Page 129 of Lake of Sorrow

Petalira lowered the paper and looked at Targon. “Explain, Captain.”

“I understand it’s a signed note from the one who sold Jana Bloomlong the poison that was used in a bottle of mead delivered to your castle and that the poison maker is willing to answer questions on the matter.”

“You understand?” The queen’s eyebrows twitched.

“My doctor and a young helper spoke with him and acquired the admission while I was busy with the Kar’ruk.” Targon twitched a shoulder, as if he was indifferent on the matter.

Young helper? That had to be Frayvar. Would this change anything?

“Jana Bloomlong is a trusted kingdom subject of decades.” Petalira frowned at Kaylina again. “Was this young helper the brother of that one?”

Targon shrugged again. “He was.”

As Petalira continued to glower, Kaylina’s hope that the note might help faded. Maybe Jana was close enough to the queen that Petalira didn’t want to believe she’d been at the heart of the plot. Maybe no amount of evidence would change her mind.

As I have stated, Seerathi spoke into the silence, it is because of the druid-blooded female that we came.

Though surprised the taybarri queen was defending her when she could have no knowledge of the poisoning incident, Kaylina nodded firmly. Maybe Petalira would listen to another royal.

“Druid-blooded?” Petalira mouthed.

Kaylina didn’t nod at that. She still had her doubts.

“Kaylina is not guilty of the crime of which she was accused, Your Majesties,” Vlerion said, addressing the king as well, though Gavatorin was watching the last of the Kar’ruk departing and probably hadn’t figured out who Kaylina was. “She has helped the crown on two different occasions now,” Vlerion added.

Fortunately, Jana Bloomlong wasn’t there to accuse him of defending Kaylina because his penis told him to. Kaylina wondered where her mead-making nemesis was. She supposed it was too much to hope that her inn had burned to the ground and she would be forced to retire to the countryside. A far distant countryside.

I have seen into her mind and believe she desires this city and its people to thrive, Seerathi said.

Kaylina winced, hoping the taybarri wouldn’t add so there are customers who can drink her mead and make her famous, or something like that. If Seerathi truly could read thoughts, she would know what motivated Kaylina. While Kaylina didn’t wish any ill on the kingdom or its subjects, she probably wouldn’t be risking her life if not for her dream. And Vlerion. He had become very important to her these past weeks.

“Can you also see in her mind if she poisoned mead that was delivered to the castle?” Petalira asked in a neutral tone, lifting the paper. “Or does she genuinely believe that someone else did it?”

The silver-furred head turned, wise eyes locking onto Kaylina.

Panic welled in her. She was innocent, but would her scattered thoughts confirm that sufficiently? Confirm that she hadn’t had anything to do with the plot and that Jana had been responsible? That Kaylina would never poison anyone and certainly not through her craft?

She couldn’t imagine anything more loathsome than deliberately defiling a beautiful batch of mead made from delicious and pure honey from bees who foraged on rare altered plants. What an affront. Jana should have stabbed her own eyes out before destroying mead of such high quality. Jana had even admitted to tasting it. She knew how good it had been.

Seerathi’s head swung back toward Petalira. She did not attempt to poison you. She is too devoted to her craft, perhaps egotistically so, to have considered her alcohol an acceptable receptacle for a poison.

“Uhm.” Kaylina wasn’t sure that would sway anyone. Those weren’t the thoughts she should have let cavort through her mind.

Next to her, Vlerion raised his eyebrows.

Kaylina could only shrug and whisper, “It’s true. If I was going to poison someone, I’d use shitty wine with the bouquet of used socks.”

“Such a bouquet would hide poison well,” he murmured, amusement glinting in his eyes.

“I see.” Queen Petalira didn’t sound nearly as amused. After glancing at the note again and contemplatively considering Kaylina for a long moment—one which made Kaylina squirm—she said, “Since the evidence against her was only ever circumstantial, I will dismiss it as insufficient.”

“Does that mean…” Kaylina looked to Vlerion.

“She’s not going to have you arrested, girl.” Targon slapped her on the back.

Kaylina was on the verge of feeling relieved until he spoke again.

“That means you can return to your ranger training.”

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