"Your Highness," the healer said, bowing his head briefly. "I didn't expect you to come."
"I need to know everything," Damian said without preamble. "How did this start? What are we dealing with?"
The healer wiped his hands on a cloth with a grim expression. "It started early this morning. A few cases at first, but by midday, it spread like wildfire. The symptoms are consistent—fever, convulsions, extreme weakness. I suspect poisoning, but I haven't been able to identify the source."
Evelina stepped forward, speaking professionally. "Has anyone handled anything unusual recently? Food, water, imports from outside the kingdom?"
The healer gave her a wary glance but answered, "We've been checking everything we can think of. So far, nothing out of the ordinary has stood out."
"Then we're missing something," Evelina muttered, her mind racing. "Is there a pattern? Certain families affected? Certain areas of the city?"
