Stormcaster (Shattered Realms #3)(109)
“Do you know what kind of poison it was?” Talbot asked.
“We’ll take a closer look at it in the dispensary,” Ash said. “It’s too risky to try to analyze it with so many people around. I’m pretty sure it’s two-step lily.”
“Two-step lily?” Titus spoke up from his seat at the queen’s bedside.
Ash nodded. “It’s most potent when it’s injected under the skin—for instance, if it’s daubed on an arrow or a blade. It takes longer when ingested orally, but as far as I know, it’s invariably fatal. Until today, I guess.” He paused. “I can’t be sure, but I believe that it was what was used by the assassins who murdered my father.”
“I’ve never heard of it,” Titus said, “and I always considered myself well schooled in poisons.”
“That was probably the idea—to use something that nobody here in the north would identify. It grows in only one or two places, high in the Heartfangs. The only reason I know about it is because of Taliesin. The Voyageurs came from the Heartfangs originally.” He released a long breath. “Whoever did this had a good knowledge of poisons and how to handle them.”
“Do you think Taliesin had anything to do with this?” Byrne said. “As supplier to agents from Arden, or—?”
Ash shook his head. “Anything’s possible, but it seems unlikely. When we met up in Delphi, Taliesin saved my life. She could have finished me off at any time in Oden’s Ford. Instead, she tipped you off as to where I was.”
“Who had access to the cup?” Byrne asked Magret.
Magret snorted. “Everyone. I mean, everyone in Her Majesty’s inner circle, her council, her ladies-in-waiting, servants, and so on. She was the only one who drank out of that cup, and everyone who paid attention knew it. It’s not like a person would have to time it just right. Once you treated the cup, it would sit there like a land mine, waiting to be set off.” Magret’s cheeks were pinked up, always a sign of danger for the unwary.
“When was the last time she drank from the cup?” Ash said. “Before tonight, I mean.”
“Probably within the week,” Magret said. “It’s always kept here, in her rooms. She never takes it to the dining room.”
“All right,” Ash said. “I asked you all to stay because you are the people here at court that I trust with my mother’s life. There is at least one assassin in the palace, and there may be more. Captain Byrne, if there is anyone else among the Wolves that you trust without reservation, they can be added to the watch. We’re going to say that the queen is quite ill, at death’s door, in fact, and can have no visitors.”
“What about the princess Mellony and your cousin Julianna?” Magret said. “I know they are worried sick.”
“No other visitors,” Ash repeated. “If need be, tell them that you are worried that the poison has contaminated the room, and you don’t want anyone else exposed to it. I want my mother’s meals fetched directly from the main kitchens by one of you. Use the tunnels so you’re not seen. Ty, I’m putting you and Magret in charge of the queen’s care.”
Ty eyed him suspiciously. “Why do I get the impression that you’re not going to be here?”
“Because I won’t be.”
“Prince Adrian.” It was Talbot, her back straight, her expression a mixture of nerves and resolve. “Would it be possible to speak with you and Captain Byrne privately?”
44
DREAMS TO NIGHTMARES
Lyss knew that Celestine would be watching her and her new officers for signs of collusion, conspiracy, or betrayal. Meanwhile, her Highlanders probably wondered what the hell was going on—how their Captain Gray had ended up commanding the empress’s army.
It was urgent that they get their stories aligned, but it was also a risk. Though none of them had the blank, blunted expressions she’d seen on the bloodsworn, it was still possible that one or more of them were spying on her on behalf of the empress.
Hopefully they would be patient, keep their mouths shut, and wait for her to make the first move. In the meantime, she installed them in the new barracks Celestine had built for her swelling army, and scheduled a meeting with them for the next day.
At the appointed time, Tully Samara swaggered in, introduced himself as the commander of the empress’s navy, and said that the empress had asked him to sit in so that he could learn more about wetland tactics.
That might have been true, or he might have been there to spy for the empress, or to spy for himself. Whatever his motive, Lyss didn’t want to fight that battle at this particular time. So she proceeded with the briefing, reviewing the command structure and assets of the empress’s forces while the expressions on her new officers’ faces shifted from wariness to alarm.
She knew what they were thinking—how could the queendom possibly prevail against this? Which was fine. She wanted them to know what they were up against. They kept looking at one another, as if hoping someone else would ask a question.
Finally, Graves spoke up, asking what he probably thought was a safe question. “Captain Gray,” he said, “what should we know about these bloodsworn soldiers in order to . . . make the best use of them?”
“Having fought against them, you know that the bloodsworn are strong, fearless, and difficult to kill. They are also unflinchingly loyal to Her Grace, the empress.” She paused a moment, making sure the message hit home. “In other words, you can rely on them to stay loyal to their mistress, no matter what the incentive.”