Tolten had spent most of the day in something of a fog. At least following his trip to the restroom to let loose his emotions and allow himself a chance to weep. At least the nurse had been kind and not bullied him out before he was ready. He supposed he really was a pathetic thing when he wept.

But he couldn't help it, not after reading the horrific news on the bulletin. It was one thing when someone he knew simply wasn't about anymore. Someone he cared about and considered a friend? Dying?

He'd never lost anyone quite like that before. He'd been young when his parents died, and while he had lost Seth, not to death. She'd simply gone back to her own world, a place he couldn't follow.

He didn't know quite how to deal with this, really, so he found himself just moving through the motions of the day. It didn't help that he was feverish now, and achey, and that stupid rash was only getting worse instead of better.

He couldn't even cling to the sweet memories of the night before. Not now. The young king, eyes still swollen and red, curled up in a chair in the library, ignoring the books. He didn't want to read. Or do anything, really, except feel miserable.

[Free!]