The governor sighed and started to open the door, but before she could, Sir Willoughby burst through it.
"There you are!" he said. "You promised we'd continue our conversation, and then you disappeared."
"I told you I had to witness a Scourge test." The governor motioned toward me. "You shouldn't be in here. This girl tested positive for it."
He glanced my way, but as soon as he determined I wasn't his daughter, he forgot entirely about me. "Where's Della? I checked the cell where you were holding her and she's gone."
"Your daughter has the Scourge," the physician said. "The test results were clear."
Willoughby's face paled. "No! I saw her only a couple of hours ago, and she was fine."
"She must go to the Colony." The governor couldn't even pretend to care about the words she was speaking. "It's the law."
"It's your law." Willoughby's tone raised in pitch. "She's already exposed my household, so let me take her home."
"And then your household will infect the surrounding households, who will infect the rest of Keldan," the governor said. "Be grateful I am not bringing all of you in right now for testing and isolation. Because I could, and if you keep fighting me, I will."
I'd expected him to back down at that, but instead, Willoughby seemed to grow larger in the room. "Do you think I haven't noticed who gets brought in for testing? Is it any coincidence that your enemies seem to get sick more often than your friends?"
"Call it a coincidence if you'd like." The governor's smug grin seemed to infuriate Willoughby further. "You opposed me in the last election, I remember. Didn't I warn you back then that it would be a mistake?"
Willoughby started to say something, then changed his mind and said, "I've heard there are other medicines. Stronger medicines that can protect us from the Scourge."
"Dangerous rumors. Ignore what you've heard." The governor's voice had a strange edge to it. Was she mocking him, or simply not lying well enough?
"I will pay you for the medicines." Willoughby's voice was choked up now with sadness. "If they prevent the disease, perhaps they can treat it too."
Governor Felling remained calm. "It's too late for your daughter, and the law must apply equally to everyone who tests positive. But for the rest of your family, you are entirely dependent upon my mercy now. Who does your daughter spend the most time with? Her mother perhaps? Shall I bring your wife in next? Don't you have other children as well? Does Della ever play with them?"
That gave Willoughby pause. He had raised an arm in a threatening gesture toward the governor, but now he lowered it.
"Please don't take my daughter away," he said softly. "Governor, I'll give you anything you want."
Her tone softened as well. "There's nothing I can do, Sir Willoughby. If I release your daughter, who then infects someone else's daughter, how do I explain that to their family?"
Willoughby nodded and clumsily brushed tears from his eyes with the back of his hand. Then he walked over to me. "Tell my daughter--" He swallowed hard. "Tell my daughter I loved her."
Loved, as in the past tense. Used for those who have already
passed on.
"I will on one condition," I said, holding back tears of my own. "You must get word to my family on the river, of where I've gone. Tell them I've already died and that it was peaceful." That was the most kindness I could offer them, to believe this was over for me.
"One more thing, Sir Willoughby." The governor's voice was low and menacing now. "If I hear you're the person spreading those rumors about different medications, I will immediately start testing the rest of your family. Do you understand?"
Willoughby swallowed hard on whatever response he clearly wanted to make. He then nodded and backed out of the room, though none of us missed his icy glare aimed at the governor.
Doctor Cresh picked up a metal flask from his desk and handed it to me. It was small and silver with a thin rope attached to sling it over my shoulder, which I did.
"What is this?" I asked.
"It's your medicine, and there isn't enough to go around so be careful with it. Once your flask is gone, that's all you'll get."
My smile was faint. "Medicine for us common people, huh?" Then, with only a brief glance at the governor's angry, pinched face, I stood and turned to Warden Brogg. "All right, I'm ready. Let's get this over with."
He replaced his hat, nodded respectfully to both the governor and doctor. And I left the room with him, on my way to the Colony.
We crossed through the mostly empty building and out a rear door heavily guarded by other wardens. Perhaps this was why no one guarded any other part of the building--everyone was needed here. Even if Willoughby had known Della was on the other side of this door, he still wouldn't have been able to get past so many armed men.