Contract With The Alpha King by Brey Mitchylle

Chapter 96

"Lady Fiona, you look exhausted. Please, if you want to rest, I can let the others know. We are willing to wait for you to feel better," Merra, Aken is wife, said with a smile. "No one expected you to immediately start healing people. Perhaps you could take some time to rest in the cabin and start

Joniorrow instead?"

"I'm line, Merra," Fiona said as she examined the child. When she arrived, she deckled to immediately start healing people. The state of this place made her think that there would be a lot of people who didn't have access to the infirmary. And she was right. "Is my son alright!"

From smuled. "He is go

"Alright, """ Mena siid.

going to be fine. Please take him to Lady Karlana over there" She looked at Merra. "Please help them."

Fiona nodded, her gaze landing on the

village square.

The village square was bustling as Fiona began working, assessing one villager after another under the watchful eyes of both Aken and his wife Merra.

She chose to stay under a small shed near the stage as guards and local volunteers patrolled the edges of the clearing, keeping a close lookout for any sign of danger while villagers queued up, waiting anxiously for their turn.

Fiona turried her attention to the task at hand and smiled as a young mother approached with a baby clutched to her chest. Fiona glanced at the child, noting the faint purple hue beneath his eyes. "How long has he been sick?" she asked. "Since last winter," the mother replied. "He gets fevers, his breathing turns shallow. Nothing we've tried has helped."

Fiona placed her hands on the child's forehead, closing her eyes for a moment. When she opened them, she nodded thoughtfully. "He has a lingering poison in his system, though not enough to be immediately life-threatening. Take him to Lady Kariana" She gestured to a tent set up with medical supplies, where Kariana was working, ready to treat anyone Fiona sent her way. Finina was beginning to wonder why the poison seemed to have only affected young children.

ily, it was too early to draw a conclusion.

Sadly, it was too

She watched as the mother's face lit with relief. "Thank you, Lady Fiona. Thank you

As she left, Fiona noticed a young boy, no older than twelve, stepping forward with a limp. A large gash ran along his leg, poorly bandaged and dark with infection. He was accompanied by his older brother, who held his arm to steady him.

older brother said, his voice laced with desperation. "He was cut by a blade in the forest. We didn't know it had gotten this bad. I know we heal fast, but since

let him sit down" Fiona examined the wound carefully, her fingers grazing the swollen skin around it. "This wound is infected. I can heal the infection, but he'll need to rest and avoid any

her hands as she placed them over the wound. The infection began to subside, the swelling easing as the

stared in wander, his eyes widening as the pain dulled and

looked at Fiona with tear-filled eyes. "Thank you,

a small nod, sending them

lingering poison symptoms among the villagers. Some suffered from chronic fatigue or sharp pains that seemed to have no cause-signs of low-dose poisoning that the villagers had endured for months, possibly years. Whenever the encountered such cases, she directed them to Karlana for further treatment, who diligently took each patient and organized them wish the utmost care. "Lady

warmly. "Let's take

her hand on the woman's back, focusing her energy. She sensed a foreign toxin lingering

Chapter 96

softened with gratitude. "Thank you, Lady Fiona. We've tried everything,

village square. Fiona felt Elijah's grip tighten on her arm, his other hand instinctively moving to the hilt of

appeared,

Fiona," he said. "The villagers, they're

exchanging a quick glance with Finna,

faint spark of intrigue apparent

situation. Lady Carissa and the envoys had been starved of acknowledgment and attention since they started helping

into the siptare, where villager hur garbered in a throng around Lady Carissa and the envoys. Carissa, looking pale but composed,

envoys, their voices growing louder

shouted, pointing accusingly at the envoys "Why is it

toward Lady Carissa, who raised her hands

voice, an older woman with lines of hard years etched into her face, called out, "You want us to know exactly who

were falling sick When our elders were dying from

around at the faces glaring back at

hip said, her eyes blazing with anger. "Now you come with bags of potatoes and dried meat? Now you want to

here because Lady Fiona's here, and you're scared of what she's doing! Scared she'll help us without your interference and that we'll remember

up a hand. "Please, we only meant

nas

care abour Putting on a show to save face while

don't notice?" called a young man from the back of the crowd. "Your sacks of food are half-routed by the tinse they reach us. You mark them as