door, but the handle refused to turn. Panic set in as she called out for Margaret, but there was no answer. Peering under her door, she searched for any sign of movement hoping the wall candles would aid her. Nothing. When she placed her ear against the door, she heard only silence.

A few moments later, a voice from the other side of the door spoke up, startling Sarai with a glimmer of hope. “Is everything alright your highness?” She could tell it was one of the younger guards, probably stuck to the night watch.

“Yes, but I need help. Can you unlock the door for me please?” Sarai said.

“Yes of course, give me a moment,” the young guard replied.

As the guard struggled with the keys, a deafening scream abruptly echoed through the hallway. Sarai recoiled to the ground with a start, her heart pounding with fear. Gasping for breath, she coughed before regaining her composure. “Are you alright, sir?”

“He is doing just fine,” a womanly voice said.

“Margaret?” Sarai gasped as she recognized the voice. “Margaret, what is going on?” she demanded. “Why is the door locked?”

“We need to make sure you stay put, my lady,” Margaret replied, her voice betraying a hint of satisfaction.

We? Sarai felt a chill run down her spine.

“Please let me out!” Sarai pleaded, crawling back to the door. But a strange sensation grasped her attention. She felt a sticky liquid coating her fingers the closer she ventured. Looking down, she saw a dark red liquid seeping through the space under the door, slowly creeping over her pearl-colored nails.

Suddenly, a draconic cry stole her attention as she turned and watched the window glass vibrate from the raw force.

"Commander Illiah?"

Eyes wide, she couldn’t fathom what was going on. It was all too much to comprehend.