– No way! I am not ready to take on such a responsibility! You're crazy, Derek!

– When King Juris gave me the crown, I wasn't willing or ready to take on the responsibility of an entire kingdom, either," I grinned. – But you yourself told me more than once that I was a worthy and wise king.

– I have, I have not… I refuse! You will not make me…

Suddenly the door of the chambers opened wide, and a panting warrior dressed in heavy ceremonial armor stood before us.

– Your Majesty… Your daughter! Your eldest daughter! Alva, my King… Your daughter…" he breathed out, leaning against the wall.

The blood in my veins froze with horror.

My daughter! My Alva!

– What? What's wrong with her? – I jumped at the messenger.

– She… My lord… You must go! – I heard in reply.

Realizing the poor man was not himself, I asked only one question:

– Where is she?

– In the nursery, my lord. With your mother and–

But I didn't listen and ran out of the chambers in silence. But before I reached the stairs, I was so out of breath and tired that I collapsed on my knees. My body had betrayed me once again, and now I couldn't even get to the nursery to save my daughter. I knew: something terrible had happened! Perhaps she had hurt herself badly, or a burning spark from the fireplace had gotten on her dress and it had caught fire and left Alva with terrible burns… Anything! "You must go!" the messenger said, and they were terrible words, prophesying tragedy.

– Come, Derek! Come on! – I heard Bergil's voice beside me.

He lifted me up, put my arm around his neck, and dragged me down the stairs to the floor where the nursery was.

– God, what's the matter with me-I feel like a cripple! – Bergil, my faithful friend… What would I do without you! Alva… My Alva!

– I'm sure it's not so bad. Don't worry, Your Majesty! Children are like that… They climb everywhere, pick up all sorts of dangerous objects… Maybe she fell and broke her head? – He answered cheerfully, dragging me as easily as if I were a blind kitten.

– I hope nothing terrible happened! – I moaned softly.

– Hey, what are you looking at! Go away, you lazybones! You're useless! – Bergil bellowed irritably, and only then did I realize that as we descended the stairs, the courtiers on our way down were staring at me in amazement, and some of them were even crossing themselves. And I understood why.

– Is His Majesty ill? – One of the young ladies of the court, who, I confess, had once been in my bed, asked puzzled.

– Go about your business, woman! – Bergil snapped back at her.

– Rude! – The lady shouted after us, but my friend did not think it necessary to answer her, though I could see from his face that he could hardly restrain himself from hurling a sharp swear at the insolent maiden.

Usually I laughed at Bergil's misogyny and never missed an opportunity to poke him with jokes, but this time my head was filled with thoughts of my daughter and speculation about the harm that had been done to her. Andrada must heal her. She possesses inhuman wisdom and has a unique talent for concocting potions that not only cure and heal wounds, but also bring the dying back to life. Yes, those potions didn't work for me, but that was due to the poison that was killing me and which can only be defeated by an extremely complex antidote.

– Andrada will help her… She knows everything, she can do everything…" I said to myself.

– Yes, yes. You know how I feel about women and their foolishness, but I respect Andrada," Bergil said. – But you'd better be quiet, Your Majesty, save your strength!