Erling’s whole body ached. Hecouldn’t think clearly. “Onolyn,” he whispered, hardly audible.“I see danger in the future for your Soul, protect your Soul.”
She leaned closer. “What do youmean? I don’t understand.”
“I’ll come to you in theInner Worlds. Wrap yourself in the Light and Sound.” He felthimself slipping away when a stab of pain shot through him and hegasped.
“What is it? Where does ithurt?”
“My side and stomach feel likea battlefield … something’s wrong. It’s not just the wound.”The world began spinning and he felt himself falling into a darkvoid.
20
Death’s Door
Koriann stood next to the bed,staring at Erling, hardly able to absorb what was happening. Erling’scomplexion had a bluish cast, and his breathing was shallow andirregular. Koriann kissed his burning forehead.
“Erling, don’t die,” shewhispered. “Please don’t leave me. I love you.”
The doctor and Onolyn entered theroom.
“Dr. Tenzing, I’m so gladyou’re here.” Koriann deeply trusted the doctor who’d servedher family when she was a child. “Yesterday Erling was recoveringwell from the surgery, but today he’s taken a turn for the worse.”
The doctor began examiningErling. “What were his symptoms before he lost consciousness?”
“I was with him at the time,”Onolyn said, clasping her trembling hands together. “He wasfeverish, his stomach hurt, and he was in a lot of pain from hiswound. I gave him his medication.”
“Perhaps his wound isinfected.”
When Dr. Tenzing finishedexamining Erling, he said, “The wound isn’t infected. Hissymptoms seem like poisoning, judging from his skin color, dilatedpupils, stomach pain, and decreased blood pressure. Is it possiblethat Zanton’s blade had poison on it? Perhaps a slow working typethat releases gradually into the bloodstream.”
Koriann’s chest tightened.“It’s possible.”
“I’ll take some blood samplesand run lab tests. If it is poison, it could take days to isolate andanalyze it. I don’t think he’s got that long. The poison’salready been in his system for too long.”
“You mean he could die?”
“Your Majesty, I hesitate tosay anything yet. Let’s do some bloodwork before we jump toconclusions.”
“If the sword was poisoned,there’ll be an antidote in Haklute,” Onolyn said. “Zac and Ican fly there and search for it. If it’s not poison, contact us andwe’ll begin our mission.”
“Leave immediately,” Koriannsaid. “Time is against us. Hendora can go with you and return withthe antidote once you find it.”
After Onolyn left, Dr. Tenzingsaid, “Do you want Erling moved to the palace infirmary? I’ll becalling in other doctors and lab technicians. It will be hard to keepquiet that he was in your bedroom.”
“Could moving him endangerhim?”
“I don’t think so, but I’llbe honest with you. I don’t know what’s wrong yet, so I can’tsay for sure.” He rubbed the back of his neck and shook his head.“If it’s an anticoagulant, moving him could kill him.”
“Then leave him.”
“That might be best. I’mgoing to get some assistance and start taking blood samples. I’llbe back shortly.”
After the doctor left, Koriannwent over to the bed and clasped Erling’s fiery hand. Kneeling downon the floor next to the bed, she began to cry. Zanton’s last wordsto Erling echoed in her mind. You’rea dead man.
At the time she thought he meantto come back for revenge, but now she knew his true meaning. Thepoison on the sword was Zanton’s instrument of death. “Oh Erling,Erling!” she cried out in anguish. “Don’t leave me!” She satdown on a chair, wondering what she could do to help Erling. Then itcame to her; she could ask her inner teacher, Master Bakka, forguidance. She sat on the bedside chair, focused inwardly and began tosing HU.
At first, she was too upset tofocus inwardly and her mind raced, but gradually she became calmer. Ahigh-pitched vibration sounded in her inner ears and the Masterappeared.
Her eyes widened in surprise atseeing him in the room with her.
Yourheart is heavy,he said telepathically.
MasterBakka, will Erling live?
The Master walked over to the bedand looked down at Erling. Hislife hangs in the balance.
Koriann rose and joined Bakka.Her movements seemed different, almost as if she was floating. Thenshe realized she’d crossed over to the Inner Realm and was in herLight Body.
She looked back at the chair andwas startled to see her physical body still sitting there. It lookedlifeless and a luminous, bluish cord connected it with the luminousbody she now wore. She gazed at Erling who struggled to breathe, thenat the Master.
Erling’snot in his body right now, Bakka said.
In her heightened state, shecould see the poison flowing through Erling’s body. It looked likefiery red and black flames. Horror swept over her, jolting her backinto her physical body.
A short time later, Michio andToemeka entered the room. “We came as soon as we heard aboutErling. How is he?” Toemeka asked.
Grief welled up inside Koriannand tears filled her eyes. “Worse. He could die.”
Toemeka and Michio crossed overto the bed. When Toemeka saw Erling close up, her face drained ofcolor. “He looks almost comatose. Everything’s the same as thevision I had when I first arrived in Jaipar.” Michio put his armaround her and drew her close.
“You foresaw this!” Koriannaccused. “You knew Erling might die!”
“I warned Erling, but he didn’ttake me seriously.”
“Will Erling live? What else doyou know?”
Toemeka shook her head. “Nothingelse. I just saw a glimpse of the future.”
“The future isn’t fixed,”Michio said.
Dr. Tenzing entered the room withtwo lab technicians who took blood samples.
A few hours later they hadreports. Tests confirmed that Erling was poisoned with an unknownsubstance. By radio, Michio contacted Onolyn’s aircraft to let herand the team know the bloodwork results. “Erling’s life dependson the success of your team finding an antidote,” Michio told them.
Later that night, Toemekaassisted Nurse Jetty as she gave Erling a sponge bath to lower histemperature. When they finished, Jetty carried the supplies away. Onthe other side of the canopied bed, Koriann was falling asleep in anarmchair.
“Koriann, why don’t you go tobed?” Toemeka said. “You must be exhausted.”
Koriann yawned. “You must bejust as tired.”
“I’m all right. I had a nap.”
“I don’t want to leave him.”
“Why don’t you just sleepnext to him? On some level, he’ll sense your presence.”
Koriann lay down on the bed. “Anyword
