#baronyofthesilverwolf

"Very sick?" That gets her attention indeed "I think I should talk to Marigold."

"She won't speak to you about it, oh, no. So it is best not to pry. Especially not in the 3rd room on the 2nd floor, on the left."

She waves Nadeen on helpfully.

"That's my father's room" She picks up the pace, indeed, she has forgotten all about smoothies

She almost breaks into a run

Bluebell watches her go, and tsks to herself. "I am glad I didn't say a thing."

She finds Linnea stepping out of the door when she approaches.

The Troll is wearing a face mask, though these haven't been the norm around for some months now.

"Linnea? What is going on? Is the count ill?"

She holds a finger to her lips, then speaks softly. "He is resting now, more or less comfortably. He has a wicked fever and cough. I'd rather not see it spread."

"But but.." Nadeen is seldom thrown off. SHe can be surprised. She can be angered , she can even know sorrow, but seldom does she betray a loss of what to do. Not before her subjects.

This time she seems to be

Linnea offers her a mask. "You may sit with him, and offer liquids or broth if he wakes. But please do not wake him if he will sleep. I'm not a doctor, but I know this much, at least."

SHe takes the mask and slips it on "I... thank you"

"If his fever rises, we may need to send for a Spring healer, or else take him to Urgent care. He's young, and may be vulnerable in body though his soul is strong and wise."

A lift of her chin, she recovers "He's too stubborn to fall to a mortal illness. Who else has been in contact with him?"

"Bluebell, Miss Marigold, and perhaps some of the childlings, though I haven't asked them for fear of frightening them. We'll keep an eye on them all. Briar in particular might take a runner if convalescence was threatened."

"And I believe he went riding with Lord Aiden a day or two past."

"I'm most worried about Marigold. At her age I... well, we'll see"

"...And, dinner last night..." Linnea looks grave.

"I see" A worried look but a nod

And in she goes to visit the count, mostly just to watch him sleep...and cough

(TBC)

...By the next morning, there is a pall hanging over the hold.

Ernie finds that the ovens are cold - no bread has been set out to rise.

Ernie gets to it, starting things up, and then checking on Marigold

He finds her sitting up, dressed, but sitting on a chair in her room. Her cheery round nose is red and her face flushed with fever, and she muffles a cough. "Madern, I'm sorry. I... think I overslept. I just don't have any energy."

"You've got that bug" he fusses "You lay down, I can manage food. Let me get you some apsirn"

"Don't be silly, I have a pennons menu to plan." She stands, and then sits back down immediately, light-headed.

A knocking at the door. Julius calls, "Marigold? Mari, I need you. Bluebell is sick!" His tone urgent!

"So is Marigold" Madern says "I'l make a broth for everyone"

"What?!" He squawks, a most undignified sound. "Marigold can't be sick!"

Mad ern looks annoyed, he slips out of Marigold's room to look at Julius "Well, she IS. And don't say that so loud she's going to kill herself trying to get up otherwise. YOu're acting steward, find out who is still healthy and put us on chores"

Julius looks lost for a moment, then straightens his back. "I'm on it. Can you get Marigold's recipe for her sick-day soup?"

"ALready know it" He says glad he learned it "But I'll double check"

"See if Dee is okay? Satyrs have stamina?"

Julius has already trotted off, and is checking a roster.

And Madern gets to work

Soon, he returns, and the news is grave.

"Briar has the same cough as Bluebell, and Linnea looks like a zombie - she's more grey in the face than blue. Marigold is down, and Lord Casimir. I haven't heard from Willy or Danica... Rochallor is with his parents, I believe... I need to check in on Blossom, but I can't just barge into a young girl's room. The Baron's door is locked, I will wait until a decent hour to pound on that."

"Dame Lavender seemed fit... that heavens for that."

"I tried to call Flo to come help out, but she didn't answer. Probably for the best, she has that little one to care for." Julius updates.

'well, the soup is on. I'll start serving"

"Don't YOU get sick now, too. I can only make bachelor chow."

"Oh I don't plan t go down" He says

Dee comes in "Need me to check on someone, Stewie?" She asks Julius

"Stew... Stewie? Stewie?" He's thrown for a moment. "Yes, please check with Blossom? She might be sleeping in. And Briar said she wasn't hungry, which is worrisome."

"Briar not hungry? Crap. On it, Stewie" And she trots off to check on them both

"Well, when Nadeen wakes up, she'll have this all put into place." Julius nods. "Until then, soup for everyone."

Somewhere, Nadeen coughs..and groans