Page 43 of Demonchild

Malissa smiled calmly.

“No, nothing like that,” she said. “I just want to be careful is all. Call it a mother’s protective instinct.”

Malissa had not told anyone about what had happened to her. She had planned to at first, but then, on her way back to the castle after Beliath’s healing, she had thought better of it. She was no longer experiencing any symptoms of the poison she’d been given, and there was no way for her to explain her miraculous recovery. She sure as hell wasn’t going to tell anyone about the darkstone ring and her unholy paramour who resided therein.

Better, she thought, to say as little as possible for the time being.

But perhaps Droanna could give her some clues.

“Your Highness,” the maid said. “If I knew of any plans to harm you, I would come warn you right away.”

“I know you would,” Malissa said. “But can you think of anything at all? A disgruntled courtier? Someone who might bear a grudge against me?”

Droanna stopped, and her face became ashen.

“Not against you, Your Highness, but…”

“Yes? What is it?”

The maid glanced nervously down both ends of the corridor. She was trembling, as though she feared the very walls themselves had ears.

“Come with me,” Malissa whispered. “Into my bedchamber.”

Once they were inside and the door was firmly shut, Droanna took a moment to look around the room to make sure no one else was there. Then she stood very close to Malissa and whispered so softly the young queen could scarcely hear her.

“It’s Dr. Jaeger,” she said.

“What about him? Has he said something?”

“No, Your Highness, it’s not that, but…”

Droanna chewed her lip nervously. Malissa placed her hands reassuringly on the woman’s shoulders and looked into her eyes.

“It’s alright, Droanna. I won’t tell anyone that you spoke to me about this. Not even my husband.”

That seemed to calm her a little.

Butonlya little.

“Before he came here to Drachenval, Dr. Jaeger lived in the south, in the land of Esmoria. They say the citizens of that land were an ungodly people. Warlocks and witches, the lot of them. There aren’t many of them left anymore. King Wulfgang’s father, Wulfmar, conquered their lands and put most of them under the sword.”

“But not Jaeger.”

“He would have only been a boy then. He was brought back to Drachenval as a slave, but he showed such an aptitude for alchemy and such, that Wulfmar allowed him to apprentice under the previous doctor of the castle. When the old doctor died, Jaeger took over his position. By that time, Wulfgang had already ascended to the throne.”

“You think Jaeger might try to harm the king, to get revenge?”

Droanna dropped her eyes.

“I’m just a maid,” she said. “Tisn’t my place to say who the king should or shouldn’t allow to serve under him. But I’ve never trusted that Dr. Jaeger. There’s something about that man that just isn’t right.”

She lifted her eyes to Malissa’s face again, and leaned even closer. When she spoke again, her voice was little more than a faint exhalation.

“I think he’s a witch, Your Highness. I think he’s had congress with demons. Black magic.” She glanced around fearfully. “He could be listening to us even now.”

Malissa gave her shoulders a squeeze.

“Thank you for telling me this, Droanna. I promise I will not repeat anything you told me just now. And I have one more task for you.”

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