Everyone was seated except for Rheia, who stood beside Meryn's chair, taking her blood pressure and checking her over. "That's it. Bed rest for you missy!" she ordered.
Meryn's face scrunched up. "No way! I'll be good I promise! I can't sleep anyway, and it will just hurt my back to lay down for so long."
Rheia's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean you can't sleep?"
Meryn shrugged. "I don't know why."
"You've been drinking coffee haven't you?" Rheia fumed.
Ryuu stepped forward. "We've had to add it back in. She was getting too lethargic without it."
Aiden paled. "She's not sick, is she?"
Everyone turned to stare at Meryn. "I'm not sick," she refuted.
Rheia turned to Ellie. "What are some of the other symptoms?"
"Low grade fever, achiness, temper tantrums..." she trailed off then stared at Meryn. Was she sick?
"Fuck you all. I do not throw temper tantrums!" Meryn bellowed.
"Yes, that really cements your argument," Kendrick drawled.
Colton tilted his head. "She's kinda always grouchy, but it's one of the things I like about her."
Meryn smiled at Colton. "That's why you're my favorite."
"Hey!" Aiden protested.
Colton gave his commander a shit eating grin. "I can't help it if the women love me."
Adriel sighed and gave Aiden a sympathetic look. "You do know how I feel."
Aiden nodded, his eyes taking on a wild look, and he turned to Colton. "Who did you leave in charge at home?"
"Sascha."
"What?"
"After I had fun torturing the guys while you were gone, he'll have it made," Colton waved off Aiden's concern.
Rheia stepped away from Meryn and sat in the empty chair next to her. "Okay, no full time bed rest, but you have to stay in bed no less than eight hours a day, even if you don't sleep, and you need to drink at least seventy ounces of water a day."
Meryn's eyes bugged out. "I'll never stop peeing."
"Too bad." Rheia looked at Ryuu. "What has she been eating?"
Ryuu winced. "Meat kebobs and pudding."
Rheia waited as if she expected Ryuu to say more. When he didn't, she stared at Meryn. "And you have to start eating real food."
"Nothing else sits right; everything here tastes weird," Meryn complained.
Rheia circled her face with her finger. "Does it look like I care? Push me on this, Menace, and I'll slide a feeding tube down your nose in your sleep."
Meryn covered her nose protectively. "I can't eat anything else, really Rheia. It makes me sick."
Rheia frowned. "You weren't like this at home."
Meryn spread her hands. "Don't know what to tell ya."
"I may have an answer," Marjoram said, coming in from the antechamber. When the men started to stand, she waved them off and sat down in the first empty chair. "My apologies for being late, but I was getting the much needed supplies put away." She turned to Rheia. "We haven't been properly introduced, but judging from your scowl, you're Meryn's doctor. My name is Marjoram Johanson, I'm Ellie's grandmother."
Rheia smiled. "I'm her doctor as much as she'll let me be. What did you mean when you said you think you know what's wrong with Meryn's food?"
Marjoram tapped her finger to her lips. "It's just a guess, mind you, but everything she has been eating has one common ingredient, I believe." She turned to Sebastian. "Do you use fae Ceylon cinnamon in your pudding?"
Sebastian's mouth dropped. "Yes, yes I do. Not many can detect the difference with the amount of vanilla I use."
Marjoram winked. "I'm a baker as well. I won't know for sure without asking, but I'm willing to bet that fae Ceylon cinnamon is used in both the meat kebobs and meat pies on Level Six. It has a more woody taste that can lend itself to either sweet or savory." She looked at Ryuu. "Try adding the cinnamon to her dishes. If that doesn't work, she may have to drink it in a tea to settle her stomach before eating a regular meal."
Ryuu bowed low to Marjoram. "A thousand thanks for your advice in helping me with my charge." He rose to his full height. "Her health is my utmost concern."
"Of course it is; you're one of the best squires I have ever met."
Ryuu's cheeks took on a faint pinkish tint at her praise, and he stepped back behind Meryn.
Marjoram turned to Magnus. "Might we borrow a room down here for the physicians' meeting? We have space at the hospital, but I don't think what we will be discussing should be overheard by young ears."
"Of course, anything you need," Magnus agreed quickly.
Marjoram's lips pursed to one side. "You're on bed rest yourself until dinner," she announced.