Chapter 6

6

A pharmacist always has a potion.

~ Sage Frally

The sun was high in the sky by the time Kaylina and the rangers rode out of the preserve and onto the highway that followed the Stillguard River toward Port Jirador. Grassy green fields rolled away from either side, eventually reaching the cultivated lands of noble families with estates close to town, rows of crops growing high as summer reached its peak.

Usually, people were out working in those fields while sheep and cows grazed on the grass, but Kaylina barely saw anyone today. Word must have gotten out about the king’s death. Were people in mourning? She hadn’t gotten the impression that King Gavatorin was that beloved, except perhaps by those who had used his growing senility as an excuse to draw power to themselves and influence decisions. Spymaster Sabor came to mind. Kaylina doubted he’d been the only one scheming behind Gavatorin’s vacant eyes.

“Riders coming.” Sergeant Jankarr pointed at the highway ahead.

Two people in ranger blacks were leaving the city fast, their taybarri loping at top speed.

“I see them,” Captain Targon said.

“That’s Sergeant Zhaniyan,” Kaylina blurted, spotting her raven-haired ponytail flopping on her shoulder as they rode.

“And Corporal Ged.” Jankarr lifted a hand.

It didn’t sound like the riders were expected. Targon grimaced. Expecting trouble?

Zhani and the corporal slowed to meet their group.

“Captain,” Zhani said with relief in her voice. “And Lord Vlerion.”

“We’re here too,” Jankarr said dryly, waving at his chest and toward the two other rangers in the group. After a pause, he smiled and pointed at Kaylina too.

Jankarr hadn’t joked with her, not the way he first had, since she’d saved his life in the preserve. Because she’d done it weirdly , she knew, by spouting a word that had come to her out of nowhere and commanding the semi-sentient vines to release him. At least he was still willing to acknowledge that she existed.

Zhani nodded toward them but focused on Targon and Vlerion. “We came out to warn you. The new spymaster—Milnor—stomped into ranger headquarters this morning. He implied he’s researching whether the king really died of natural causes, and he was on his way out to Havartaft Estate to question Lord Vlerion about… I’m not sure.” Her green eyes grew troubled. “He said the inquiry was long past due. That was it, right, Ged?”

The corporal nodded.

“We were worried he would be irked when he rode out to the country and Lord Vlerion wasn’t there.” Zhani nodded to him.

Targon sent a dark look over his shoulder at Vlerion. “It’s too late. You won’t beat him there, even if you dangle Korbian’s honey drops in front of Crenoch’s nose to convince him to sprint across the countryside.”

“I know,” Vlerion said. “The road is the fastest way there.”

He didn’t look like he cared that much about getting back in time to please the new spymaster—or even ensure the man didn’t have more reasons to be suspicious of him.

Kaylina wished Vlerion would care. She lamented that her choice to go into the preserve had resulted in him breaking his exile—and that he would now get in trouble for it.

“What kind of unnatural causes that Lord Vlerion could have been responsible for from a distance might have killed a man?” Frayvar asked.

Zhani spread her arms. “There are many ways to poison someone, but I cannot imagine a ranger employing any of them. I did get the impression that Milnor already knew he wouldn’t find Lord Vlerion at home and was deliberately going out, with a couple of witnesses along, to prove that he’s not there.”

“To imply Vlerion could have been out last night poisoning the king?” Targon asked sourly.

“I don’t know, Captain, but if he wanted to throw suspicion in Vlerion’s direction…”

Targon sighed.

Zhani’s words about knowing of poisons reminded Kaylina that she wanted to ask the sergeant about the substance in the vial.

Targon looked at Vlerion again. “You’d better come back with me to headquarters. Whenever Milnor ambles back through, maybe someone with flexible integrity will say you were there last night.” His tone suggested he wouldn’t.

Crenoch whuffed.

“ You’re not a sufficient witness,” Targon told the taybarri. “We all know your integrity can be bought for honey and a pat from an anrokk .”

Crenoch must have understood the comment, because his big head swung around to regard Kaylina. Levitke also whuffed, maybe agreeing that it was a good time for honey.

“I’ll have to resupply my pockets when we get back,” she murmured to them.

“I’ll deal with Milnor and whatever he believes,” Vlerion said coolly, “without asking for anyone to lie on my behalf.” His aloof gaze promised he would never do such a thing and was insulted that his captain would suggest it.

Targon only grunted and waved for Zhani and the corporal to turn around and ride with them.

“Captain?” Kaylina asked. “Since we were gone much longer than planned, my brother and I need to check on Stillguard Castle and make sure nothing went wrong last night. If it’s all right, we’ll veer off when we get to town.”

She groped for a way to request that Zhani come along. At the least, Kaylina wanted a few minutes to talk to the sergeant about the vial. Maybe identifying the substance wasn’t a priority right now, but, since Sabor had used it to knock out the beast, its existence was a threat to Vlerion. What if the new spymaster knew all about it and had a stash in a pocket for when he faced Vlerion?

“This is a time when ranger duties supersede mead making . You’ll come to headquarters with the rest of us, Korbian.” Targon flicked a dismissive hand toward Frayvar, as if to say he could handle their business since he wasn’t a ranger.

Kaylina clenched her jaw, tempted to remind Targon that she hadn’t volunteered to become one of them. He’d bribed her, if not strong-armed her, into agreeing to it. “The small amount of training I’ve received isn’t going to help anyone if there’s a coup.”

Kaylina didn’t know if that was what he expected to happen, but, as they rode closer to the city wall, Targon kept eyeing Port Jirador like it housed vipers.

“It could be helpful if you recruit a pack of stray cats.” Targon glanced at her.

Kaylina froze. Was that comment meant to inform her that he knew she’d killed Spymaster Sabor? That it hadn’t been Vlerion? And that Targon even knew how she’d done it? He hadn’t been in the alley to see that battle, but Kaylina believed her mead-making rival, Jana Bloomlong, had witnessed it through a window. What if she’d blabbed the story all over town by now?

“Do you want me to continue with Korbian’s training today, Captain?” Zhani asked.

“Yes. Until you’re ordered otherwise.” Targon pointed at Kaylina. “Your skills may be needed if trouble arises in the city.” His voice lowered to a grumble. “ All of our skills may be needed today.”

“The sentinel—the plant in our tower—could help if there’s trouble,” Kaylina pointed out, trying a different tactic.

She supposed she didn’t need to return to Stillguard Castle, and if she trained with Zhani today, Kaylina could ask about the vial, but her instincts told her it would be a good idea to check in. Or maybe she was just being stubborn and didn’t want to give in to Targon’s wishes.

Vlerion gazed at her without comment, though he probably wondered what she was up to.

Targon scowled at her. “The plant could help if you’re allowed to go up to its tower to caress its leaves?”

“My honey-water fertilizer entices it more than leaf caressing,” Kaylina said.

“That right? And here I thought druids were into rubbing leaves. Fine.” Targon pointed at Zhani. “Take Korbian and her brother to the cursed castle and have your training practice there.”

“Yes, Captain.”

“But I want you and her to return to ranger headquarters tonight,” Targon added. “I’m expecting trouble.”

“Yes, Captain,” Zhani repeated.

Kaylina almost pointed out that the sentinel had helped her defend Stillguard Castle—and herself—numerous times, and it would be safer for her to stay there, but Targon might be worried about having enough people to keep peace in the streets, not about their personal safety.

Fortunately, the group rode through the city gates unchallenged. The streets, like the fields, were eerily quiet, with scant people out. Those who were stood close, speaking in hushed tones, and fell silent as the rangers passed.

“I have an idea about something,” Kaylina said to Vlerion as they rode down the street that led toward Stillguard Castle.

He arched his eyebrows. “This may not be the time for schemes.”

“Or it may be the perfect time for schemes.” She smiled reassuringly at him, tempted to mention the vial, but she didn’t want to with so many other ears nearby. Besides, he might not be as interested as she in a substance that could force the beast to change back into a man. In Sabor’s hands, it had made him vulnerable. Defenseless , since he’d not only changed back but lost consciousness at the spymaster’s feet. “I’ll tell you more later,” was all she said. “Be careful with Milnor, please. Getting in trouble is my job, not yours.”

He snorted. “That’s a career neither of us should pursue.”

“And yet, I seem destined for it.”

She said it jokingly, but his eyes grew grave, and he said, “Be careful today,” before leaving Kaylina, Zhani, and Frayvar at the front gate to Stillguard Castle. For some reason, Jankarr gave them a long look over his shoulder before the group rounded a corner and disappeared from view.

“He’s been acting oddly lately.” Zhani must have caught the look.

“Jankarr? He thinks I’m weird.” Kaylina let Frayvar get off first, then swung down from Levitke’s back.

“You are weird.” Frayvar sneezed three times, then glared around, as if the quiet street were to blame. “Our whole family is weird,” he added.

“That’s a truth.” Kaylina patted Levitke. “You can go back to ranger headquarters with the others if you want. Or I can bring out some breakfast for you. But you might not want to come into the courtyard. The plant is allowing Vlerion inside the castle these days, but it may still be suspicious of rangers and their mounts in general.”

“I did wonder when you suggested this place for training.” Zhani peered through the wrought-iron gate toward the tower, but the sunlight made it hard to see the plant’s glow. “I am rather notably a ranger.” She waved at her leather armor, black uniform, and sword.

“We can train by the waterfront out back.” Kaylina lowered her voice. “I had another reason for wanting to speak alone with you.”

“You mean you didn’t want to spend hours blocking and parrying this morning? Imagine my surprise.”

“I don’t avoid our exercise that often, do I?”

“No, but you complain vociferously during it.”

Kaylina hadn’t realized she was being that obnoxious, but she had mentioned to Zhani frequently that she’d never wanted to become a ranger. “Sorry. I’ll try to do that less. Frayvar, will you get that vial out of the kitchen and bring it out here, please?”

He’d opened the gate to go inside but paused. “Which vial?”

“How many are in the kitchen?”

“Well, I’ve been collecting oils, extracts, macerated herbs, vinegars, oh, and did you see the nutmeg alternative I prepared with clove? I’m excited to try it.” Frayvar smiled, far too perky for someone who’d slept on the ground. Of course, he’d been snoring most of the night, not staying up, pining for Vlerion.

“The broken one I gave you and asked you to research.”

“Oh, the apothecary I took it to scraped most of the residue out of that, but I’ll see what’s left.”

“Did the apothecary learn anything about it?” Kaylina looked at Zhani, who was waiting patiently, her eyebrows lifted.

“He used some chemicals and tools on it to see if there were any reactions that might offer clues to what it was. He also wondered why there was dried fur on the vial. But he ultimately wasn’t able to identify it. Some compound was all he said.”

“Well, bring out what’s left. Sergeant Zhani is a ranger, so I’ll bet she likes dried fur.”

A statement that prompted Zhani’s eyebrows to lift further.

Kaylina waved away the silly comment. She was tired and punchy.

Levitke whuffed.

“Bring out some of the salted lamb and dried fish too, please,” Kaylina added, reminded that she’d mentioned breakfast to Levitke.

“Oh, good idea,” Frayvar said. “I’m starving. I have some capers that go great with the fish. Oh, and the new infused herb oil that I made will be delicious drizzled over it. Maybe some cheese too.”

“It doesn’t need to be that fancy for Levitke.” Kaylina patted the taybarri’s blue-furred shoulder.

“I wouldn’t mind those things,” Zhani said. “They sound delicious.”

“I take it back, Frayvar. Fancy it up.”

Levitke whuffed agreeably. Maybe taybarri also liked herb oils.

“I remembered that you know a lot about plants,” Kaylina said when she and Zhani were alone, “and was hoping you could look at a vial and might have an idea about what the substance that was inside did. No, I know what it did. What I’m wondering is what it was and if more might be available in the city.” She waved vaguely, not knowing where an apothecary shop was, and started unstrapping the honey packs from Levitke. “There’s a little bit of a dried residue inside the vial. It was liquid, uhm, last week, I guess.”

“You believe I can look at a week-old residue and know what it is?”

“Maybe?”

“The apothecary who presumably has a microscope and other tools for examining substances would be a better bet. I doubt it’ll even smell like much after that long.”

“Well, it doesn’t sound like he or she figured it out. And you’re… knowledgeable about more than ranger things.”

Zhani’s hmm was skeptical, but she held out her hand when Frayvar returned with the broken vial. There were scrape marks through the blue residue in the bottom, presumably from the apothecary taking samples.

“Here you go, Fray.” Kaylina handed him one of the packs of honey she’d removed.

He grunted as he accepted it. “It’s so lovely when people turn the creative genius of a chef responsible for more than half the business’s income into an unpaid assistant.”

“You’re welcome to pay yourself. We’re making money now, aren’t we?”

“Not enough to fix my back if I throw it out toting your honey,” he grumbled, shambling back into the courtyard.

“He’s only seventeen, if you can believe it,” Kaylina told Zhani. “He grouses more than Grandpa. I guess I’ll have to find time to buy or make him a gift to show my appreciation though. He has contributed a lot to our success thus far. More than I’ve had time to contribute. I did agree that his name for the place could become the official name. You know, to honor him. Everyone is still calling it Stillguard Castle though.”

Zhani, busy holding the vial up to the sunlight and sniffing the contents, didn’t respond. Frayvar returned with a trencher of fish and meat for Levitke and two plates for Kaylina and Zhani.

“You’re a wonderful brother,” Kaylina told him.

“Yes, I most absolutely am.” Frayvar waved toward the tables in the courtyard. “There’s a guy out back drinking mead by the kitchen. He wants to see you. He’s been here before.”

“Okay.” Kaylina smiled, touched that they already had regulars who came repeatedly.

“You said you know what it does?” Zhani asked, not seeming to notice the plates or that Frayvar had come out at all. Levitke noshed happily at the trencher he’d delivered. “That would help me a lot more than looking at this residue. I’m aware of many plants and how they affect the human body. I assume this was used on a person?”

“Ah, sort of.”

“Sort of?” Zhani eyed the broken top of the vial. “It wasn’t thrown at a taybarri, was it? Or some other animal?”

“No… I did see one used on Crenoch that seemed like an acid. It made his eyes and nostrils water, and he backed out of a fight, so it must have hurt a lot.” Kaylina frowned at the vial. She should have realized Zhani might need to know the context of how it had been used. She hadn’t told Frayvar that, so the apothecary couldn’t have known, but that might be why she hadn’t yet gotten the answer she needed.

She slumped against the courtyard wall. So many people had unearthed Vlerion’s secret, but she hadn’t told anyone, and she couldn’t. She’d promised him that she wouldn’t.

“That sounds like a dreadful substance,” Zhani said. “One rangers wouldn’t want their enemies to discover.”

“Yeah.” Kaylina waved at Levitke, who was daintily enjoying her food. When more than one taybarri was around, they ate like ravenous bears, but she savored hers when no other snouts were present to veer in and steal morsels.

“This wasn’t an acid.” Zhani held up the broken vial, sounding certain.

Kaylina spread her arms, not knowing. She remembered how Vlerion’s wound-covered naked body had looked that night—he’d been burned, stabbed, and attacked with acid—but she didn’t know how much he’d endured at the hands of the pirates and assassins and what Sabor had done before she’d shown up. The spymaster had been standing over unconscious Vlerion with a dagger, not vials dripping substances, but there had been shattered glass in the alley.

“What did it do?” Zhani prompted again. “Without knowing that, I’m at a loss.”

Kaylina sighed. “It caused someone to lose consciousness, but that may have only been due to blood loss after a battle.” Due to the beast magic wearing off, she thought but didn’t say. “That’s happened to him before. What I’m sure this did was temporarily remove the magic of a curse.” She bit her lip, afraid saying even that was too much.

Zhani leaned over to look through the gate and up to the tower. “Something on the plant? Oh, or is this about those sage assassins that were after Lord Vlerion? There’s an altered plant back home that they consume that enhances their natural attributes—strength and agility and the like.”

“I…” Kaylina started to say no, but what if Sabor had been carrying the vial around because it could nullify the sage assassins’ superhuman abilities? He’d been dealing with them, after all. He might have worried they would turn on him. Now that she considered things, it would have been surprising if he’d had a substance along to nullify the beast. Until that week, Sabor had never seen the beast. Oh, he would have researched the curse, but, as Vlerion had said, his own ancestors had studied it assiduously over the generations. If an antidote to the beast change, which this essentially was, had been discovered and written about, the Havartafts would have known about it. “Yes.”

“That was a long pause.”

“I’m a big thinker.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Are you aware of substances that can nullify the assassins’ magical advantages?” Kaylina asked.

“I am. The one that comes to mind is usually sneaked into a drink to be consumed though.” Zhani tapped the broken lip of the vial. “You said this was thrown?”

“Yes.”

“I have a book in my quarters on altered plants from the high desert. Mind if I take this with me? I can read up and see if I find anything.”

“Of course. Thank you for looking. Here.” Kaylina handed one of the plates to Zhani, wanting to thank her and hoping she enjoyed the food. “You can take this with you.”

“You want me to go now?” Zhani’s tone turned dry. “Targon told us to train.”

“Maybe if you give him a piece of herb-oil-drizzled fish, he’ll forget about that.”

“I don’t usually bring him food.” Zhani cradled the plate protectively to her chest, as if to say she wouldn’t have shared this even if she brought the captain’s every meal. It did smell good, and Kaylina looked forward to breakfast herself.

“I’ll come to headquarters for training once I make sure everything is okay here. Will that work?”

“For me, yes.”

“Targon’s probably going to be too busy with other problems to worry about how my swordsmanship is progressing today.” Kaylina waved toward the royal castle perched on its plateau overlooking the harbor and the city.

“True.”

“Hello?” came a man’s voice from the courtyard. A familiar sandy-haired fellow held up an empty goblet as he walked toward the gate. “Ms. Korbian, would you sell me a refill, please?” He offered an affable smile.

Kaylina recognized him. It was the Virt who’d come by before the grand opening to tell her Jana Bloomlong was plotting against her—again—and to say he hoped Kaylina would consider helping the rebellion.

Zhani peeked through the gate, and the man—Grittor was the fake name he’d given Kaylina—flinched when their eyes met. Since Zhani wore her uniform, there was no doubt about her occupation, and the Virts had to have learned by now not to be caught by the rangers. When Kaylina had described Grittor to Vlerion, he hadn’t recognized him as one of the known leaders, but that didn’t mean Zhani hadn’t seen the man before.

“Who’s this?” Zhani didn’t sound suspicious—more like she was wondering if she needed to help Kaylina with a threat.

“He’s…” Kaylina could have said he was a Virt, and maybe Zhani would have searched him or questioned him, but she hesitated. The message Grittor had delivered last time—that Bloomlong was trying to hire poor people to make a scene at Kaylina’s opening night—hadn’t come to fruition. He’d said he’d been discouraging his people from accepting the job. She had only his word as to whether that had been true, but after he’d paid for her mead and said nice things about it, she was disinclined to rat him out. Besides, she’d already told Vlerion about him. “A customer,” she finished after a long pause.

Zhani regarded her. “More big thinking?”

“ Tremendous thinking.” Kaylina smiled at her. “If you could research that substance, I’d be infinitely pleased with you.”

“So pleased you would stop grousing during our training sessions?”

Kaylina had already vowed to herself to do that so she didn’t have to feign an enthusiastic, “ Yes .” She added, “I’ll even be delighted when you compare jab-punch-kick combinations to trees and bushes.”

“Really?” Zhani’s tone turned dry. “You would be the first.”

“I’m stunned that the young men you recruit aren’t delighted when you tell them about the oak-hickory-maple.”

“Yes, me too.”

Zhani eyed Grittor for a moment but glanced at Levitke and must have decided Kaylina had a suitable protector. She saluted before walking away, taking the plate of food and vial with her.

Grittor nodded gravely at Kaylina, maybe realizing she could have sicced Sergeant Zhani on him. “Sorry to interrupt, but I don’t have a lot of time. I’ve been waiting here since dawn for a refill.”

“We don’t open at dawn.” Kaylina stepped through the gate and into the courtyard. The sentinel wasn’t trailing vines out its windows and down to attack, so it probably didn’t believe Grittor a threat.

“I’d hoped my charm might get me invited in before hours, but you weren’t home.”

“No. I was collecting more honey for my mead.”

“Ah. Of course. I’ll be happy to pay for a drink.” Grittor dug out a crinkled five-liviti bill. “But I admit I came to ask you about things of more import.” He looked significantly in the direction of the royal castle.

Kaylina’s stomach sank as she realized this might be about the king’s death, something that, she had a feeling, was going to affect her and Vlerion, whether they wished it or not.