Page 64 of The Orc Outcast's Miracle

Hovget took no time. “It’s vorial. It is used to aid in sleep.”

“Right. You prescribed this to me, didn’t you?”

“Prescribed?” he asked, brow furrowing at the word. “I did give you some of it, yes.”

A snort came from Maythra’s direction and Miranda looked to find the woman smug and satisfied with her arms crossed under her bosom.

“You have something to say, Maythra?” She was honestly surprised Maythra hadn’t interrupted already. It made Miranda’s plan a little more difficult.

She needed Maythra to start talking.

“Rise, Maythra,” Ergoth said soothingly. “You may speak.”

Maythra took to her feet, hands clasped in front of her. “I just find it very telling that you admit to having this potion. That Govek had easy access to it.”

“It was offered to me.” Miranda used a more forceful tone, hoping, praying, it would be enough to goad her. “Not Govek. Govek had nothing to do with it.”

Maythra laughed. “Govek was the one who requested it for you. Of course, he had access to it.”

Bingo!

“How could you possibly know that?” Miranda put a hand in front of her mouth as if shocked, hoping that it would hide the smile threatening to quiver at her lips.

“I know everything in this clan,” Maythra said with a wave of her hand. “Especially where the women are concerned. And I passed Wellia multiple times while she was on her way to deliver this potion to you. So, I know you have been using it quite a bit. Or perhaps did you lose some and need a replacement?”

This accusation was said with a pointed look toward Govek and the clan began to chatter again.

Miranda rose her voice to be heard. “I never got a replacement. I never got this tincture at all.”

“Don’t lie.” Maythra swept her hands out. “Many here also saw Wellia on her way to your home.”

“Wellia.” Miranda looked out into the crowd. “Care to speak?”

“Wellia.” Ergoth went to the edge of the platform toward the table where all the women sat. “As a woman of this clan, you need not speak if you do not wish to.”

“I wish to.” Wellia stood and pushed her dark curls back away from her face.

Miranda soared. Her heart hammered. She looked to Govek and found his eyes wide, brows raised.

She knew he never thought this would work. When she’d drawn this conclusion on her own while pouring over all the events surrounding Maythra’s attack, Govek had confessed to being confused over how a tiny detail such as this might bear so much weight on the argument at hand. Miranda supposed all those years watching crime documentaries were finally paying off.

“I never delivered the tincture,” Wellia said clearly, and her voice was almost drowned out in the end by the clan breaking out into open chatter.

Karthoc roared for silence, but Maythra didn’t bother to obey. “That is not true,” she wailed. “I saw you. Three times I saw you. And Hilva saw too. As did Beleda and Tove. Tell them.”

The three stood but Karthoc yelled, “Sit down! Wellia is speaking first.”

“I’ll come up.” Wellia hurried to the platform and stood next to her mate, who regarded her with surprise. She took Hovget’s hand and gave it a gentle pat before she looked out over the clan. “I never gave Miranda the potion, and the account books at the Healer’s House can prove that.”

“But I saw?—”

“What you saw, Maythra, was me attempting to deliver it. I went to Govek’s home three times to deliver the vorial, but they never answered the door and I did not feel comfortable leaving it since it has such extreme side effects when too much is used. As we all know.”

“Govek must have stolen it then.”

Wellia’s eyes were cold. “Perhaps. One vial is missing, but it went missing after you visited, Maythra.”

“Are you accusing me of stealing now?” Maythra nearly shrieked. “I was never anywhere near the Healer’s House!”

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