Page 202 of The Priory of the Orange Tree

The needle pierced her skin.

46

South

The kitchens were behind the waterfall, just below the sunrooms. As a child, Ead had loved to sneak in with Jondu and purloin rose candies from Tulgus, the head cook.

The scullery was sun-dappled and always smelled of spices. The servants were preparing jeweled rice, scallions, and chicken in a lime marinade for the evening meal.

She found Loth arranging a platter of fruit with Tulgus. His eyelids looked heavy.

Dreamroot. They must be trying to make him forget.

“Good afternoon, sister,” said the white-haired cook.

Ead smiled, trying not to look at Loth. “Do you remember me, Tulgus?”

“I do, sister.” He returned the smile. “I certainly remember how much of my food you stole.”

His eyes were the pale yellow of groundnut oil. Perhaps he was the one who had gifted Nairuj her eyes.

“I have grown up since then. Now I ask for it.” Ead lowered her voice and leaned closer. “Nairuj said you might let me taste a little of the Prioress’s sun wine.”

“Hm.” Tulgus wiped his liver-spotted hands on a cloth. “A small glass. Call it a homecoming gift from the Sons of Siyati. I will have it brought to your chamber.”

“Thank you.”

Loth was looking at her as if at a stranger. It took Ead all her strength not to meet his gaze.

As she walked back toward the doorway, she spied the urns where herbs and spices were stored. Seeing that Tulgus was preoccupied, Ead found the jar she needed, took a generous pinch of the powder inside, and dropped it into a pouch.

She snatched a honey pastry from a platter before she left. It would be a long time before she tasted another.

For the rest of the day, she did as any good Red Damsel would when she was about to be sent on a long journey. She practiced her archery under the watchful eyes of the Silver Damsels. Each of her arrows found its mark. Between draws, Ead made certain to look calm, unhurried about nocking her arrows. One bead of sweat could give her away.

When she reached her sunroom, she found it empty of her saddlebags and weapons. Aralaq must have taken them.

A cold feeling came over her. This was it.

The point of no return.

She pulled in a breath, and her spine turned to iron. The Mother would not have watched while the world burned. Crushing the last embers of doubt, Ead changed into her nightrobe and took up her position on the bed, where she pretended to read. Outside, the light of day withdrew.

Loth and Aralaq would be waiting for her by now. When it was full dark and a knock came at her door, she called, “Come in.”

One of the menfolk entered, bearing a platter. On it were two cups and a jug.

“Tulgus said you wished to taste the sun wine, sister,” he said.

“Yes.” She motioned to the nightstand. “Leave it here. And open the doors, if you will.”

When he set down the tray, Ead kept her expression clean and leafed past another page in her book. As he shuffled toward the balcony doors, she slipped the pouch of dreamroot from her sleeve and emptied it into one of the cups. By the time the man turned back, she had the other cup in her hand, and the pouch was nowhere to be seen. He took the tray and left.

Wind rushed through the sunroom and blew out the oil lamp. Ead dressed in her travel clothes and boots, still sandy from the Burlah. The Prioress would be drinking the drugged wine by now.

She took the only knife she had not already packed and sheathed it at her thigh. When she was certain that there was no one outside, she pulled her hood over her eyes and became one with the dark.

The Prioress slept in the highest sunroom in the Priory, close to the crest of the waterfall, where she could see the dawn break over the Vale of Blood. Ead stopped at the arched entrance to the passageway. Two Red Damsels guarded the door.

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