Page 62 of Highlander the Conqueror

“Few. Lies fall far too easily from tongues especially when the lie can prove beneficial. Greed can tempt the most virtuous soul.”

“And the most desperate and neither apply to Euniss,” Sky said and looked past him. “Shall we find out?” She waved, seeing the woman, and called out, “Euniss, a moment, please.”

Slayer turned, ready to summon the woman with a snap of his hand but she was already walking toward them.

“Do you need help, Sky?” Euniss asked when she reached them.

Slayer kept tight rein on his annoyance that his wife was not shown the respect due her as his wife, being addressed properly as Lady Sky, even if it was for her own protection. He was impatient to see this matter settled so she could take her rightful place as his wife.

“Was this area of land ever part of the kitchen garden?” Sky asked.

“Nay, this patch of land was for the healer’s use. Verina would not let anyone go near it, warning that some plants were too dangerous to touch. It fell into disrepair when she died, and the frigid winter had not helped the few plants she had.”

“Her healing garden was small?” Sky asked.

“Far smaller than our previous healer’s garden,” Euniss said.

“How did my father come by Verina?” Slayer asked.

Euniss shook her head and shrugged. “A question I asked him myself when she arrived. He told me that it was none of my concern. That we needed a healer and we now had one. That, of course, made me even more curious and somewhat suspicious of the healer since she did not seem a knowledgeable healer. But your father continued to dismiss my concerns, so I held my tongue.”

“Until my father took ill,” Slayer said.

“I did wonder over her healing skills when your father failed to improve no matter what Verina did, and when I suggested poisoning, she did pay heed to it.”

“Or so she made you believe,” Slayer said.

Euniss’s brow rose in surprise. “It did cross my mind, but I and others had expressed concern about Verina not looking well after your father took ill. Do you think Verina poisoned your father?” Her glance drifted off briefly.

“You recall something?” Slayer asked.

“I cannot believe I dismissed it,” Euniss said as if disappointed in herself.”

“Tell me,” Slayer ordered.

“I caught a servant wrinkling her nose at the bedding taken from your father’s bedchamber that she was about to wash one day. I went to ask her if the bedding had gone too long before being changed when I caught a whiff of the scent myself. I warned the servant to say nothing that it was none of our concern.”

“What wasn’t your concern?” Slayer asked already surmising what it was.

“Verina’s scent was potent on the bedding. It was an odd, overly sweet scent. I paid it no mind since I was well aware that your father was a potent man who slept with a variety of women and cared little for any of them.” Euniss looked with pride on Slayer. “It is good you have not inherited your father’s lack of honor and self-serving trait. Your mum had faith that you would be a good, honorable man, and she was right.”

“What about Warrand?” Slayer asked, her remark unsettling him.

“She prayed for him but could see from a young age that Warrand would be much like his father, though she was pleased that Warrand had formed a close bond with you. She hoped he might learn from you and become a better man.” Euniss turned her head and sniffed the air. “I must take my leave, sir, or your next meal will be served burnt.”

Slayer looked at his wife with a mixture of annoyance, concern, and need in his eyes.

Sky felt it more than saw his need for her and she did not hesitate. She spoke loud enough for those in the distance to hear. “Now go and leave me in peace to do as I please. I will not tolerate being dictated to any longer.”

Anger sparked in his eyes at her commanding voice until he realized what she was doing, giving him a reason to send her to their bedchamber.

He let his anger surface, knowing his wife would understand it was not directed at her. “Go to your bedchamber and you will remain there until I give you permission to leave it.”

The fiery anger in his eyes froze her for a moment.

“GO!” he shouted.

She jumped and hurried off, though not before scooping up Angel and calling out, “Come, Fane.”

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