One is Come

  Chapter 14

  Sick Day

  Haylwen quickly stuck the hot, wet washcloth under her pillow, in a fold of towel. She slipped her hands onto the cold one under her back. When her mother came in to check on her, she didn't have to fake the stomach pains.

  “Oh, sweetie, still feeling sick? I knew when you missed lasagna last night you weren't feeling well, but figured it was something in passing. Here,” she said, pulling out the expected thermometer, “let's see if you have a fever.”

  Haylwen opened her mouth and in popped the thermometer. She still had the taste of washcloth in her mouth. She pulled her hands out and grasped her mother's hand as the thermometer beeped.

  Her mother took the thermometer and shook her head. “Just above one hundred, not much of a temperature, but your hands are cold and clammy. Missing one day of school isn't going to hurt much. I have some errands to run, so your father will stay home with you.”

  “Aw, Mom, I don't need a babysitter.”

  “Yes, well, we decided, um, one of us was going to stay here just in case you need anything. I have these errands, that are just easier if I do them, you know? Anyway, I'll be back by lunchtime and there is plenty of lasagna left. We'll have a nice lunch together, how does that sound?”

  Haylwen grimaced and sunk into the covers. “I don't know. My stomach hurts, it might be something that lasts for a while.”

  Her mother stood and fiddled with her sweater. “Well, I'll see you around lunchtime.” She gave Haylwen a quick kiss on the forehead, and left, pulling the door closed behind her.

  After leaving Haylwen’s room, Crystyn walked quickly into the study and shut the door. “Ok, I checked her out myself. I’m fine with her staying home, but she's faking. Her forehead is cool, but the thermometer read 105. Her hands feel like she has an ice pack under the blanket. Why are we not just sending her to school?” She had her hands on her hips.

  He leaned back in his chair. “Did you Delve her?”

  “What? No, she is clearly faking it.”

  He shook his head. “You were talking with Cadarn when she came home last night. I guess you didn't notice how she took a really long shower before going straight to bed?”

  She shook her head, and slowly her face fell, turning pale. She sat down heavily.

  He continued. “Even if she hadn't skipped her dose of special lasagna, I would have checked on her. This morning before she woke up, I searched the energy on the clothes she was wearing yesterday.”

  She raised her eyebrows at that. He used magic? He must really be worried. But…

  He made a face. “I wasn’t expecting to find anything, and I’ll want you to give it a better look, but…” His face and voice became deadly serious. “She had male energy, forced control, some other things, still on them.” He looked at his wife for a long moment, but she was silent, completely in shock.

  “That's why I want her to stay home and why I am going to stay with her. I am glad she is playing sick, that way I don’t have to make up a reason to keep her home, and have an excuse to talk to her about how she is feeling.”

  “Don't you think her mother should be the one to talk to her? I mean, if... something... happened, she might prefer her mother...” she trailed off when Abrennin shook his head.

  “I mean, yes, that is a valid point, but your energy is too conflicted right now. Honestly, are you sure you could even suppress her?” He waited for her answer.

  She shook her head. “No, and if she... I...” she started shaking, tears running down her face, overcome with emotion. She looked at him. “How can you be so calm?”

  He smiled, a paper-dry smile. “Training.”

  She nodded, wiping the tears from her face. She looked at him again. “You didn’t wake me up, let me go about my morning…”

  He calmly looked at her. She calmed down herself, and then continued, “Which is why you didn't tell me until now, and why you convinced me to go out for a while.”

  He nodded. “Hopefully by the time you get back, I’ll have a better idea of what is going on.”

  Haylwen's mother got up and went to wipe off her tear-stained face before making sure Cadarn was ready to go to school.