Page 22 of The Sorrow of Shadows

Her eyes flare wide as she asks, “Are you threatening me, Aurelius?”

“Never, Princess. Just stating a fact.” I release my grip on her throat after a few moments, stepping back to put distance between us. Breyla’s breathing heavy, her chest heaving and eyes roaming me in an assessing gaze.

“Oh, and Princess? You left this behind,” I say as I flick her dagger back at her. Her shadows reach up and snag the blade out of the air before it can come close to her skin.

She narrows her eyes at me, and I give her a wink, turning from her and making my way toward the kitchens.

CHAPTER TWELVE

BREYLA

“You ready for this, General?” Jade asks.

Jade, Aurelius, and I had been interrogating the kitchen staff for hours. I would ask the questions, Aurelius would subtly alert me if he sensed a lie, then Jade would use her compulsion Gift to get the truth out of them. Or that’s how it would have gone if we had talked to anyone who knew something about the attempted murder. We are no closer to an answer now than when we started.

“We only have a couple servants and the cook left, correct?” I ask with quiet desperation for this to be over.

“Correct. The cook is coming in now,” Aurelius says as he lays a hand on my shoulder. It’s meant to be supportive, but I can’t help the reaction my body gives to the warmth where our skin meets. Arousal isn’t what I should be feeling, but the goosebumps pebbling my skin suggest something is wrong with me. I know he feels it when his hand tightens slightly on my shoulder before it drops away entirely. I should be relieved, but disappointment is all I feel at the loss of his touch.

I roll my shoulders, trying to work out the knot forming between my shoulder blades. An older male enters the room, his apron covered in flour and other various ingredients for cooking. He sits in the empty chair before us, folding his hands in his lap. His hair is graying, and the wrinkles at the corner of his eyes show his age. I don’t really know him, but he has cooked for the palace since my father was a child.

I smile softly at him. “Do you know why you’re here, Mino?”

“I assume it had something to do with the poisoned eggs one of the kitchen girls ate?” he guesses.

“That would be correct. We have questioned most of the kitchen staff but have learned nothing of value. We’re hoping you can help us determine the source of the poison meant for Lord Aurelius.” The last part comes out almost like a plea.

“I’ll do what I can. What would you like to know, Princess?”

“Start at the beginning of the day. Tell me everything you did, people you spoke with, anything unusual or out of place?”

“The day started the same as every other. I woke before dawn to prepare the bread and pastries for the day. The rest of the servants get there right at sunrise most days. They help with plating and delivering the food, some minor cooking if I trust them.”

“Was there anyone new that day? Or just new in general?” I question.

“No one new in several months. All servants are vetted by Commander Nolan first and then assigned by Lord Elijah. We haven’t seen a new face in the kitchen in quite some time.” I had already guessed as much but wanted confirmation.

“And you didn’t see anyone unfamiliar in the kitchens that morning? Someone who didn’t belong?” Aurelius butts in.

“No, M’lord. No one except the kitchen staff and myself.”

“Let’s try something different. Mino, can you tell me where the food you use for the castle comes from?” I’m grasping at straws to get any kind of lead.

“Well, that’s easy enough; most of our food comes from various farms and vendors in Ciyoria. Although...” he bites his lip as something occurs to him.

“Although, what?” I prod.

“Lately we’ve been getting more and more produce from one vendor than we have in the past. In fact, I don’t recall them providing much until the last few months.”

“What’s odd about that?” I question.

“Nothing odd per se, but a few times I’ve caught them trying to sell us poisonous mushrooms that were mixed in with the rest. It’s not so strange on its own—they look similar and grow close together. An honest mistake, but one that needs close watching. The most recent shipment we received from them was several days before the bad eggs, but I usually oversee and inspect the delivery to ensure no mistakes like that are made. I could not be there for the delivery that day, so I don’t know who did the inspection.”

That was finally something I could work with. I turn to Aurelius, and he gives me a slight nod. Everything Mino has said thus far has been the truth.

“Okay, Mino. Can you tell me exactly what was in that shipment?”

“Mostly produce. No livestock or eggs, I’m afraid.”

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