Page 22 of The Study of Poisons
The Commander raised his hand. Quiet descended in an instant. “Excellent points from both sides. We will put your theories to the test. Two teams.” Pointing to Captain Etta and Parffet, the Commander ordered, “You’ll be the captains. Assemble your teams and organize a plan of attack. Recruit as needed. Valek will supply a fugitive from one of his corps. You have a fortnight to prepare.”
Valek and Yelena followed the Commander to his office. Shutting the door, Valek blocked the chaos of voices the Commander’s orders had ignited. “Is Marrok’s escape to Sitia still bothering you?” he asked.
Marrok was one of the King’s loyal men and had protected the royal family. He’d fled to Sitia with a number of his colleagues right after the takeover fifteen years ago but was recently captured in Ixia for spying. Marrok had been scheduled for execution, but unlike the Commander, Valek thought the man would be more useful alive and may have arranged a bit of assistance in the man’s escape. Valek had been right. His spies followed Marrok straight back to Sitia and discovered the location of a group of men that might cause trouble for Ixia. They were currently under surveillance.
The Commander frowned. “Yes. Sloppy work, that pursuit. Marrok must have known you were in MD–8. You really need to train a couple of protégés.”
Widening his eyes in horror, he joked, “But then I wouldn’t be indispensable.”
The Commander gave him a rare smile, but it died when he noticed Yelena attempting to blend in with the walls. “Well, Valek, you were right about this one. She survived your test.” He turned to her. “Come here.”
She approached as if he were a poisonous snake about to strike.
“As my official food taster, you’re to report to me with my breakfast. I’ll give you my daily itinerary and expect you to be present at each meal. I will not accept tardiness. Understand?”
“Yes, sir.”
He glanced at Valek. “She looks fragile. Are you sure she’s strong enough?”
“Yes, sir.”
The Commander’s expression turned inward. Valek braced, mentally preparing examples of Yelena’s strength if Ambrose decided she was too much trouble.
“All right. Since I missed lunch, Valek, you will join me for an early dinner. Yelena, you’ll start as my food taster tomorrow morning.”
Relief coursed through him. “Yes, sir,” he said at the same time as Yelena.
They quickly left and returned to Valek’s office. She collected her extra uniforms and her journal, which Valek now wished to read. What had she written that just the thought of someone else reading it, would make her so upset?
He led her to the wing of the castle that housed his and the Commander’s quarters. Two guards stood next to the large wooden doors that marked the entrance. Valek explained to them that Yelena had permission to enter his residence. They nodded and unlocked the door, revealing a short hallway. On the right side was Valek’s apartment and directly across from him was the Commander’s suite.
Yelena stopped just inside his living room. Valek glanced around and tried to see it with fresh eyes. The place was as cluttered as his office with books piled everywhere. Dust motes swirled in the shafts of sunlight beaming through the long, thin windows that marked the far wall. The left wall displayed a collection of weapons he no longer used but had wielded in the past. All represented fond memories, especially the knife in the middle. Blood still gleamed on the blade.
She stared at the mounds of rocks on the floor. The gray lumps were streaked with white and not a typical decoration. He wondered if she’d ever connect them to the small black statues of animals and flowers that also littered his apartment. After hours of grinding off the outer surface of those ugly gray stones, they revealed a black interior with glints of silver. It was quite the transformation.
The boxes piled extra high around the first door on the right marked the room Margg must have cleared out for Yelena. Odd that she didn’t move them into one of the other two rooms along that wall.
He pointed it out to Yelena. “That room is yours until Brazell leaves the castle. I suggest you get some rest.” Then he noticed the books on the end table all discussed various ways to kill someone. They could upset her, or give her ideas, so he picked them up to take to his office. “I’ll be back later. Don’t go out. I’ll bring you dinner.” Valek grabbed his key to lock the door but paused. Would she think he was locking her inside? Instead, he caught the door before it could close. “Lock the door behind me. You should be safe here.”
Should. He needed to have a conversation with Margg to ensure she would be.
* * *
Valek foundMargg waiting for him in his office. The dishes from the test had been cleaned up and the trolley was gone.
“There’s no body,” she grumped, gesturing to the floor. “I guess the little rat passed.”
He gave her a cold, assessing look. “Why do you hate her so much?”
“She’s a murderer.”
“So am I.” He used his deadliest tone. One that had others on their knees, begging for him to spare their lives.
Margg crossed her arms instead. “That’s different. She killed the old goat’s son. I don’t like him, but the old goat fought in the takeover and earned his rank. And losing a child is the worst thing that couldeverhappen to a parent.”
He couldn’t argue with that logic. “Do you hate her enough to poison her?”
“Poison! Hell no. She should hang for her crimes. That’s the Commander’s job. Not mine.”
