Page 85 of The Study of Poisons
“Yes, sir. What about during the meetings with the Commander?”
“I’ll be there,” Valek said. “And during the feast or any other public event, we’ll have plenty of our people in position.”
“What about their food?” Ari asked. “Will their meals be sent up to their quarters?”
“No,” Valek said, wondering if Ari would have thought of targeting their food prior to becoming friends with Yelena. “They’ll eat in the dining hall along with everyone else. Star won’t risk poisoning them and the Commander’s entire staff.”
“Why not?” Janco asked. “That would ruin any chance of a relationship with Sitia.”
“No, it wouldn’t,” Ari said. “It would unite the Sitians and Ixians against a common enemy.”
“Ah. But what if the Sitianswantto poison everyone?”
Glad he’d invited the power twins, he said, “We’ll have an undercover agent in the kitchen during their visit.”
“What about during the feast when everyone is served individually?” Ari asked.
“We have Yelena to check for poisons.” Although he hoped nothing happened to her during the feast. Huh. That was the first time he thought of the food taster over the Commander. Not good.
They continued to discuss ways to counter any potential attack. Just knowing there would be an attempt to ruin the relationship between Sitia and Ixia gave his people an advantage. They’d taken away the element of surprise, which would allow his people to react faster. Valek’s anxiety eased by the end of the meeting.
* * *
He stoppedin Kenda’s office early the next morning for a quick update on the generals. Valek planned to report to the Commander later about the measures he was taking to ensure the meeting with the Sitians went as smoothly as possible.
“They’re mostly behaving. For a bunch of so-called gentlemen, they squabble like children,” she said.
“What are they arguing about? The new successor or the Sitian delegation?”
“You’d think it would be one of them, but no. Right now, it’s all about who has the most time with the Commander. They’ve been whining that General Brazell is taking up too much of his time.”
“Is he?”
Kenda flipped through a stack of papers on her desk. “Actually, yeah. He’s scheduled for more time slots than any other. And for longer. He’s due to be with the Commander for three hours this morning. That’s after having two meetings in the last two days. What could they possibly have to talk about?”
A very good question. And it was more alarming that the Commander had set the schedule. “Then I’d better get to his office before Brazell does.”
Valek left her office at a quick clip, hurrying through the castle. When he entered the throne room, he spotted Yelena waiting outside the Commander’s door. Oh no.
“What are you doing out here?” Valek asked. “Haven’t you tasted his breakfast yet?”
“I was ordered to wait. He’s with Brazell and Mogkan.”
Already? What were they doing? Valek pushed past Yelena and barged into the office. Magic slammed into him. Adviser Mogkan stood behind the Commander with his fingertips on the Commander’s temples. Ambrose stared into the distance much like he had at the brandy meeting. Valek reached for his dagger. Mogkan had to be the magician. Because it would have been almost impossible for Brazell to keep his magic a secret from Valek for all these years.
Mogkan stepped away, and said, “You can definitely feel, sir, that this is an excellent way to ease a headache.”
The magic stopped and the Commander blinked as if just waking up. “Thank you, Mogkan,” he said. Then he glared at Valek. “What’s so important?”
“Disturbing news, sir.” Valek said. Not a lie as discovering Mogkan touching the Commander was rather disturbing. He needed to get rid of Brazell and Mogkan so he could warn the Commander and get a signed arrest warrant. “I would like to discuss it in private.” Valek held his breath.Come on, Ambrose.And released it when the Commander rescheduled the meeting and dismissed them.
“Yelena, taste the Commander’s breakfast now,” Valek ordered.
“Yes, sir.”
Valek worried they may have poisoned the food. Not a smart move, considering the Commander just changed his successor to Brazell, but still, watching Yelena taste the food troubled him. She checked it twice and then set the tray on the Commander’s desk. Whew.
“Yelena, if I have to eat cold food again, I’ll have you whipped. Understand?” the Commander asked.
