Page 66 of Dark Voyage Matters of the Mind

"Just water." Frankie smiled sweetly. "The elixir of life."

Dagor

"You can go in now," Hildegard told Dagor while lifting the package the other nurse had prepared for her.

"Thank you. Is there anything I should be aware of? Anything to look out for?" He cradled the coffee cup he'd gotten for Frankie, pretending it was his.

"I told Frankie what the possible side effects are, and they are mostly mild. But she's not going anywhere yet. Gertrude will keep an eye on her, and if Bridget approves her release, which I doubt, Gertrude or I will come to check on her from time to time, so you don't have to worry about it."

He didn't want them coming to check on Frankie. "I'm sure the two of you will have your hands full with those poor women. I can keep an eye on Frankie, and if I think that she needs to be looked at, I'll either bring her here or ask you to come see her at her cabin."

The nurse regarded him with a critical eye. "Are you going to be with her twenty-four-seven?"

"Absolutely. I will not leave her side."

She tilted her head. "What if your boss calls a meeting?"

"I'll either bring Frankie with me or tell him that he has to hold the meeting in her cabin."

That seemed to meet with Hildegard's approval, and she nodded. "Good. I'll let Bridget know."

After she left, he let out a breath and knocked on the door before opening it and walking in.

"I was just leaving." The new nurse straightened the blanket over Frankie. "If you need me, I will be in the front room."

"Can I ask you a question, Nurse Gertrude?" Dagor put the coffee cup on the side table.

"Just Gertrude, and sure. What do you want to know?"

"Why did Hildegard leave to help the doctor, and you took her place here instead of just going down to assist Bridget?"

She grimaced. "Hildi is better suited for that kind of work, while I'm better at monitoring patients."

There was a story there, but he felt like the nurse didn't want to talk about it, and he didn't want to press. "Frankie's friend Mia is on her way. I hope that's okay."

"Of course." The smile returned to Gertrude's face. "I'll let her in as soon as she arrives. Will Toven accompany her?"

"I don't know," Dagor said. "Can he come in as well?"

"If it's okay with Frankie, it's okay with me."

"It is," Frankie said.

After the door closed behind the nurse, Dagor handed her the coffee cup. "Here is your elixir, my lady."

"Thank you, my brave knight. Did you have to fight a dragon for it?"

He laughed. "If Hildegard was a dragon, then yes. I pretended that it was mine, but she saw right through me."

Frankie took a sip and rolled her eyes. "I can't believe that crappy instant coffee tastes so good when there is nothing else."

"All the sugar and creamer I put in it masks the taste." He sat on the uncomfortable little stool and rolled it closer to the bed. "Mia said that Margo didn't call her, and neither did your parents or any of your cousins."

She frowned. "That's disappointing. It's good because they're not worried about me, but why the hell not? Shouldn't they check on me?"

He put his hand on her thigh. "It feels like a lot of time has passed since you spoke to them last, but it was only yesterday. They have no reason to worry about you."

"Right." She sipped her coffee. "I really feel better now. Like a lot better. It's amazing what a difference a tiny amount of your blood can do. What's in it? Do you have nano-healing or something?"