The Forgotten Way (Champions of the Crystal Book 6)

Chapter 5: A Brilliant Security Maneuver

The next day's sessions started late, so Sabrina was able to linger after breakfast with her staff and brief Ranja on her  new assignment. Ford wandered in, looking pale, and sat down on the sofa beside Sabrina.

"Late night?" she asked.

"Ugh," he said, and eased himself down so that his head rested in her lap. "This is an ugly side of diplomacy, cousin."

Sabrina ran her fingers lightly through his hair. "Welcome to my world."

Ford gave a half-groan, half-laugh, and then subsided. Sabrina was surprised to realize a moment later that he had actually fallen asleep. Ranja looked amused, but Thad looked like he wanted to roll his eyes. "Do either of you know where he was last night?" she asked.

"He left with the Shaerwin ambassador's assistant, Maelora," Ranja said. "But they're not exactly the hard drinking type on Shaerwin."

"We could ask Stecklan," Thad suggested.

"He wouldn't tell me," Sabrina said. "Oh well. I'll get it out of Ford later. Are you all set, Ranja?"

"I think so. It's just asking questions, and I'm good at that. If I do well, next trip can I take the notes and Thad can handle the social side?"

Thad nearly choked, and Sabrina smiled. "We'll see, Ranja. It would break my heart to part with you, but if you'd like to move to the administrative side, I'll do my best for you."

"No," Ranja said. "At least, not yet. I'm counting on you for memoir material, Ambassador."

Sabrina shook her head with a little laugh. "You and your memoirs, Ranja. Well, this ought to add a little self-promotional chapter. Stay safe."

"Yes, Ambassador. Say my good-byes to his highness," she said, getting up.

Sabrina looked down ruefully at her lap full of prince. Then she frowned. His color wasn't right, and now that she was listening, his breathing sounded labored. "Ford," she said, shaking his shoulder. "Wake up. Ford!"

Ranja came back from the door as Thad got out of his chair. "What's wrong?" Ranja asked.

"Is he drugged?" Thad wondered.

"Thad, get his feet. Ranja, call down to the infirmary and tell them we're on our way." Sabrina was amazed at how calm she sounded while her heart was pounding in panic.

Ranja ran for the com as Thad complied. When they reached the door, Stecklan joined them, taking Ford's shoulders from Sabrina. "What happened?" he demanded.

"I don't know. But his breathing and pulse are all wrong. This isn't just a hangover," she said. "Hurry!"

They reached the station's infirmary at a run. Ford was barely breathing as the medical staff helped get him onto a gurney and into the examination bay. Sabrina resisted the efforts of a nurse to bar her from the room by hanging onto the gurney and pushing past. Behind her, she could hear Stecklan arguing and Thad beginning to give the particulars of Ford's symptoms.

"Hang on, Ford," she whispered, moving to his head to be out of the way. A monitor began bleating at an alarming rate, and she added, "Don't do this. Please."

After a few minutes of frantic activity, the monitor slowed back down, and someone said, "He's stabilizing. Get that analysis!"

Sabrina took a deep breath and called, "Stecklan!"

"I'm out here, Ambassador."

"Find out where he's been, what happened."

"I'm already working on it, Ambassador," he called back.