Page 27 of Edge of the Wild

Erik stood squared off from Olaf. The physician had his hands folded together before him, expression long-suffering, and Erik was the complete portrait of a king exerting every bit of his royal authority.

“Why not?” Erik asked, voice like grinding stone.

“Because,” Olaf said with the air of a man who’d said this more than once already, “Rune has an abdominal wound. I don’t want him sitting in water with his stitches.”

“Then let’s put ice in sheets. In towels.” Erik gestured sharply toward the hall, at the end of which lay Rune’s chamber.

“Your Majesty, that’s what I was about to suggest,” Olaf said, patiently.

At another time, Oliver would have laughed at the way Erik scowled in response. But this was about Rune; about the way Erik and the entire rest of the family felt helpless.

“Do it, then,” he snapped, and Olaf nodded and turned for the door.

The physician nodded a silent greeting as he passed Oliver.

Oliver nodded back, and went to Erik. “Handing out ice baths?” he tried to joke.

Erik heaved a deep breath and made an abortive move to rub at his temples. He fiddled with his rings instead, lips pressed to a thin, humorless line. “Olaf waits too long to act. He did with you, and I should have insisted…I’m insisting with Rune,” he said, firmly. “I’ll insist from now on.”

“I think Olaf’s doing the best he can,” Oliver said.

Erik’s gaze sharpened. “Because you’ve known him so long?” he asked, tone dry. “He was physician when I was a boy – he’s an old man now. Maybe he’s slipping. Or maybe he eschews newer, better methods.” The moment the words left his lips, he swore softly and glanced away, out through the window toward the gray, snowy afternoon that lay beyond the glass. He’d been uncharitable, and he knew it.

And Oliver knew it was because he was stressed and hurting. Gently, he said, “Healing takes time. Fevers have courses to run.” When Erik sent him a rueful, contrite glance, Oliver offered a bit of a smile and said, “I do know a little something about fevers, you know.”

“I know. But this one isn’t like yours.”

No, this was the result of violence. Of a wound delivered in the spirit of hatred.

“But it still has a course,” Oliver persisted. “And if Olaf’s been with the family that long, then you know he loves Rune, and he’s doing what he thinks is best for him.”

“I know,” Erik said, without any outward relief. He noticed the bundle of clothes in Oliver’s arms for the first time. “Is that some of what I had sent to you?”

“It is. Don’t you think an entirely new wardrobe was a bit excessive?”

Erik arched a single brow, true amusement finally coloring his expression.

“You don’t, obviously,” Oliver muttered. His stomach lurched. “Which reminds me…” His throat grew tight, and he found he had to push the words out. “I’ve been meaning to ask you…”

“About?”

“About…” It was really stupid that he was hesitating, but he couldn’t control his pulse, leaping suddenly. “About this word. This – well, as ridiculous as this sounds coming from me, it’s actually atitle. I think. Everyone keeps saying it, but I don’t…think it could possibly apply.”

Erik looked puzzled a moment – and then his brow cleared as understanding dawned. Something like apprehension flickered in his gaze. “Someone’s called you the consort,” he said, toneless, hard to read.

“Askr called me that right in front of you yesterday.”

Erik hesitated a moment – a pause that could have been thoughtful, or even damning – then gathered a deep breath and said, “I–”

The door swung open, and in trooped Olaf’s assistants, toting wooden tubs between them laden with snow, lengths of clean towels thrown over their arms.

Erik exhaled slowly, as if trying not to sigh.

Oliver did sigh. “You have to give them credit for expediency,” he muttered, then shook his head over his own uncharitable thought. “Let me put these down,” he said of his clothes, and was forced to step back and make way for the boys with the snow.

Erik nodded. “Hang them in my wardrobe.” Olaf hurried in after his assistants, and Erik fell in at his side, the whole group headed for Rune’s chamber.

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