Chapter 29

Those you’ve never wronged may yetseek your downfall.

~ “Sorrows of Men,” by the bard Nogorathi

“The rangers are above suspicion, ma’am,” the female guide whispered, though she kept her head down.

“A spy may come from any quarter,” Queen Petalira said.

“In this case,” Jana said, “a poisoner may come from any quarter.”

Uh, poisoner? Kaylina didn’t know what to say.

“Of what do we stand accused?” Vlerion didn’t sound shocked or outraged. No, he was calm, that mask he’d practiced donning so often securely in place.

Good. The last thing Kaylina wanted was for him to lose his calm in here. By all the gods, if he turned into the beast and killed the queen… There would be no saving him after that.

“Poisoning the mead that was delivered as, according to the message accompanying it, a gift for the queen,” Jana said.

Even though Kaylina had figured out right away that Jana was up to something—and probably behind this—she couldn’t keep from blurting, “Delivered? What gift? I didn’t send any mead.” She looked at Vlerion, more worried that he would believe the lie than that the queen would. “When would I have had time to do that? I don’t know anything about poisoning.”

Vlerion’s face remained masked, and he kept his gaze on the women and the guards instead of Kaylina. He hadn’t moved his hand to the hilt of his sword yet, but it was open beside it.

Jana lifted something that had been hidden by the chair. One of Kaylina’s bottles of mead. One of the missing bottles.

“I thought the catacomb bandits took that.” Kaylina stepped toward Jana, anger driving away wisdom—and her self-preservation instinct. “Did you start the fire in the castle? My brother almost died in that.”

She crouched, fantasizing about springing over the chair to throttle Jana. But two more guards surged out of a side room, stepping between Kaylina and the queen and Jana. They drew their swords and faced Kaylina grimly.

Vlerion stepped between her and them. He didn’t draw his own sword, but his hand did rest on the hilt.

Kaylina swore to herself. She had to keep her cool lest she endanger him—in more ways than one. Besides, this was idiotic. She hadn’t done anything wrong. She had to be rational and defend herself logically. As Frayvar would be the first to advise.

“I know nothing about the origins of that fire,” Jana stated calmly. Almost smugly. As if she knew she’d already won.

Gritting her teeth, Kaylina eased out from behind Vlerion so she could see the two women. Petalira observed her through slitted eyes.

“Are you sure?” Kaylina asked. “Because I saw you there, watching from across the river.”

“You are mistaken. I was at work creating mead that isn’t poisoned.”

“Mine isn’t poisoned either.”

“How did you acquire that bottle?” Vlerion asked.

“I acquired it,” the queen answered. “As I said, it arrived via a messenger with a note suggesting the king and I would enjoy sipping it during the holiday celebration.”

“Was it a Virt messenger smelling of the catacombs?” Kaylina suspected Jana had paid someone to steal it, rather than wandering through the dark and monster-filled passageways herself, but she had to be responsible.

“It was a known messenger working for a reputable service,” Petalira said.

“I didn’t send it, Your Majesty. Someone’s trying to frame me.” Kaylina looked at Jana.

“Why would a proprietor who’s lived in Port Jirador her entire life and been supplying mead to the castle kitchen, among other reputable establishments, for decades seek to incriminate you?” Petalira asked. “A newcomer working out of a cursed building that nobody with common sense would ever visit.”

Unfortunately, that was a good question. Kaylina had no idea why Jana had ever been concerned about her.

“Because I make wonderful mead using my grandmother’s famous and award-winning recipes,” Kaylina said, though she struggled herself to believe that was the reason. “She’s threatened by me.”

Jana looked at the queen sidelong. Watching for her reaction? To see if she believed that?

Could Kaylina have stumbled upon the truth? Maybe Jana had, from the beginning, given Kaylina more credit than anyone else had and thought she did have what it took to be legitimate competition. Maybe she thought Grandma and the family were backing Kaylina and would send their support to make sure the meadery was a success.

“That’s laughable,” Petalira said. “Besides, Jana has nothing to prove to me. She did not send me poisoned mead.”

“Neither did I. And it’s not poisoned.” Kaylina couldn’t keep the exasperation out of her voice.

Irritation flickered in the queen’s eyes, but all she said was, “If you are certain of that, then you won’t hesitate to enjoy a few swallows.”

She pushed the bottle toward the edge of the desk and beckoned Kaylina in invitation.

“Of course not.” Kaylina stepped forward.

Vlerion held out a hand to stop her. “The bottle has been out of your possession for many hours.”

Yes, and the cork had been removed.

Kaylina froze, noting how Jana’s eyes sharpened. Did she want Kaylina to drink it and collapse on the rug? What had Kaylina done to her to make the woman want her dead?

“If you will not sample from your own bottle,” Petalira said, “I must assume that you know it’s poisoned and sent it as part of the Virt plot to assassinate my husband and me. I understand witnesses have also seen you speaking with a young woman who works for one of the freight transportation companies and is a known Virt operative.”

Witnesses? How many people had been spying on the castle? Targon knew about Milzy, but he wouldn’t have helped frame Kaylina. He wanted to use her.

“The punishment for attempting to poison royalty,” Petalira continued, “is death for you and exile for your entire family.”

Kaylina shook her head. How had this gone so wrong so quickly?

“What is the name of the messenger service that brought the bottle to the royal castle?” Vlerion asked. “The rangers will visit them, find out who delivered the mead, and question the person to learn who dropped it off and paid the fee. I will visit them.”

“Why are you involved in this, Lord Vlerion?” Petalira asked. “The rangers aren’t known for defending commoners.”

“The rangers defend the innocent, no matter what class they’re in. Also, my taybarri likes her.”

Jana grunted. “More likely, he likes her. He is ruled by his penis, as all young men are.”

For the first time, Vlerion’s back stiffened, and his jaw tightened.

The guards remained between Vlerion and Kaylina and the two women, their swords out. They noticed Vlerion’s reaction and lifted those blades, though they also glanced at each other, not looking like they wanted to fight him.

“You will not harm Korbian,” Vlerion stated. “The messenger will be found and questioned.”

“With a ranger hand wrapped around his throat?” Jana asked. “If you’re looming over him, he’ll say whatever you want him to say.”

“He will be questioned under the influence of kafdariroot to ensure he speaks the truth.”

Kaylina leaned forward with hope. Yes, that could work. If the messenger was found and could point to Jana or, more likely, someone she’d hired, it might save Kaylina. Maybe the underling could even be traced to Jana.

“Seek him out if you wish.” Jana waved her hand airily, not looking concerned by the idea.

That was unsettling. Had she already anticipated someone would want to question the messenger and arranged for the man to leave the city? Or… He wasn’t floating dead in a canal, was he?

“You could, however, simply drink the mead if you wish to prove your innocence.” Jana turned to the queen. “That is the most logical course, is it not?”

“Not if you’ve poisoned it,” Kaylina said.

“Do not compound your foolishness,” Petalira told her, “by accusing an upright kingdom subject of plotting murder.”

Kaylina clenched her jaw.

“Lord Vlerion,” Petalira said. “If you wish, go out and seek the messenger. I am familiar with kafdariroot. Your people may question him under its influence. I will refrain from passing a death sentence on this girl until you’ve concluded your investigation.”

Kaylina blew out a slow breath. That was something.

Vlerion looked at her, his face still grim. Did he not see this as a victory? Or did he also suspect the messenger had disappeared?

He glanced toward the window overlooking the harbor, and Kaylina remembered that he wanted to speak to Targon about positioning more rangers in the royal castle. Being forced to spend time here with her was keeping him from a far more important duty. She grimaced with guilt.

“I will find him and bring him for questioning in front of whatever witnesses you choose, Your Majesty,” Vlerion told the queen. “It may take some time to ferret him out, especially on a holiday. Until her innocence can be proven, Ms. Korbian may be held in one of the cells in ranger headquarters. You can trust it as secure as any other cell in the city, including the castle dungeon.”

Kaylina almost groaned at the revelation that the castle had a dungeon, but she couldn’t be surprised. Even before the queen spoke, her gut told her she would end up held there.

“Your offer is magnanimous,” Petalira said dryly, “but she will stay here under the supervision of guards who are not motivated by…” She glanced at Jana.

“Their penises,” Jana offered.

“Indeed.”

“That is not what motivates my actions,” Vlerion said coolly.

“What other explanation could there be?” Petalira asked. “This newcomer from a land scarcely within our borders has only recently arrived and isn’t properly respectful.”

Damn it, Kaylina had said all the Your Majesties. How hadn’t she been respectful?

“There is no reason a noble and a ranger would defend her so assiduously,” Petalira added.

“I told you the reason, Your Majesty,” Vlerion said.

“Your mount likes her?”

“All of the taybarri like her. Targon believes she’s an anrokk and wants to train her to serve as a ranger.”

Jana didn’t hide her scoff.

“I am merely obeying his orders when it comes to her,” Vlerion said.

Petalira considered Kaylina a little more thoughtfully, but she didn’t look like she would relent about anything. “If she is loyal and wasn’t the one to send the mead, then Captain Targon may keep her and train her.”

Jana’s eyes closed to slits, but she didn’t object.

“Find the messenger, Lord Vlerion,” Petalira said. “Ideally, before nightfall. I understand the city may be in for some excitement, during which all the rangers could be pressed into service.”

“I am aware.” Vlerion held the queen’s gaze, and Kaylina thought he might ask for her word that no accidents would befall Kaylina on the way to the dungeon, but maybe one wasn’t supposed to extract promises from royalty. “I will do as you say.” His bow was stiff, but he removed his hand from the hilt of his sword and nodded to the guards. “I will leave as soon as I see her safely escorted to a cell.”

“That’s not necessary, my lord,” one of the guards said—he hadn’t sheathed his sword yet. “There aren’t any vats of molten lava or pits of spikes along the way that she might fall into.”

“I understand those were removed from the castle centuries ago,” Petalira murmured.

“Nonetheless, I will accompany her,” Vlerion said.

“It’s your time.”

The guards shrugged and led the way out. Six more armed men stood in the hallway outside. Had they been called up in case Vlerion started something?

Kaylina didn’t feel reassured about her situation, but she was glad he hadn’t been forced to choose between defending her and attacking his own people.

Jana wore a dour expression as Kaylina and Vlerion walked away surrounded by guards. A dour look but not a worried or defeated one.

Something told Kaylina that Vlerion wouldn’t find that messenger. What would happen to her then?