„It's Thelma. And Martha and Zeal. Something's wrong. You'd better come see."
Inger rose, a fatalistic haze gathering her into itself. What now?
All three women were in Thelma's little cubicle. Inger pushed through the women crowding the doorway. Inside, someone moaned horribly. Inger understood after one glimpse.
Thelma had brought the meal to her quarters to share with her friends. Half-empty plates lay on the floor. One was overturned, another was broken. All three women were curled up, clutching their stomachs.
Someone said, „Thelma is vomiting blood, Lady."
Inger covered her face with her hands. She felt the sting of Death's cold breath, started shaking. The sounds made by the poisoned women didn't help her nerves. „Did you send for Doctor Wachtel?" she croaked.
„Yes, Lady."
There wasn't much point. They would die. The meal must have been half poison. What was this nasty? Arsenic? Whatever, the poisoner hadn't tried to be subtle. He—or she—had wanted to make a point in no uncertain terms. She started shaking again. It wasn't a point someone was trying to make. Somebody wanted her dead. That was her supper.
The doctor came in, shooed everyone away save Inger. He examined the three women. „Nothing I can do for them now. And you? Did you get any of it?"
She shook her head. She didn't trust herself to speak. She might not stop talking. All her fears and regrets were clamoring to get out.
„Just rattled?"
She nodded.
„I'll give you a little something for the nerves." He mixed something in a tall mug. „Drink."
She drank. It tasted awful. Horrified, she dropped the mug. It didn't break. She stared at it as if it were a venomous spider.
Wachtel guided her into her own chamber, settled her on her bed. „Starting to feel better?"
She felt lazy, languorous, and a little sleepy. „Yes."
„Want to tell me about it?"
She shook her head. „It was poison, wasn't it?"
„Yes. A massive amount. Meant for you, wasn't it?"
She shuddered. „How did you know?"
„The way you reacted when I gave you the sedative."
„Yes. It was meant for me. What can I do?"
„Watch what you eat and drink. Patch it up with whoever you've offended. Ask your husband to turn Michael loose."
„Michael?" She laughed giddily. „No. Not Michael. I'll take care of it myself."
„You've made female enemies here?"
„Female?"
„Poison is usually a woman's weapon. These days, any way. In Imperial times sorcerers used poison, but prided themselves on their subtlety. There was nothing subtle about this. This was like using a battle-ax to swat a fly. How do you feel now?"
„Relaxed. Sleepy."
„Good. You need sleep. But first, what should I do with your women?"
„They're really going to die?"
„They're dead," Wachtel said. He was usually less blunt. Tonight he was upset. He didn't like murder.
„Bury them. I'll assume the expense. And don't tell anyone what's happened." The room began spinning. She felt a feather touch of fear. Darkness descended.
19
Year 1016 AFE; Born to Trouble
Prataxis tracked michael down in the palace library. He found Trebilcock whispering with one of the Guards. „Mi chael, it didn't work."
Trebilcock told the Guard, „You can go, Snake." He waited a few seconds. „I know. The kind of screwup called an act of fate."
„I don't mind saying I'm nervous, Michael. What's the King going to do?"
„Maybe he won't find out. He hasn't heard yet. They've got that apartment sewed up tight. Itaskians standing guard inside and out. Far as I know, Wachtel is the only one who knows. He got rid of the bodies, but it's not in his nature to get involved. He's probably the only apolitical creature in the kingdom."
„That won't stop him from complaining to the King."
„Maybe not. I'm not concerned."
„Wachtel is old. Nobody would be surprised if... ."
Michael was surprised. „No, Derel. Not Wachtel. There isn't a good enough reason. You really are scared, aren't you?"
„Ragnarson is funny about women, Michael. Never quite rational. And there are so many women involved this time that I can't pretend to predict his behavior."
Michael leaned back, frowned. He'd always suspected Derel of misogynism. „Go on."
„Every focus of action the past few months has been a woman. Nepanthe. Mist. Inger. Kristen. This Sherilee crea ture. Each pulling him a different direction, and each a danger. Nepanthe cost us Varthlokkur's help. Mist nearly killed him, then went away, taking that source of support. Inger has turned like a mad dog. Kristen, in her eagerness to have her son designated crown prince, may have been involved in schemes which worked to our detriment. There's no way she could have been as innocent as she pretended. And this Sherilee thing has him completely distracted from statecraft at a time when every minute has to be devoted to keeping the kingdom on a steady course."
Michael nodded. „And now there's Yasmid, pulling him yet another way."
Having vented some of his tension, Derel dropped into a chair. „What are we going to do?"
„If he finds out? Claim we didn't have anything to do with it. He might not believe me, but he'll believe you. It's not your style. You don't get that involved." Trebilcock chuck led.
„I'm too involved. I should get out. I've been here too long. I don't even pretend to be objective anymore."
„Meaning?"
„Damn it, I like him. I want to see what he's trying to do work. It's part my baby. I want to see it grow up."
„And?"
Derel glared. „And my whole life is here now. Hellin Daimiel isn't home anymore. I've been gone too long."
„Me too."
„Eh?"
„I came out with Gjerdrum after we graduated from the Rebsamen. Just for a while, while I got my bearings before I took over the family business. And now I'm as much a part of Kavelin as the King is."
Prataxis snorted. „Who is another foreigner bewitched. Strange, isn't it? The people who love this country most are people who came from somewhere else and got caught up in it."
„It's a spider's web," Michael agreed. „Question. Do I take another stab at it?"
„I want to say no... . Do you think she's neutralized?"
„That's what I was talking to Snake about. He don't know what's going on, but his post is up that way. He says Inger's people are scared to death. Meaning she is. He says her apartment is locked up tight. Long as it stays that way, we can't get in and she can't get out where she can cause any more trouble."
„Good. Can we help her isolation along? Like prevent any contact?"
„I plan to give orders to that effect, Derel. So she'll have to come out if she wants to visit with her accomplices."
„Yes. Good. Keep track of anyone who wants to see her. I'm telling you your job? Look. Keep her scared. Keep her locked up. Don't let her talk to anybody unless it's some body we can't keep away." He meant the King. „Her friends in the Estates will get nervous fast. The King's trick with the Captures match had one positive effect. It showed the Estates that he's still tough and tricky, and he won't put up with any crap."
„It also showed them that there're people around who aren't afraid to break their bones if they don't behave according to rules that are good enough for the rest of us."
„Dantice? He might become a liability. Look. I'll give the orders to keep people away. We'll let it out that she's bad sick. Nobody will believe that, but the orders will have more weight if they're mine. And from you they'd cause too much talk."