Page 60 of Poisoned Kingdom
‘Fine, but that brings us back to my original question. What are you going to do with the dwarf?’
‘I don’t know. I didn’t have any special plans when I sent the annoying prick to the cells.’
‘Do you find him “annoying” simply because Roksana rushed to defend him?’ Riordan quipped, and I had to close my eye, fighting the urge to smack him.
‘Don’t sass me, mage,’ I answered, hearing him chuckle. ‘You have until tomorrow to question this Tova Orenson. Find out what he knows about the srebrec and compare his answers with Sana’s. If there are any disparities or new information, let me know,’ I said, feeling the oath tightening like a noose around my neck, my heart picking up the pace at the invisible strangulation. ‘Just . . . don’t hurt him. When you’re done, kick him and his shitty attitude out of my palace.’
‘You swore you’d protect him, didn’t you? Why? And don’t try to deny it—I saw your aether react as soon as you mentioned his name,’ he said before sighing.
I shrugged apologetically. ‘I was in no position to discuss the terms in depth. Fuck, it was a miracle I could speak at all.’
‘What’s done is done, I suppose,’ Riordan said. ‘I’ll speak with Ciesko. He might also be able to help with the Roksana situation. You know, your brother had similar issues after meeting his wife . . .’
I shook my head. ‘I trust your counsel, but don’t bring my brother into this. I’ll handle it myself,’ I said, remembering one other thing. ‘Oh, and tell Ciesko that I have signed the document. Roksana can go through her geas ceremony with the other mages during the winter solstice.’
Riordan’s mouth fell open and he stared at me in shock, making me wonder what I’d missed. Ciesko was the arch healer of Dagome, a Court of Aether High Council member. The document he’d asked me to sign was a standard form for mages recommended to undergo a geas. It didn’t cross my mind to question his request.
‘He said nothing to me,’ my friend said finally. ‘Let me talk to him first. It’s not a decision made unilaterally and certainly not our regular practice.’
‘The arch healer of Dagome requested it after examining her. It appeared perfectly reasonable,’ I said defensively.
Ri’s jaw tightened. ‘With Roksana’s unusual position, he should have discussed it with me since everybody knows I’m the proxy for the royal mage, my grandfather.’ He huffed angrily. ‘The old fool is overstepping his bounds. Besides, what kind of message does this send? That the Brotherhood’s in possession of a mage so strong we need a geas to control her?’
Riordan’s anger made little sense. Geasa were designed to protect the kingdom and ordinary people from mages who wanted to usurp power. If Ciesko thought one was needed, who was I to question an experienced member of the council?
I mirrored Riordan’s thoughts to find out what was troubling him.
‘What if sheispowerful enough to need a geas? I’m sure I won’t need to use it, and the only person who would have the key to her soul is the mute custodian of the geas vault. Ri, it’s just an additional protection in case someone tries to use her against me.’
‘There will be repercussions,’ he said. ‘Hiding an ordinary mage with Brotherhood ties is one thing. But a titled mage, ennobled by geas, is not something you can sweep under the rug. Neither the Brotherhood nor the mages will take it lightly—especially the Brotherhood. They’ll see her power growing and want her under their thumb.’
‘Maybe that’s what we need,’ I said. ‘Something to make a splash and see what floats to the surface.’
He hesitated. ‘Yes, but—’
‘No buts. You’ve seen the reports. Marauders are ravaging the South unchallenged. The noble houses aren’t just blocking my attempts to send our army—they’re backing Duke Tivala while he feeds them empty assurances. And now they’re using my injury to chip away at my authority. Whether Tivala is behind it or someone else stands to gain from our kingdom’s unravelling, I need to know. We need to find out who we’re fighting against.’
I approached my friend and grasped him by the shoulder. ‘I’m not reckless, but Sana saw a Southerner with Jagon. Someone from the palace. If she finds out who he is, I can follow the breadcrumbs to his master without alerting our enemies. If I have evidence that Tivala’s plotting against me—against Dagome—the noble houses can kiss my royal arse. I will be free to depose the old bastard and send our army without risking civil war.’
‘You are the king; your word is law,’ Riordan said. ‘They can shout as much as they want, but the army will follow you.’
I shook my head.
‘Don’t be like one of those fools who thinks the king has absolute power. Many monarchs have lost their kingdoms and their heads because they thought their backsides were forever nailed to the throne.’
‘And you think that woman will give you all the answers?’ he asked.
I took a moment to control my anger before answering.
‘You have a better idea? Be my guest. Tell me, how else can I fix this when all our leads end with Roksana and the Brotherhood?’ I ran a hand through my hair, a habit of mine whenever I failed to control my irritation. My jaw tightened when the string of my eyepatch caught on my finger. ‘I’m clutching at straws here. I just need one fucking person to believe I’m doing all of this for a good reason.’
‘Reynard . . .’ Riordan sighed, shaking his head. ‘I know you’d do anything for this kingdom.’ He looked older, and his resigned expression didn’t fit his usually carefree demeanour. ‘It’s just . . . the geas ritual . . . it almost broke me.’
‘Then ensure that doesn’t happen to her,’ I said. At his confusion, I realised I had no idea what I was talking about.
‘Rey, once she enters the geas hall, there’s no way back, and no one can help her,’ he said gently.
‘Then find another way to ensure her magic can’t be used against Dagome. Talk to Ciesko. You two can work it out between you.’ It wasn’t the most convincing evasion, but I’d just seen firsthand that she could outperform the arch healer in purging poisons at least, and even if that was the only thing she could do, it was no small thing.
