The Scar-Faced King

by Isabell Schmitt-Egner

  They had decided to keep this matter secret from Constance. Since she had no idea of the fatal illness, she was not allowed to know why Berard had been summoned to the castle, Amon had insisted. Lilli saw it the same way as Amon, his sister was almost dying of worry for her brother and therefore they would solve the problem alone.

  Berard arrived in Grauemfall late in the afternoon and was immediately taken to Amon’s study without attracting attention. The young doctor bowed deeply to his king and then placed his equipment on the floor, which consisted of several leather bags. Lilli thought of the personal physician who had not even bothered to bring in equipment.

  “Your Majesty, how can I help you?” Berard queried, and Lilli felt a boundless sense of relief. He would surely find a clue, take them a step further in Amon’s healing.

  Berard examined Amon for over an hour. He even pricked his finger with a tiny knife and mixed few drops of blood with a powder and some more with a clear liquid.

  Lilli had watched in silence, terribly excited, hoping for a comment from the doctor at any moment, but he didn’t seem to be a person to rush into an assessment.

  At last, he announced that he was finished and went back to packing his equipment, then Amon asked him to take a seat.

  “Your Majesty, I must say I am surprised,” Berard began. “Your heartbeat is exceptionally strong; your blood is a healthy colour and is neither too thick nor too thin. Nor does it seem to contain any poison that I know of. Your eyes are clear, and your skin shows no signs of dryness or the like, which would indicate internal diseases. You say you have no pain in everyday life, no dizziness. At the same time, your stature is upright, I do not feel any dislocation in your bones. In short, I cannot detect any illness.”

  Lilli gasped. “Are you saying Amon is healthy?”

  “His Majesty shows no signs of illness, let us say. That, of course, is reason for joy. There may be further tests I could do. I need some equipment for that, but I can obtain that.” Berard smiled at Lilli. “What else may I do for you?”

  “There have always been these attacks, though,” Lilli spoke out loud her thoughts. “Can’t Berard stay in Grauemfall until this happens to you again? Then maybe he can say more about it.” She turned to Amon with this request.

  “Of course. I would be happy if you were my guest for a while. Lilli is right, it would reassure me to know you are near me when weakness takes hold of me anew. At the same time, I ask you not to tell my sister anything. She will worry unnecessarily.”

  “As you wish, sire.” Berard stood up, bowed, and then left the room.

  Lilli waited until he had closed the door, then she fell around Amon’s neck and covered his face with kisses.

  “You see? I knew it! You’re not seriously ill, you can’t be!” She pressed herself tightly against him.

  “Lilli ... of course I’m happy about what the doctor said, but my conditions are intermittent, you know that.” Amon gently pushed her off him to kiss her forehead.

  “Yes, but you are still strong enough, there is plenty of time for us to find a cure. No!” She raised a finger when he tried to contradict. “You must believe in it! You must, do you hear?”

  Amon looked at her for a long time with his grey eyes, put his hand to her face and ran his thumb over her cheek. Then he nodded hesitantly.

  Three heavy boxes were lugged to Lilli’s new bedroom by the servants. She associated the old room with a vague fear after the night raid back then, so Amon had had a new room made up for her, though they would spend the nights in Amon’s study anyway, the only place in this castle that the ghosts and villains stayed away from. They felt comfortable and safe there, but despite everything, Lilli needed a room of her own for all the things Amon had bought her today on a trip to the nearest town.

  Besides buying a first set of clothes, Amon had commissioned more robes for Lilli from the tailor. The poor man had almost fallen over backwards when the king had entered his shop, and Lilli couldn’t help feeling that everyone’s attention had been on her. No matter where they went, everyone was paying attention to the young woman at the king’s side and yes – there were plenty of whispers. Surely rumours were now flying from ear to ear, people were talking about her, speculating.

  Very well, she could live with that. Lilli had almost expected to find her father raging in the courtyard when she returned from shopping, but that was not the case. Had he ridden back to Aurenbrunn?

  She would surely find out soon.

  Lilli shooed the servants out, feeling a little sorry for them, but she couldn’t wait to dress up again and surprise Amon with it. She chose an elegant dress in strong blue, embroidered at the neckline and waist with small blue stone beads. She dressed on her own and then turned in front of the mirror that had been set up at her request, suppressing an enthusiastic shriek. The robe fitted like a glove and accentuated her figure in a way ... her father would never have allowed her to walk around like that. Lilli arranged her hair and took a matching hair ornament made of the same beads from the casket. Then she put the comb in her hairdo and turned her head so that she could admire the jewel on her. How generous Amon had shown himself to her! It all must have cost a small fortune.

  Lilli walked to the door and then slowed her steps in the corridor. She didn’t want to seem inelegant, especially as four guards were following her. Amon did not want to relax security until the unknown man who had assaulted Lilli was caught.

  She ran to Amon’s study, and as she approached the door, which was slightly open, she was about to rush in to show herself to Amon, but in doing so she almost collided with Constance, who had just stepped out of the room into the hallway.

  “Lilli! What ...?” She looked down at Lilli with a certain bewilderment on her face that unnerved Lilli. What was wrong with her?

  “That dress ... it just looks amazing on you!” Constance pressed her hands in front of her face. Lilli laughed out loud and twirled once in a circle in front of Amon’s sister.

  “Is Amon here?” Lilli prompted, trying to peek past Constance.

  “No, dear. I’ve been looking for him here in vain too.” Constance pulled the door shut behind her. “We’ll just look for him together.”

  Together they went first to the library and then to the dining room. Amon was not there. Nor in the courtyard at sword practice. Just as Lilli’s heart contracted with worry, Amon came to meet her in the hallway with brisk steps.

  “We’ve been looking all over for you! I was worried!” Lilli rushed towards him and flung her arms around his neck. Amon smiled and gently pushed her away from him until Lilli, cheeks flushed, realised what she had just gotten herself into in front of the guards. This would be the talk of town.

  But then again ... she sighed. Surely everyone in the castle knew she stayed in the king’s room at night.

  “You look incredible,” Amon whispered, a sparkle in his eyes. Lilli smiled and accepted his offered arm so he could lead her down the corridor in accordance with protocol.

  “You couldn’t find me because I ordered dinner for us.”

  “Have you been in the kitchen yourself?” Lilli questioned.

  “Why, yes. After all, I want it to be exactly as I want it for you. We’ll dine alone in my room. We deserve an evening to ourselves after all the excitement.”

  Lilli squeezed his arm.

  “I’m so looking forward to it. It’s going to be lovely.”

  “You bet. Be prepared for me to look at you all evening.”

  The dinner by cosy candlelight was like a dream for Lilli. The food tasted delicious, Amon had had some excellent wine served, and no servants bothered her because they had locked the door from the inside. Lilli wondered how differently she now perceived this room. At first it had seemed to her like the unknown territory of a lonely animal. She had felt alien, an intruder, she had been someone the king wanted to get rid of. And now? She felt as if she were sitting with Amon in her own home, everything seemed to her in different, warmer colours,
the smell of books, ink and wood were now familiar, belonged to them both. And Amon ... he sat in front of her so relaxed, so happy. His happiness radiated back to her, caught in her heart. Lilli had not known that there was such a thing, this exchange of feelings that seemed to take place through the air.

  Outside, the night descended as they talked, laughed, and Lilli could hardly imagine how she had been able to perceive Amon so differently at first. Gratitude filled her that she had discovered this person. Not a word had been said at dinner about the secret of not seeing his scars, and Lilli would not broach the subject and spoil the mood.

  Amon took another sip of wine and looked at the window thoughtfully. The way the light was shining on him now, he seemed strangely pale. Lilli saw a wrinkle on his forehead, then he ran his hand over his face.

  “What’s wrong?” Alarmed, Lilli stood up and walked around the table.

  “Nothing, I think.” His voice sounded sluggish. “I’m sure it’ll be over in a minute.”

  A cold hand reached for Lilli’s heart. “I’ll go get Berard.”

  “Lilli ...”

  “Don’t argue.” She quickly walked to the door, unlocked it, and instructed the guards in the corridor to send for the doctor. As she did so, she emphasised that only Berard, and not the personal physician, was to be fetched, at the king’s express request. Then she hurried back to Amon and took his hand in hers. His fingers felt as if he had held them in cold water for several breaths. His head rested against the back of the chair and he had his eyes closed. Lilli said nothing, asked no questions, just stayed beside him, and held his hand while worry for him wormed its way into her chest, but she had to be brave now – for Amon! She had promised to save him. Maybe it was even a good thing, because now Berard could find out more about Amon’s disease.

  Lilli could hardly bear the time until the doctor finally appeared, but then – at last – Berard entered the room, and he didn’t seem half as excited as Lilli felt.

  Berard seemed to take in the situation with a glance, put down his bag and bent over Amon, who was slouching in his chair more than he was sitting.

  Lilli had stepped back so as not to be in the doctor’s way.

  Berard felt Amon’s neck, looked into his eyes, felt his pulse. He applied pressure to his skin in several places and then let go, watching the area of skin.

  “What’s wrong with him?”, Lilli finally dared to ask anxiously.

  Berard gave her a quick glance, then turned back to Amon.

  “Sire, do you feel nauseous?”

  “Hm ...” Amon hardly seemed to notice that he was being spoken to.

  “WHAT is wrong with him?” Lilli asked again.

  “I suspect poison,” Berard said quietly, opening his bag.

  “Poison?” Lilli stared at Amon, his pale face, as it jogged in her mind. How had he been poisoned? They had been alone here for the last few hours. But that meant, after all ...

  “If it is poison, then perhaps the king is not fatally ill?”

  “If it is ... possibly.” Berard now held a vial in his hand.

  “Your Highness, I need fresh water for His Majesty. As soon as possible. I would prefer not to use anything from these premises, since we do not know where the poison came from. Do you yourselves feel unwell in any way?”

  “No, not at all,” Lilli said. “I’ll get something.”

  She stormed off, refraining from asking a guard. If she ran herself, it would be quicker. She simply ran to her room, grabbed her water jug, which was always provided for her, and hurried back to Amon. In the corridor she saw Constance coming towards her with her clothes ruffled, her face contorted with worry. Some foolish guard had been chatting!

  Lilli managed to get to the room before Amon’s sister and, breathing heavily, handed the water to Berard, who immediately poured it into a cup that had been provided in the meantime. Then he dribbled something from the vial into the water.

  “What’s going on here? Lilli. What is this village doctor doing to my brother!” Constance had rushed towards Berard, but Lilli stood in her way.

  “Wait! It’s just as it should be! I sent for Berard myself. Amon agreed to it. We didn’t tell you anything so as not to worry you. Amon’s having another one of those fits and Berard’s going to help him.”

  Lilli glanced over her shoulder. Berard was currently administering the water to Amon, sip by sip.

  “Lilli!” Constance grabbed her by the arms. “You mustn’t do that! You don’t know what’s wrong with Amon! You’ll endanger his life if you interrupt our doctor’s treatment!”

  “Oh, do I?” Lilli snapped. “What has your great doctor achieved so far? Nothing! No one knows what’s wrong with Amon! But we know now. He’s probably not sick at all, but someone is poisoning him! Do you hear, Constance? He is being POISONED! Amon may be perfectly healthy!”

  Constance took a step back, completely pale in the face, then she staggered and one of the guards quickly stepped in and caught her as she sank to the ground.

  Immediately Berard was beside her and went to check on her, but she slapped his hands away.

  “Leave me in peace, village doctor!”

  “As you wish, Your Highness,” Berard said calmly and went back to Amon, who had turned his head and was surveying the scene with a bleak expression.

  “Constance ...” Lilli began, but Amon’s sister only pressed her hands to her face and Lilli thought she heard soft sobs. “Calm down first. Everything will be all right now.” She turned back to Berard, who continued to administer the water and drop mixture to Amon. “How is he?”

  “A little better already,” Berard said, and Lilli admired him for his calm tone in the face of the drama behind his back.

  Why, too, did Constance break down and cry? From relief? Lilli saw her struggle to her feet with the help of the guard. Was she wrong about Constance? Perhaps all this was taking more out of her than Lilli had suspected. For years she had had to watch her brother and his suffering. Was it possible that she had secretly expected him to die, even if the doctor and Amon had kept it from her? She must have had some worries and thoughts, and it was possible that she had quietly come to this conclusion all by herself, which she now had to carry with her again, without being able to confide in anyone, because she did not want to worry her sick brother. Suddenly she felt incredibly sorry for Constance.

  She walked up to her and grabbed her gently by the arm. Constance gave her a strange look, but then let Lilli lead her to the lounge in the reading corner, where she took a seat.

  “What’s happening?” Amon had now opened his eyes again and was sitting halfway upright in his chair. Relief flooded through Lilli. The implications of Berard’s discovery had not yet settled in her. Was it really going to be that simple?

  “It’s all right,” Lilli said, running to him to hold his hand, which actually felt a little warmer already. She went over to the sleeping area, took a blanket from his bed, and came back to unfold it over him. “When you’re clear in your head again, we’ll explain everything to you.”

  “What about Constance?” Amon whispered.

  “She’s just spooked. She’ll be all right in a minute.” Lilli massaged his hand while Berard poured some more of the water for his king. “What are you actually giving him?”

  “I developed this mixture myself. It is helpful for all kinds of disorders of consciousness, poisoning and dizzy spells. Even though I do not yet know the poison and the necessary antidote, it nevertheless strengthens the patient and generally absorbs toxins of various kinds. Nevertheless, His Majesty will need a while to recover. Now the question remains how the poison could have been administered.”

  “I was poisoned?” Amon inquired. His gaze drifted to the door.

  “Yes,” Lilli said softly. “And that’s good news, as macabre as that sounds, because it means you’re not terminally ill. Do you understand?”

  “How sure is it that it’s poison?” Constance asked from her corner.

  “V
ery certain, Your Highness,” Berard replied. If he resented Constance’s behaviour towards him, he didn’t let on.

  “I find that hard to believe, it should have been noticed before. His Majesty has been receiving treatment for years.”

  “Maybe not the best treatment,” Lilli interjected.

  “What do you mean?” Constance asked sharply. “I’ll do anything for my brother!”

  “I know. You do.” Lilli glanced at the door, where the guards were still huddling. “Everyone, get out and close the door.”

  “What are you saying?” Constance asked.

  “I’m telling you all,” Lilli said. “Can you follow me yet, Amon?”

  Amon nodded. Indeed, he looked considerably better now.

  “What I am about to say is an outrageous suspicion,” Lilli began. “But I ask you not to hold it against me if I am wrong. I am concerned for Amon’s safety.”

  “We don’t hold anything against you. Go ahead and speak,” Amon said.

  “The night Florian was injured, I called Sewoldt because the boy was dying, and no other doctor seemed available. It seemed strange to me that he was willing to come with me to Florian without equipment and only after repeated urging on my part. At the bedside, he showed no interest in the injured man, nor could I detect anything expert in his statements. It seemed to me rather as if he had no idea about things.” Lilli cast an examining glance around the room. Everyone was listening to her, no one seemed to want to say anything. So, she continued. “When I found out how bad things were supposed to be for Amon, I wanted to help him. He told me that only he and Sewoldt knew about his bad condition. Constance, Amon didn’t tell you because he didn’t want to incriminate you, but Sewoldt persuaded Amon that he was terminally ill and would soon have to die.” Lilli watched as this news hit Constance. She sat frozen in the armchair, shock probably preventing her from saying anything.

  “Since we had nothing to lose and I had gained a very good impression of Berard, I asked him to come and examine Amon. He found no signs of illness. Now that Amon has had another seizure, he diagnoses poisoning. At first sight, this seems to be true, because the detoxifying agent works, as we can all see. That would also explain why no illness was detected before. And it would also explain why Amon is so extremely strong and powerful at some times and a wreck at others. It doesn’t add up. Diseases usually worsen over the years if they are progressive. And what disease isn’t? Am I right, Berard?”