Healing Touch

After making some enquiries among those who speak the Common Tongue, he learns that the healers of Volantis can be found in the houses with the sigil of the snake and staff. It takes him a while but eventually he finds one. He finds a young man, thin and harassed-looking, who is suffering a tongue lashing from a rail-thin woman who reminds him of Princess Laena.

Listening, he heard the woman berate the man for over charging her for his services. It seemed she was demanding a refund of half the costs already paid.

"but madam," the man cried. "Your husband was cured, and I did not even charge for half of the time I spent with him, because he was so good to me in the past. I charged mostly for the potions." He saw Brandon come in. "Forgive me, madam. I have another customer." The woman turned for the door, threatening retribution.

He hurried over to Brandon and bowed. "How can I be of service. I do apologise, the lady is very...forceful."

"Said I overcharged her. Seems to have thought I should charge less, just because her husband helped fund food and medicine for the poor people in the city, who I help to tend. Her husband was a decent old sort and she's a mercenary old creature," the young man sighed. "And now the old man is dead and it's come time to settle the account and she's trying to get out of the fees." He sighed again. "But what can I do? My sister is one of their servants. The old lady is likely to see her lose her post if I don't give her what she wants. And I have to feed myself already, and help the poor, as wel as tending my patients. And there are quite a few healers in the city, all competing for custom among the sick."

"Some charge more than me. I charge no more than my master did, and he was one of the most respected healers in the city. What ails you?" He looked Brandon over. "You do not look unwell."

"I will take a look at your lord," the young man promised. "We will talk about the rest afterwards, depending on how much care he needs. I cannot refuse those in need. Alas, I have to charge for my services, else I'd starve to death."

The healer followed Brandon. "You must tell me everything you know about this illness," he said, as they arrived at the prince's door. "When it started, exactly what symptoms your master has suffered, if he can eat and drink. Everything."

"I had to ask if you noticed anything," the healer said. "He's unconscious, I see, so he can't tell us anything himself."

He listened to the prince's heart, felt his pulse and several other things. He tried to wake the prince but it was no use. Aegon didn't move.

When he was done, he looked up at Brandon with a worried expression. "It looks like poison. See, it's keeping him alive, but if he does not wake, he will grow weak, and die. It will take me a little time to determine the exact nature of the poison in order to find an antidote. In the meantime, you must make sure to give him nothing but fresh water from the well. Fetch it yourself, or have someone you trust do so. He needs liquid to survive, of course. But we cannot rule out the possibility of poisoned food or wine. If I can wake him, I will make arrangements for safe food to be brought in."

"That is what I am attempting to determine. There is a poison that can be taken in through scented water, candles and the like." He got up and walked around the room, finally pausing by a slender candle. "This smells of lavender, and looks like it has been lit. There are others like it, I see, and all men need candles. They could well be the cause."

The healer busied himself examining the prince.

"We always put them in the rooms," the servant said. "We replace them when one burns down to the stub. Then we put all new ones in when we get new visitors.\"

"We get them from a chandler in the city. The steward keeps them in a larder." The maid led Brandon down towards the kitchens where the larders were. "We have a whole cupboard full of candles."

All the candles were scented. At least a quarter were scented with lavender but there were other scents too. All looked innocent.

"The last shipment was thre days ago."

"The stewards and housemads. The footmen and cooks. The man who brings the candles from the chandler's. That's maybe a dozen people," the maid explained.