Back to the Story…

Joia felt the warmth of the sun against her face and languidly turned towards it before her eyes were even open. She didn’t really want to open her eyes, she felt so peaceful lying there on her bed with the sun streaming in the windows gently caressing her face. She inhaled deeply, taking in the delicate mixture of spring aromas, and exhaled a sigh full of contentment and pleasure. Surely no one would notice if she stayed in bed just a little longer.

“Wake up, Joia, or Mother will think she has a clove-footed Slar for a daughter!” Arram’s voice was a mixture of stern command and laughing indulgence for his sister.

Joia ignored Arram. She felt unusually tired this morning and more than a little lethargic. Her head was beginning to ache a bit as well. Maybe she was coming down with a case of Spring Pyrexia. True, since she was to set off on her journey today, it would be quite inconvenient, but Joia was just too listless to care.

She felt Arram began to tug at her coverlet.

“Stop it Arram or I’ll tell Mother that you have overstepped your duties again and are in need of a dousing of dogwort and buttergum to remind you of your place!” Joia grumbled.

Despite her halfhearted threat, the tugging on her coverlet continued. This really was too much! Joia rolled over, intending to face Arram to tell him off, and her head exploded in starbursts of pain. She gasped. This was no Spring Pyrexia.

“Arram” she tried to call out, but only the meagerest groan escaped her lips. She shuddered, drew in a gasping breath, and tried again.

“Arram! I need…”

Joia forced her eyes open, attempting to locate her brother, but the pain in her head kept her eyes from focusing. There were colors and shapes zooming in and out in front of her squinted eyes, but nothing would hold still long enough for her to center herself. She squeezed her eyes tightly shut again, hoping to ease the pain and clear her vision. After a few seconds, Joia felt ready to try to find Arram again. If she could just see him, she was sure he would help her sit up and stop the pain in her head.

Slowly, she opened her eyes just enough to form small slits she could hopefully peer out of without too much pain. Yes. That seemed to be working. Joia could make out shapes a just slightly. There was a man standing near her bed. That must be Arram. She reached out a hand toward him, to pull him closer. Her fingers just managed to grip the hem of his coat and she tried to pull him closer.

“Arram”, she whispered. “Arram, my head. Please get Mother…” Joia’s strength to fight the pain waned and her voice faded into nothing.

“Arram? Hardly, my pet. You shouldn’t insult your host and benefactor so.”

As the sound of that smarmy voice, with it’s grandiose affectations designed to overcome a distinct rough and unpleasant nasal quality, Joia’s body stiffened. She was taken by a fit of shivering, panic seized her mind, even through the pain, and a scream died in her throat.