Page 111 of Fragile Oath

“Oh, no,” I said, wiping my mouth with a cloth napkin and setting it back in my lap. “I do have an interest in herbs, though — making medicines.”

Gracie nodded as if this was something she already knew. The clock ticked the fifth minute, and I reached out to pour us both a cup of tea.

“Is that what you’re doing now? In the library?” Was there an edge to her tone, or was that only my imagination?

I picked up my teacup, willing her to do the same. She did, inhaling the spiced scent.

“Something like that,” I offered.

“Anything in particular that you’re researching?” she pressed, taking a sip of her tea. “I took a bit of an interest in that area when my mother got sick. Perhaps I could help.”

I debated on how honest to be with her. If she was responsible for stealing my notes, and if she had paid any amount of attention to the books I had been reading in the library, then she already knew the answer.

“Lately, I’ve been looking into the poison the Viper has been using. Or trying to,” I said evenly. “I keep coming to dead ends.”

Gracie nodded and took another sip of tea while I pretended to do the same.

“Looking for a cure?” she asked.

I hesitated, my pulse throbbing in my temples as I tried to keep my breaths even.

How had we missed it before? The innocent act, the sweetness she always infused into her words… It was all a lie. This girl was nothing but pure calculation.

Again, I mentally reviewed what had been in my notes, trying to make sure my answer didn’t give me away.

“Of a sort,” I responded carefully. “Though more of a prevention, when you think about it. Narrowing down the source could help us stop the supply.”

She arched an eyebrow, draining what was left of her tea. “Surely, that’s not necessary when you already know who she is.”

For the first time since my arrival, she let some of her intelligence burn through her guileless brown gaze. The hairs on my arm stood on end, each flutter of air from the drafty castle like a thousand knives drawing across my skin.

Wordlessly, I took a sip of the spiced brew, immediately bringing my napkin to my lips to capture the warm liquid. Placing it back in my lap with the damp side down, I finally responded.

“We still have to catch her,” I said noncommittally.

I wanted desperately to lie outright, but every sense in my body was screaming that she would know if I did. Still, my misdirect wasn’t enough. I saw the moment she dropped her shield.

Maybe she had realized that I knew from the moment I spotted that plant, or maybe I had given myself away in the meantime. Either way, she let her innocent guise fall away, affecting a calculating sort of pout instead.

“People really don’t give you the credit you deserve, you know?” she said. “Something I understand all too well.”

She sounded so sincere. Was this how she inspired loyalty from her sycophants? By finding ways to relate to them?

Fear made my mouth go dry, and I resisted the urge to swallow. “I’m sure you do.”

“You know, I really did just want to talk to you today,” she said, her tone almost disappointed. “I wasn’t going to poison you.”

She had noticed my failure to drink my tea. Of course she had.

Icy fingernails of dread scraped down my spine. My eyes darted to the door, even knowing it was locked. She followed my gaze and sighed, moving her knife closer to her plate in a clear threat.

With numb fingers, I reached for the teapot to refill our cups. First, I topped off mine, then I very carefully filled hers.

“We can still talk,” I offered, my tone trembling on the last word.

She gave me a look that was more terrifying for the pity it held. Malice would have been better, easier to work with than the stone-cold resolution in her wide brown eyes.

“You know it’s not that simple now.”

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