Maiden by Decree Chapter 12

Assassins Lurk

Or: Pardon Me. Did You Drop This Poisoned Dagger?

By

Maggie Finson

Dierdre glared at both Garret and Jessica then realized she was still standing in front of them without clothing. Snatching her robe up and hastily wrapping it around herself, she slowly and deliberately walked across the room to pour herself a large goblet of wine.

“I don’t know whether to trust either one of you just now.” She simply told them then moved to seat herself in a single chair facing them both. “Give me a reason – a real reason, to do that.”

“I’m afraid there isn’t much I could say to make you feel any better about all this.” Garret let out a long sigh and shook his head. “I never set out to hurt you.”

“Hmmph.” Was all the answer he got from that statement.

“Deirdre.” Jessica put in, frowning as the girl took a long draught of the wine in her cup but not berating her for that. “I can tell you in all truth that if anyone at all tried to harm you, they’d be dealing with a very angry knight in my brother. He truly loves you.”

“You.” Deirdre turned her attention to Garret’s sister. “Have known about this blasted prophecy all along. Why didn’t you at least give me a few hints regarding what was in store for me?”

“I couldn’t.” The blonde answered with an almost helpless expression on her face. “I’ll try to explain why that was if you like, but without an understanding of magic, you probably wouldn’t believe it. Especially with the frame of mind you’re in just now.”

“Try me.” The dark haired beauty who had been a boy invited with a little scowl. “I might be more open to an explanation like that than you think. Especially considering the things that have happened to me here. So go on, I’m very interested in hearing this. All of it.”

With a glance to Garret and a shrug, Jessica nodded. “All right, I’ll tell you what I can, both of you deserve to know more than either one has been told so far.”

“In my case that is nothing at all.” Deirdre grumbled.

Garret only nodded in agreement. “What I know has been more than a bit murky, too. So yes, I think it’s time for some explanations all around.”

“Well, give me a moment to figure out where to start.” Jessica began.

In another part of the palace, Roric gave the shrouded figures gathered in the dimly lit room a disgusted look. “Are we even secure talking about this here?”

“Of course we are my lord.” One of the others answered with something like affront at the question. “We are warded against scrying and eavesdroppers. It is safe to discuss what we need to here.”

“Then tell me.” Glaring at another dark clad form, he demanded. “Why is that little bitch still alive?”

The man known to his associates only as Eel, a nondescript fellow with a build and features that would blend in anywhere shrugged, obviously unimpressed with the de-facto Baron’s displeasure. “Getting close to her isn’t an easy matter, my lord. She is guarded both physically and magically. A number of her guards are disguised as servants and are always nearby and alert.”

“I’m not interested in excuses, assassin.” Roric grated. “With what I’m paying you I expect results.”

“Which you will have.” Eel responded without rancor, or the least visible conern for his own safety because of the lord’s anger. “Matters of this nature take time to arrange.”

“Time.” Roric grunted. “Is something we are rapidly running out of here. Our allies are becoming restive already. That girl, Deirdre, alive – assures Garret’s ascension. Without her, his viability as an heir is non-existent. I want her out of the way, soon.”

“Handling nervous backers is your part of the job.” Eel answered simply. “I’m sure you can convince them that you are still the best candidate, my lord.”

“Then make certain you do your part.” Roric gave the man an even stare that would have most who knew him quailing in terror. “So I can more easily do mine.”

“Soon.” The assassin promised.

“See that you make it so.” Roric ordered. “Now, it’s late, I’m tired, and my lady is waiting.”

The others present took that as the dismissal it was, but Eel remained for a few moments. “Be at ease. I am the best, that’s why you secured my services. Take care of the details on your end, I’ll take care of those on mine. If you insist on running my part of the operation, too, I fear you’ll be looking for another specialist. And you’d find none who are up to my standards.”

“Then give me reason to trust your expertise in something other than recommendations and empty assurances.” Roric shrugged, no more concerned at the subtle threat than the assassin had been with his ire.

Eel favored the other with an unpleasant smile for a moment, nodded, and silently left the room.

“I think Deirdre was having some problems tonight.” Evaine sighed. “And I don’t mean with louts like Laddin groping her while dancing.”

“Don’t worry, love.” Cedric answered, though he too was clearly concerned.

“It is a cause for concern, your majesties.” Harald agreed, but qualified that. “The young lady has suddenly reached the unavoidable understanding that she is a she instead of a he now. If she wasn’t reacting rather strongly to that there would, I think, be even more cause for worry.”

“Probably, Harald.” Evaine agreed after a moment. “But she survive all this without going insane, or virulently hating everyone she feels is responsible for the change?”

“The lady, delicate flower that she is.” Harald answered with assurance. “Is a lot tougher, and stronger than anyone, herself included, thinks. She will have some rough times, but she should come through this well enough given time.”

“Speaking of time, which a commodity that grows shorter every day.” Cedric shot a glance at the other, so far silent member of the gathering. “Do you have any more information regarding what is brewing here at that palace and elsewhere?”

Vertigan, Cedrics Spymaster nodded. “Roric has definitely contracted with an assassin to rid himself of the ‘problem’ that Deirdre represents. As to who that assassin is, I haven’t yet discovered. My sources are still digging for that.”

Sources that went well beyond the ladies of the court that the man instructed in the finer points of dance, Cedric and Evaine knew though the spymaster often joked, not altogether disparagingly, that he did acquire more than a little useful information in that capacity.

“Is Deirdre adequately protected?” Evaine questioned.

“As adequately as is possible.” Veritgan nodded. “One of my best people is serving as one of her maids, and I know that The lady Jessica’s pet assassin is posing as another. Aevestos is far from helpless in that regard, either. As major domo of the Lady’s chambers and affairs he is in an excellent position to evaluate potential threats. Not to mention that the man is more than simply competent in dealing with any of those discovered.”

“Is every member of Deirdre’s staff a former soldier, a spy, or assassin?” Evaine asked with a little distaste in her expression.

“Of course not, your majesty.” Vertigan assured her then grimaced. The duke and duchess would not allow that, even though I insisted she would be far safer if that were the case.”

“Good for Grace and Lamont.” The queen responded. “The poor girl is going to have enough trouble trusting any of us for the time being without having to learn that all her servants are actually keepers.”

“Protectors.” Vertigan corrected. “Your majesty.”

“In her position would you be able to make that distinction?” Evaine shot back, but smiled to soften that. “I know I would have trouble doing so.”

“With my background, probably, though I’d be insulted that someone thought I required such protection.” Vertigan admitted. “In her position, without my knowledge and skills, I would likely not take that information well at all.”

“Then let all of us take pains to not rub the lady’s face in the uncomfortable fact that she has more bodyguards than real servants, shall we?” Cedric suggested. “At least until things have settled down enough for her that she is able to see those specific people as the protections they are and not possible jailers.”

“It shall be so, your majesty.” Vertigan bowed. “Now, if I may, there are things that require my attention so this mess doesn’t become the disaster it holds the potential for being.”

At nods from both Cedric and Evaine, Jhalmar’s master spy left their company.

Harald also bowed his own way out. “Like Vertigan, there are things requiring my own attention. Some are even related to our potential difficulties with Deirdre and those wishing her harm.”

Once they were alone, Evaine gave her husband a searching look. “I so wish I could have provided you with an heir. You should have set me aside for one who could have. It would have avoided a lot of this trouble if you had.”

“You couldn’t help the illness that robbed you of that, love.” Cedric answered with a sigh over a subject they had been over so often the road was probably paved by now. “I couldn’t, wouldn’t do that to either you or your family.”

“We would have understood.” She softly answered.

“That may be.” Cedric tiredly answered, but it was my decision to make and I made it long ago. You are my wife, my queen, and my love. I’ll have no other, not even in name to bear a child you grieve over not being able to give me.”

“So the entire Kingdom is at risk for your love of a woman.” Evaine’s response was tart, but the love in her eyes shone at his response – again.

“Lamont’s family has legitimate claims to the throne through blood ties in both your family and mine.” Cedric reminded her. “Everyone thought an heir from that branch of both our families would be easy to find and declare. None of us expected the difficulties poor Garret has run across would develop, or that another, distasteful, but legitimate claimant for the throne would emerge at the same time those occurred. One with a clear intent to take the throne even if he is careful to skate around any direct act that would be provable treason.”

“Then I pray that Roric makes a mistake that will give him to us without rousing the surrounding duchies into an internal war that would open us to our enemies around us.”

“If not, I still have the feeling that both Garret and Deirdre are more than capable of handling him.” Cedric answered and moved to hug his wife.

“If they survive the next few months.” Evaine responded.

“We know Garret is tough, capable and no fool.” He reassured his wife. “We’ve seen clear signs that Deirdre will be no less than her future husband in those qualities.”

“Gods grant her time to become that, then.” Evaine prayed.

“They’ve already seen to that, dearest.” Cedric answered then chuckled. “As we both have been seeing and hearing since the dear lady arrived at the palace.”

“Kicking and screaming all the way.” Evaine lost her gloom and laughed. “Ah that one is going to be something sooo special, my love.”

“I’m sure Garret will discover that in good time, much to his delight.”

“You know what I mean!” Evaine elbowed him. “In things other than the bedchamber, you big oaf!”

“Speaking of the bedchamber…” Cedric lifted an eyebrow and tilted his head towards their own.

“Men!” Evaine let out a long sigh, but was smiling when she did. “Is that all you ever think about?”

“Only when in the presence of the women we love.” He shrugged.

“Then let us get that off your little mind, by all means.” She grinned.

“I’m waiting.” Deirdre reminded Jessica as that lady assembled her thoughts and emotions to give the promised explanation then looked around the room with an odd expression on her face. “This wine doesn’t taste quite right.”

“Then put it down and get rid of the bottle it came from.” Garret told her, preoccupied with his own thoughts and impatience to hear what his sister had to say, too. He failed to note the sudden flush, then paleness in Deirdre’s face.

“Is it extra stuffy in here, tonight?” Deirdre questioned, then grimaced as a slight twinge in her stomach made itself felt.

A glance at his often recalcitrant lady turned into a rapid assessment as he took in her paleness, and the unhealthy flush in her cheeks standing out too brightly against her sudden pallor. Garret moved quickly, slapping the wine from Deirdre’s hand and shouting. “Aevestos! Get Harald and a healer in here! Now!”

Taking in the situation as rapidly as Garret had, the Major Domo, who had remained a discrete distance from the conversation didn’t take time to acknowledge that command, but pointed to two of the more trustworthy maids hovering in the vicinity. “See too it.”

As those two hurried out of the receiving chamber, he moved to join Garret. Deirdre was even paler, and seemed to have difficulty breathing. With a quick nod to himself, he ordered another anxiously hovering maid. “Get me that Boral weed I keep in the kitchens. Hurry!”

“Here.” Mina handed him the requested item, a vial of noxious appearing green/brown fluid. “I got it earlier when it was clear that the lady was in danger of drinking too much thanks to her temper.”

Grabbing the emetic, Aevestos unceremoniously took the back of Deirdre’s neck to hold her head up and forced the opened vial past her slack lips. “Drink it, lady, it will help.”

As Deirdre slowly swallowed the fluid, Jessica asked. “Where did that bottle of wine come from?”

“Not our cellars.” Mina answered with a worried look to the tableau made up of Garret, Aevestos, and an obviously very ill Deirdre. “It was a gift.”

“Who sent it?”

“I don’t know, but I’ll find out soon enough.” Mina answered.

“You’re supposed to examine everything that comes from someone,”

“I did examine it.” Mina shot back. “I swear to you, it did nothing when I tasted it, or checked for signs of tampering with the bottle.”

“The cup, then,” Jessica turned to find that.

“I personally set out the wine and cups.” Mina shook her head. “The vessels had no sign of contamination I could find, and you know how thorough I am with things like that.”

“Well, this isn’t a natural illness.” Jessica spared another glance to the trio centered by a now vomiting, moaning, and cursing Deirdre. “Even with all the upset of tonight. We need to find out what exactly caused this then see to it that it doesn’t happen again. Damn! Please be all right, Deirdre.”

“I like her too.” Mina agreed as she grimly moved towards Deirdre’s bedchambers. “Maybe something in that shambles is responsible. If that is the case, I’ll find it m’lady.”

“The sooner the better.” Jessica answered while giving the now obviously poisoned wine and the bottle it was held in a longer look. “I’ll check this magically while you’re doing that.”

“That would have been my next suggestion.” Mina threw over her shoulder as she rushed into Deierdre’s bed chambers.

“It was a magically activated poison.” Jessica told the gathering unhappily. “Set to trigger when Deirdre touched the wine.”

“Someone would have needed something from her person to manage that.” Harald nodded thoughtfully. “Though I admit none of us even thought to guard against this kind of attack.”

“Her nail pairings, and loose hairs have been routinely burned – once they were removed from her presence.” Mina told them all. “But you all know that no matter how diligent anyone is with things like that there is always a chance that some will fall into hands that will use it for ill intent.

The servants here are very thorough.” Mina continued, and was supported by a grunt of agreement from Aevestos. “And I am more so, given my original profession.”

Garret eyed the one-time assassin, noted the steady regard she returned, and nodded with a sigh. “We know that, Mina. What we need to find out here is exactly what was used to formulate this particular poison, and hopefully, to make certain that whoever did it possesses no more of whatever was obtained to try again.”

“My own – superior-- is pursuing that line of investigation.” Bertelle put in without the normal diffidence the pretty young maid usually displayed when in the company of lords and ladies. “He will find out if anyone can.”

“I am searching for the same thing on the mystical side of things.” Harald added. Between the spymaster and myself, we should have an answer to at least that question soon.”

“Good.” Garret told them both, rather grimly, but his lady – no matter how much she might protest that title – was still in danger from the magically activated poison. “Narrowing down the suspects, just how many people in Jhalmar, or even on the continent as a whole, are capable of formulating a poison like that?”

“Not many.” Mina answered thoughtfully. “Unfortunately, those who are capable of such a thing – and no, I am not one of them – would also be adept enough at disguise that no one would be able to recognize them when they’re working. Not even those otherwise intimate with them. I can supply a few names, but that list would be far from complete, I’m afraid. I have been, how to put it here, on the target list of my old guild since my former master and I had that falling out. I’m scarcely one any of my old acquaintances would give information to.”

“Do what you can.” Garret told her, aware that the ‘falling out’ she had so casually mentioned involved the death of her one time master, and more than a few other assassins. The lack of willingness by anyone connected with that shadowy and often sinister guild to give out any information to her was as much a result of fear of both the guild and the young woman. Not to mention a very healthy respect for her abilities and known enmity with her former guild.

“I’ll do what I can.” Mina assured him, and the others. “I take something like this personally. Very personally at any time, but especially when I genuinely like the person I’m protecting. Or trying to protect.”

Everyone present found themselves almost pitying the person responsible once Mina did find out who that was. Unless they were very, very good and very lucky, their days would be numbered in the span of one hand with fingers spread.

And likely reach only the second finger of that count at best.

A cleared throat from the door to Deirdre’s bedchamber attracted the group’s attention and Alis, the King and Queen’s own healer, along with Jerome their majesties’ personal physician gave them pleased, but weary looks.

“She’s out of danger now.” Alis told everyone.

“Though it was near thing.” Jerome put in. “Whoever noticed she’d been poisoned so quickly, the young lady owes her life to you.”

“And to whoever discerned that the poison was magical in nature.” Alis added while pushing a lock of her graying blond hair away from her face. “Without that information, neither Jer or I, good as we are, could have saved her.”

“Is she conscious?” Garret asked, relief clear in his posture and expression.

“Not yet.” Alis answered tiredly. “But she’s resting comfortably and my daughter, Soo, is with her. If there is need I can be here within minutes.”

“Unless, that is.” Jerome put in with a grin. “There is a spare room available here for our use. If so our response time could be a bit longer.”

Reassured by that alone, Garret laughed in spite of his worry. “Oh, if you two believe her to be out of danger enough to do that, I think we can let you return to your own quarters for the time being.”

“If the situation changes, Soo will notify me immediately.” Alis answered with a fond smile aimed at Jerome. “Though I don’t really believe our services will be required beyond what we’ve done.”

“I’m in your debt.” Garret formally told them both. “If you ever need assistance of any kind I’m capable of giving, it is yours.”

“From me, too.” Jessica told the pair. “Deirdre is precious to both of us in far more ways than her mere potential. “If you have need, don’t hesitate to call. Unless I’m in great duress, I will answer.”

“Powerful friends we seem to be making around here.” Alis quietly told Jerome, but not quietly enough that the gathering couldn’t hear it. “But that’s all right. Just think of all the favors we’ll be able to call in at need!”

Jerome chuckled at her raised eyebrow and girlish expression of faked awe then shrugged to the others in apology. “What can I say? You all know how my wife is.”

“All the same.” Alis turned serious again. “Thank you both. Such pledges mean more to us than you might think from my casual demeanor. I was not belittling the offers, believe me.”

Once those two had departed, Garret stood. “All right. We all have things to do. Let’s get to them.”

The others left to pursue the lines of investigation they were best at, until only Garret, Jessica, and Aevestos remained in the room.

“Now what do we do?” Jessica questioned, knowing that a mage more capable than she would ever be was pursuing the only real avenue of investigation she could follow.

“You two need to eat something.” Aevestos told them without the slightest deference in his voice or stance.

“And here I thought you were done taking care of us, old friend.” Garret smiled tiredly.

“Hardly.” The man offered the first real smile he’d given since Deirdre’s poisoning. “I did, after all, promise your father I would take care of the two of you.”

“Yes, but that was when we were children.” Jessica pointed out.

“Eat.” Aevestos ordered them as maids set hot food and drink on the small table. “I know neither of you will leave this place until we’re all sure The Lady will be all right. Until that happy circumstance comes about, get used to me.”

“Again.” Garret grumbled, but he was smiling as he dug into the enticingly hot and fragrant food.

“What?” Deirdre sat up abruptly, fending off the stranger at her bedside.

“Easy, My Lady, easy.” The young woman soothed. “I’m a healer, and have been watching over your recovery. Something I will be doing for a few days yet unless you are far more resilient than even your rather amazing constitution hints at.”

“Recovery…” Deirdre closed her eyes then snapped them open. There was a mixture of anger, fear, and real outrage in those ice blue orbs when they returned to the healer. “I was poisoned, wasn’t I?”

“Well, your memory isn’t impaired.” The young woman smiled as she gently, but firmly pressed on Deirdre’s shoulders until that lady was again reclining in her bed. “I’m Soo, by the way, journeyman healer and daughter of Alis, the King and Queen’s own healer.”

“Meaning I’m in good hands?” Deirdre asked as she unsuccessfully tried to sit up again against the gentle, but insistent pressure of the other.

“Meaning I won’t hesitate to spank you if you misbehave.” The woman answered with a grin. “Trust me, I know how to do that, too, and would be more than able to do it. Not to mention that I’ve learned to handle royal tantrums, so yours should be no challenge at all.”

“Have you heard anything about me?” Deirdre questioned skeptically. “Anything at all? Evidently I’m not all that easy to handle when my temper lets go.”

“So you’re a hellion.” Soo shrugged. “I outweigh you, have experience you don’t, and won’t hesitate to make use of either if you endanger your own recovery. Understand?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Deirdre replied with uncharacteristic meekness. Then looked at Soo through thick lashes and shot the other a mischief filled grin. “But don’t expect it to be easy.”

“For either one of us, I expect.” Soo chuckled. “But I will see that you recover completely from this misadventure even if I have to chain you to that bed.”

“Hmmph.” Deirdre shook her head, still held firmly down by the other. “Are all healers as – umm…”

“Determined and as intractable as I seem to be?” Soo helpfully finished then laughed as her patient nodded. “Oh, no. I constantly get grief for being too lenient with my patients.”

“How do I keep finding these people?” Deirdre questioned the ceiling since she was still kept from raising up enough to ask anything else.

“Some people are just lucky, I suppose.” Soo answered then held a cup out to her. “Drink this, and before you complain, I know it tastes foul. If it tastes good, it isn’t doing you any good, my grandmother used to say. Unfortunately, in this case, she was right.”

Deirdre sniffed at the brew and grimaced, but obediently forced it all past a gag reflex determined to spew the nasty stuff all over the room.

“Good girl.” Soo approvingly patted her shoulder. “Now you’ll sleep some more and when you wake next time, I just might let you sit up.”

“I’ll look forward… to.. th…”

Dierdre, much to her future embarrassment when the tale was told, didn’t even manage to finish the sentence before she was softly snoring.

“She’s still weak, but the effects of the poison have been completely flushed from her system.” A vaguely familiar voice was telling someone when Deirdre awakened again.

“Speaking of.” Jessica’s voice answered with clear relief in it. “I do think the subject of our conversation is finally awake.”

Swimming vision took a moment to clear and Deirdre saw the vague blobs focus into the healer she remembered, Jessica, and Garret.

“Good afternoon, love.” Garret approached the bed and carefully reached out an arm to give her a tentative squeeze.

Recalling that she had been furious with both him and his sister, she still found that little hug to be extremely comforting. With a small groan, Deirdre slowly sat up, managed to brush one side of her long, thick hair behind a shoulder then sank back into the pillows. “Hi.”

“How are you feeling?” He questioned.

“Aside from like I’ve been dragged behind a dung wagon for fifty miles, not too bad.” She told him then grinned. “Actually, I’m not in pain, my insides don’t feel as if they’re trying to melt, and my head no longer feels like it’s going to fall off and roll under the table. So I guess that means I’m all right.”

“Yes it does.” The healer, Soo, Deirdre recalled her name along with the foul tasting brew that one had made her drink earlier, agreed as she moved to feel the girl’s forehead then held her wrist for a few moments. Nodding in satisfaction, Soo stepped back. “Well, your pulse is strong, and the fever is gone, so it looks as if you’ll live. You’ll be tired for a while yet, but that’s normal after any injury or illness. Just don’t overdo things and you should be fine in a few days.”

“Please define over do.” Deirdre sighed, thinking that at the moment, sitting up probably qualified for that.

“Oh, no dancing, stomping on indiscreet men’s feet, or swims in the atrium’s fountain for starters.” Soo chuckled then put on the serious face most people associated with her profession. “You should take things like getting out of bed for longer than a few minutes at a time very slowly until tomorrow. Then you can walk around a bit, at least until you start to tire. The day after that, you should be pretty well able to do anything you did before this happened.”

“Wait.” Deirdre stopped the woman as she started to leave. “Don’t healers use a form of magic when you work?”

“Yes we do.” Soo nodded.

“But I’m supposed to be a magical null, or something.” The dark haired girl told her. “According to Harald your magic shouldn’t have worked at all on me.”

“Well you certainly aren’t that mythical Magical Null.” Soo told her. “You were powerfully shielded from magic, but that fell away the moment my mother and I started working on you.”

“It did?” Deirdre got a thoughtful pout on her face. “Is it still gone?”

“No, it’s back now.” Soo answered. “But it allows me to reach in. And before you ask me how that is, I don’t know. Harald doesn’t know. It just is.”

“Well at least I know I can be healed if my life is threatened.”

“That should be comforting to know.” Soo more or less agreed.

“Oh, it is. It is.” Deirdre sighed. “It’s just that now I have another mystery to figure out about myself.”

“Good luck with that, my lady.” Soo flashed an encouraging grin. “But knowing what I do about you, I’m fairly sure you’ll get it all figured out eventually.”

“Is that a good thing?”

“Probably, but I really couldn’t tell you either way.” Soo shrugged. “Self discovery isn’t always the most comfortable thing for anyone to endure, you know.”

“Oh, thanks.” Deirdre grumbled before genuinely smiling at the healer. “But really, thank you, and pass that along to everyone else involved in my recovery. I won’t forget it, I promise you that.”

“No, I don’t suppose you will.” Soo nodded, thinking this fragile appearing beauty would not forget a few other things either, to the detriment of those who had brought those about.

After the healer had gone, Garret moved back to Deirdre’s side, almost hesitantly. “I’m so glad you’re still alive.”

“Me too.” Deirdre grumpily answered then actually smiled. “Thank you for knocking that cup out of my hand, I just couldn’t help myself even though I knew that whatever was in that wine was not good for me at all. I felt compelled to keep drinking the awful stuff.”

“It was poisoned, with the poison magically activated and enhanced.” Jessica told her with a frown. “It was attuned to you and only you. Anyone else drinking that wine would have been fine. That is how the magic part got past your odd shielding, by the way. You had already ingested the nasty stuff so the attack came from within your own system. Evidently the shield, or whatever it is, interpreted that as something coming from you at first and when that proved to be wrong, it was too late to halt the actual poison’s progress.”

“So what does that mean, exactly?” Deirdre asked as she allowed Garret to take her hand in one of his. “Someone deliberately made that poison and worked very carefully to kill me, and only me? Going to more than a little trouble to do it that way?”

“That explains things rather succinctly.” Jessica nodded.

“Is something like that common?”

“Not at all.” The blonde replied with a frustrated sigh. “Unfortunately, those we know of who would be capable of doing such a thing are also adept enough at disguise that they could seem to be almost anyone who generally keeps to the background, like a servant, a clerk, anything at all. We have someone well versed in that kind of thing searching for the guilty party and if she finds him, or her, I don’t think whoever it is will survive the meeting.”

“Mina.” Deirdre whispered without real surprise. “That has to be her. I’ve seen her checking my food and drink, and the cups, dishes, and cutlery. She’s far more intent and intense in the job than a simple maid would be.”

“Not to mention far better at it.” Jessica agreed without needless comment about her soon to be sister’s perceptiveness and intelligence. “She is an ex-assassin, and she was a very good one. Her skills have been and will continue being very valuable to our family. If anyone is able to track this assassin down, she will.”

“And you set her on me.” Deirdre quietly, thoughtfully said to no one in particular though it was taken as being addressed to Jessica.

“I asked her to take care of you, Deirdre.” The other woman sighed. I’m so sorry I was right to be concerned for your safety.

“You asked her?” Deirdre’s ice blue eyes showed a trace of amusement and more than a little disbelief. “She’s one of your servants, isn’t she?”

“No, she’s a friend.” Jessica firmly answered then raised a hand to stop further questions. “If she wishes you to know the details of that, she will be the one who tells you, not me.”

“Trust me.” Garret drily put in. “That young woman is no one’s servant, and no one she doesn’t want to gets away with giving her orders. Even those she would tolerate that from had better be very careful. The woman is deadly in more ways than I care to think about most of the time.”

“I’ll remember that.” Deirdre told them both with a lopsided grin. “Far be it from me to try ordering anyone about anyway. I was taking orders from people most of my life about one thing or another. I much prefer asking to demanding.”

Which explains why your servants are already so fiercely loyal to you already.” Garret chuckled. “The youngest maid on your staff, Genevieve, just past being a girl, nearly brained one of my people with a candle stick when he entered unannounced.”

“She did?” Deirdre laughed at that picture. Genevieve was smaller than she was, and looked as she would barely be able to handle an overly playful kitten.

“She did.” Garret grinned back. “She nearly succeeded, too. Poor Hemish had a headache from the glancing blow he took for hours.”

“Hemish?” Deirdre recalled something. “Tall, kind of pudgy looking fellow with a constantly pleasant expression on his face?”

“That’s the one.” Garret nodded. “One of the first of my people you met, as I recall.”

“Tell him I regret that one of my servants nearly brained him, would you?” She asked then started laughing. “Though I’ll be sure to do that personally once I can look at him without dissolving into laughter at the picture of sweet little Gen nearly doing that to him.”

“Oh, the young lady made sure he received her personal apologies.” Garret replied with a straight face. “In fact, I do think she’s still – umm – convincing him of her sincerity. In their off hours, of course. Hemish seems oddly reluctant to simply accept her apologies and let it be done with.”

“Interesting basis for a relationship.” Deirdre deadpanned to Jessica’s amusement, and Garret’s. “I hope he eventually accepts her – umm – apologies completely.”

“She’s working very hard at that.” Garret admitted with a quirk of his mouth. “And about time some woman got that randy overlarge stuffed bear within her delicate claws. He needs a good woman to take care of him, though he won’t admit that to anyone.”

“Both of them have my good wishes.” Deirdre finished that line of conversation with a grin. “Now, almost sister.”

Jessica gave her an attentive look with a raised eyebrow that showed she knew what was coming next. “The prophecy.”

“Yes.” Deirdre smoothed her unruly hair off her face while grumbling about really needing to wash and brush it, then returned her attention to her future sister-in-law. “You were working up to giving me an explanation when things started getting a bit too exciting, weren’t you?”

“I was.” Jessica agreed then frowned. “Honestly, I still haven’t got the slightest idea of where to start with this.”

“Maybe at the beginning?” Deirdre suggested. “That’s generally a wonderful place to start tales, or whatever.”

“It really isn’t that simple.” Jessica sighed then pursed her lips thoughtfully. “But I’ll try to explain it enough for both of you to understand.”

“Good.” The dark haired hellion nodded in approval.

“I’m in complete agreement with you there, my love.” Garret put in.

“You nearly always agree with me.” Deirdre rolled her eyes then winced as that seemed to have caused her some pain. She forestalled any questions about her well being by holding up a hand and peremptorily waving those off.

“It’s safer all around to do that.” Garret answered with a shrug.

“You need to get over that attitude.” His still somewhat reluctant fiancée told him. “I’ll run all over you if you don’t, you know.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“Do that. I know you’re no wimp to be ruled by a woman, not even by one you love.” She told him before turning back to Jessica with a look that quite plainly conveyed both strained patience and curiosity.

“All right, all right!” That lady shook her head and managed a weak grin. “A moment more, I beg you. This isn’t something that can be laid out like a simple board game for children, you know.”

“I have all day.” Deirdre agreeably answered. “And probably tomorrow, too before I have to show myself in public again. But neither of you are leaving without loud protests from me until you tell me – us – something, Jessica.”

“Don’t you need to rest?” Garret questioned, though he too was obviously consumed by the need to know at least something more about the prophecy that had thrown him and Deirdre together.

“I’ve slept the better part of two days already.” She replied with a shrug. “I think I can manage to stay awake a while yet.”

“If I over tire you, Soo will have my hide.” Jessica put in, the held out her hands in mock defense from the glare she received from ice blue eyes for saying that. “But I’ll tell you what I can. The only thing I ask to believe in this is that I can’t, literally am unable to tell some of it, maybe a lot of it. This prophecy is a strong, and very stubborn old fart, believe me.”

“Tell us what you can.” Dierdre answered simply. “All I ask is that you stop keeping me in this figurative dark room with a candle but nothing to light it with.”

“About six hundred years ago, give or take a few, our family was blessed, or cursed with a member who was a genuine seer. Her name was, interestingly enough, Deirdre but the resemblance ends there more or less. From the surviving portraits of the woman she was taller, so fair her skin was nearly white and her hair shone like white gold does.

What that Deirdre did that was notable.” Jessica went on. “Was having the tendency to pass into odd trances then speak what at first was taken to be complete nonsense. Those utterances weren’t nonsense at all as I’m sure you’ve already figured out. But naturally the family kept her secluded a lot of the time because she was so strange and her health was extremely fragile because these visions drained so much of her vitality. We think, no we are sure now, that was because whatever was giving her those ‘visions’ was also using her innate magical strength to insure that at least some of her prophecies would actually actively work to make what they told of come about.

She was predicting the future, you see, and doing it with rather frightening accuracy.” Jessica paused to take a sip of water then went on. “One of the first things she predicted was the murder of a distant relative, who just happened to be Jhalmar’s current ruler. That prediction also outlined the economic and political chaos that would result of that man’s assassination. A few family members paid attention, just in case, and prepared for the worse.

They were unable to prevent Gernan’s assassination, but Dominic, the patriarch of our own Sulan family along with his young cousin Cedric Keria managed to rally enough support to save what remained of the kingdom, though not without a great deal of bloodshed and chaos.

Then Deirdre made another prediction, that also came to pass.” The blonde let out a sigh at the present Deirdre’s attention didn’t waver from her. “Doran was crowned king of Jhalmar and founded the present Kerian Dynasty. She told him, privately, that would happen, and that he too would face an assassination attempt but survive it. Both things happened. Though most considered Doran extremely lucky or smiled upon by the gods because of that, and other things the man managed to accomplish.

Needless to say, both families began taking great care of their Deirdre, though her health was truly failing by then. The poor girl was too weak to marry, or even think of having a child, and didn’t live past her twentieth year.

But her last prediction.” Jessica quietly told the pair listening so closely. “Made from what turned out to be her deathbed, is the one that has been giving you two so much grief.”

“That’s a fine history lesson, Jess.” Deirdre answered slowly while she was obviously thinking about what she’d heard. “But it tells me – us, nothing at all about that particular prophecy.”

“I’m getting to that.” Jessica promised. “At least hearing the background for all this is just as important as hearing what poor Deirdre’s last prophecy was about and exactly what it said.”

The young woman in the bed was clearly very weak, barely able to lift a hand in response to those gathered around her in concern. The group was small, but impressive. Doran, newly crowned King, Dominic recently confirmed as Duke of the newborn Duchy of Chalmnessa, the eminent and much loved healer Chantal Hawthorne were the cream of that gathering, and had each been instrumental in more than one way, in stabilizing a collapsing realm and making it safe for everyone not just those possessing force of arms to continue living there.

There were others present. A middle aged woman who was obviously the girl’s mother, brothers, sisters, and a few cousins.

“All right, dear child.” Dominic quietly announced. “Everyone you asked for is here. Must you do this?”

“My last one, Daddy.” The girl managed a smile as she patted his hand comfortingly, then gave the woman hovering so closely a light kiss that obviously took more effort than she cared to show. “This will be the last one, I’ve been promised that. Just let me do it and get it over with.”

Chantal moved forward, carefully setting a gentle hand lightly on the girl’s shoulder. “This magic is killing you, dear. You could wait until you’re stronger couldn’t you?”

“No, Auntie.” Nearly white as the sheets she was covered with the girl smoothed her white blonde hair then shook her head with a smile. “I’ll have peace once I get this finished, and you know how I’ve dreamed of that my whole life.”

She suddenly gripped the healer’s wrist with strength that her slender arm and delicate hand shouldn’t have possessed while her eyes took on the look of someone seeing something at a great distance. “Children of your children. One will come, in the wrong seeming and that must be corrected or Jhalmar will fall.

Child of the Sulans, a strong man and honorable, must endure ridicule while searching for that one. But in the finding will discover great joy though adversity will follow for a time.

Childless King, son of the Kerian line, dangers from within and without. Killers waiting, armies poised.

All hinges on two, and only two. That twain, no others may prevail without disaster for all.

Protect the one. Her magic will be strong, but unknown to her.

Cherish the one, the chosen, though she seems to be other in the beginning.

Years, so many years I see.”

The girl sighed, smiled happily, closed her eyes and simply stopped breathing. The expression on her face was one of pure bliss, and release.

“So Deirdre Sulan, youngest child of Dominic and Sera, died.” Jessica softly finished. “The magic that drove her took the last of her vitality to give that prophecy and to give it the power to insure that those it told about at least had a fighting chance to survive whatever is coming. That would be you two, by the way.”

“Gods.” Garret softly swore.

“It was as if I was there.” Deirdre whispered in wonder and sorrow. “That poor girl.”

“Showing you was far better than telling the tale.” Jessica answered just as quietly. “Though seeing that has never been one of my favorite things to do. It is rather painful to watch, isn’t it?”

“Very.” Deirdre sniffled as she dabbed at her eyes. “And you’ve lived with that for how long?”

“Since my power first came to me.” Jessica sighed. “When I was about twelve years old.”

“No wonder you’ve been reluctant to tell anyone about it.” Garret stood up, moved to Jessica’s side and gave her a hug.

“I’d hoped that the things it spoke of were still years in the future, that it didn’t involve you, brother.” The young woman let out a heavy sigh. “Obviously those were vain hopes.”

“Well, at least I discovered the love of my life.” Garret looked towards Deirdre and shook his head. “She’s asleep again.”

“Soo told us she would need more rest over the next few days.” Jessica nodded then waved towards the door. “I’ll tell her maids and Aevestos then be back.”

After his sister had gone, the knight and heir to more than he yet realized gave the deceptively fragile appearing figure in the bed a long, loving look. “Mystery piled on mystery with more mystery for a foundation. That’s you, my love. We still have more questions than answers, I’m afraid. But at least we know what’s been happening to each of us and have a firmer idea about the why of things.”

The only answer he received was a little grumble, a sigh, and sounds of his beloved snuggling more deeply into the bedclothes.

Mina had been carefully moving through every section of the palace she had access to, and a few she wasn’t supposed to be able to enter at all.

The poison used on Deirdre had very specific ingredients, things that would have had to been delivered secretly because they needed to be relatively fresh for the nasty concoction to be effective. She’d been searching for some clue about when those arrived, who received them, and where they had gotten in.

Her guise as a maid had been helpful, not to mention her looks, which were something males appreciated more than had often been healthy for them. The one she was speaking with now was no exception.

Jilsom was proud of his position as one of the dungeon overseers and guardians of the numerous and largely unknown – to most people – passages that led from the bowels of the palace to other places. Bolt holes in case of need, but also means of ingress for those wishing to keep their presence, and what they were carrying from being noticed.

“Ahh, lass, I still don’t understand what a pretty girl like you would be doing down here.” He told her for about the fourth time.

“I simply wished to meet you, sir.” Mina simpered and allowed the man to get a really good feel in on one of her breasts, though inside she was seething. Not only did the man seem incompetent, he added to that by being arrogantly certain that nothing at all got past his notice. Mina had noted more than one instance already of things being either smuggled in, or out of the place. Surely the man couldn’t be so blind. Or that totally incompetent.

“I have some very nice wine in my office, if you’d be interested.” Jilsom offered with quite obvious intent to sample more than simply wine, or just her breasts. “I’m sure you’d like it, most servants in the palace never get a chance to experience vintages like this one.”

One of the many drudges who managed to keep the unavoidable filth the literal basement of a huge complex of buildings from becoming thick enough to get the notice of the dandies above paused in his work to carefully watch the buffoon and his latest doxy. Recognition flashed in eyes that were no longer dull with boredom, and he made sure to begin working his shovel and broom along the path the pair had taken.

A somewhat disheveled Mina entered Deirdre’s receiving chamber and didn’t pause to straighten her still disarranged hair. She went straight to Aevestos and began a whispered conversation that had the man straightening and asking. “You’re sure of that?”

“He’s called Eel, and that’s the only name most know him by.” Mina confirmed. “I wouldn’t have noticed him at all if he hadn’t been so intently watching me. Posing as dungeon drudge, that’s how he got in, and either brought the ingredients for the poison, or had someone else bring them in once he’d gotten enough of the layout of the palace to know where and when to strike.”

“I need to let Vertigan know about this.” Aevestos began moving towards the door.

“No need.” Mina flashed a predatory grin. “The ‘problem’ has been taken care of.”

The Major Domo didn’t even ask for a clarification of that. There was no need. “Are you all right?”

“Mostly.” Mina grimaced. “He was good, very good at assassinations, but he always did tend to avoid straight on fights. I took a few cuts is all, and those will heal pretty quickly.”

“Good enough, but he may have had companions here for backup, or waiting in the city.”

“He was arrogant, impossibly so.” The one time assassin shrugged then grimaced as something pulled at a wound. “The man never would accept working with anyone else, but you’re right. Whoever hired him may well have hired backup without telling him, or may try to hire another assassin.”

“Go see Soo, she’s in the blue room.” Aevestos told her. “Get yourself seen to, woman. Much as hate the thought of more trouble, we’ll likely be needing your skills later and you need to be healthy for that.”

“I will, I will.” Mina sighed. “How is the Lady Deirdre doing, by the way, I should have asked first but this information was more important.”

“She’s fine, Mina.” The Major Domo actually smiled. “Tired, but she’ll recover completely according to Alis, Jerome, and Soo.”

“Good.”

“Healer?”

“I’m going, I’m going.”

“I don’t see you moving.”

“There is one more thing.” Mina frowned. “I know that a lot of the palace staff aren’t above taking a few bribes, or picking up a few things that have ‘fallen off’ the delivery cart. But one overseer in the dungeon, Jhilsom, should probably be replaced. The fool is a thief and not a very good one, and was absolutely clueless when obvious smuggling was going on almost in plain sight. Though in fairness for those instances, I was distracting him.”

“I’ll have it looked into.” Aevestos nodded. “Now. Healer. Move.”

“Sergeants never change.” Mina sighed then grinned. “They only get more demanding then die.”

“I was a captain.” The Major Domo answered with a straight face then grinned back. “Though I was a sergeant before that.”

“Figures.” Mina held out her hands before he could order to see the healer again and turned to go find Soo. “I’m going already, I’m really going.”

“I fell asleep again.” Deirdre grumbled when she awakened, seeing Garret asleep in a chair close by. It was dark, a few lamps had been lit but the bedchamber was still a shadowed place. Fortunately, those shadows were friendly ones, familiar and nothing appeared to be out of place.

Except for the man softly snoring at her bedside. That sight filled her with a curious warmth she hadn’t really expected, centered in her middle and crotch. It wasn’t unpleasant, far from that in fact. But it was a bit disturbing. Sure she liked him, who wouldn’t given the chance to really know him? Well, there were a few…

But now she really felt the impact of what people called love. Deirdre simply laid there for a while, watching him and drinking in his presence with a warm glow at the idea he hadn’t left since bringing her back from the ball spreading inside her with nearly unholy glee.

“All right, sir knight.” She spoke softly. “I’ll admit it, I love you.”

“About time you noticed that.” He answered just as quietly.

“I thought you were asleep!”

“Was, up until a few seconds ago.” Stretching, he gave her a slow, thorough looking over. “Did you really mean that?”

“I said it, didn’t I?” Deirdre answered with a little frown. “I think I like you better when you’re asleep, though.”

“Why is that?” He gave her a questioning look. “Because I’m not trying to convince you to finally agree to really becoming my wife?”

“That is still something I haven’t made up my mind about, sirrah.” She shot back but grinned as she did. “Though I am considering the possibility now.”

“Like I said, I’ll take what I can get as it comes.”

“If I hear that again, I may throw up.” She threatened. “On you.”

“You’d need something on your stomach before you could do that.” Garret chuckled then asked. “Do you feel up to eating something?”

“I think so.” Clearly taking stock of just how she did feel, physically, the young woman nodded. “Yes, I think I’m famished, actually.”

“You think?” Garret raised an eyebrow. “How can you think you’re famished? Either you are or you aren’t.”

“I’m hungry, all right?” She grumbled. “I just don’t know if my stomach will tolerate food yet is all.”

“I’ll get Soo and see what she thinks.” Garret decided then gave her a hard look. “But you will eat something, even its only broth. Got that?”

“Yes, yes, yes.” Deirdre sighed. “I’m ready to try something, so long as it isn’t that foul smelling and tasting brew she made me drink earlier.”

“No promises there.” Garret answered. “If she thinks you need that, you’ll drink it if I have to sit on you to make it goes down.”

“You would, too. Beast. Uncaring, nasty man.”

“Oh I care.” The knight assured her. “But if I have to spank you to get you take your medicine, I will. You need to get back on your feet soon and the only way that is going to happen is to do what the healers tell you.”

“Are you going to be this bossy once we’re married?” She plaintively questioned then almost bit her tongue over saying that.

“A wife should listen to her husband.” He shrugged then laughed softly. “Though in your case, I don’t think the obey thing in the ceremony will be paid all that much attention to.”

“Settle for love and honor, boyo.” She glared. “Don’t push your luck any further than that or you’ll regret it.”

“Hey, I’ll accept the marriage part.” He returned with a grin. “Though I promise to wait until you’re stronger to really ask you. I’d be taking unfair advantage of you to press that issue at the moment.”

“Why change now?” She muttered but found herself watching his straight, strong back as he left to get the healer.

“It is good to see you up and about, Lady.” Aevestos actually allowed himself to smile at the one-time gamin he had come at first like, then love. “We have all been very worried about you. I haven’t gotten decent work out of the maids since you became ill.”

“Was poisoned, you mean.” Deirdre returned his smile then grew sober. “I understand the poisoner has been dealt with?”

“Indeed he has, my lady.” Aevestos nodded. “Though we are still working to prove who paid for his services.”

“Was Mina injured in all that?” She asked almost casually, adding. “The dealing with thing, I mean.”

“Slightly.” The Major Domo shrugged then grinned. “I almost had to tie her up to get her to the healer, but she’s fine now.”

“Are you all right, Aevestos?” The dark haired young lady questioned.

“I’m in fine health, m’lady.” He responded. “Why do you ask?”

“Because I’d swear I’ve seen you crack a smile twice since I came in here.” She favored him with an impish grin. “Which is about – let me think here – two more than I’ve ever seen you give anyone.”

“My apologies for jarring your expectations that way.” His eyes twinkled and he gave her another one. “It’s good to have you back, dear Lady. Though I suspect I’ll regret having said that more often in the future than I care to think about just now.”

“It’s all right, Aevestos.” Giving his shoulder a light pat, something she had to stretch a bit to manage, she chuckled. “I won’t ruin your reputation by telling anyone.”

“That would be appreciated, m’lady.” He replied with a chuckle.

“Is Garret close by?” She asked.

“He should be on his way now.” The Major Domo answered. “Is that good news or bad news?”

“Today, good.”

“With you one is never quite sure.” He quietly said to himself.

“I heard that!”

“It’s only the truth.” He shrugged.

“I know.” Winking at him she admitted. “For me, hearing Garret is on his way is actually good news most of the time, but if you tell him I said that I’ll pour honey in your bed and find some ants to join it.”

“A pleasure I think I can do without, m’lady.” The other deadpanned.

“That’s better.” She said in clear satisfaction. “Now you’re acting like the Aevestos I know and mostly love.”

A knock announced someone was at the outer door, probably Garret. The Major Domo sighed, shook his head and announced. “I’ll get the door.”

“Thank you, Aevestos.” She told him and really meant it. “I’ve come to not only trust you, but highly value your rather formidable presence. Oh, would you please let Mina know I’d like to talk with her once I get back?”

“Of, course m’lady.” The man answered. “She’s been waiting for you to ask, actually.”

“Okay, hold it.” Deirdre actually appeared angry this time. “Whenever anyone on my staff wishes to speak with me they have the right to do so. I hope you haven’t been keeping them away from me just because of a little poisoning.”

“A little poisoning…” Aevestos grunted, shook his head, then found himself chuckling. “No, I haven’t been making anyone stay away, m’lady. They have all been more than a bit concerned about your health and have refrained from bothering you during your convalescence for that reason.”

“Oh, my apologies for thinking such a thing of you, but some people have been more than a bit overprotective of me recently. Would you make sure they all know I’m ‘ready for visitors’ again, and they can stop creeping around like mice to spare me the noise I’m used to in here?”

“Gladly.” The knocking at the door started in again and he gave it a guilty look. “I’d better get that or Garret might try breaking it down after what’s happened recently.”

“Good idea.” She agreed with a small grin and nod.

“Well, I never did say anything about wanting a nice, quiet retirement.” He told himself as he moved away to open the door.

“It is so good to get out of my apartments.” Deirdre sighed in pleasure as she and Garret made their way down a hallway towards the Atrium. “I was starting to consider tying my bed sheets into some kind of rope and sliding down that to the garden for a while there.”

“Save that one for a real emergency.” The man advised half seriously.

“What kind of emergency?” She questioned sweetly. “An imminent marriage proposal or yet another ball I’m expected to attend?”

“I suppose those could count.” He agreed easily. “Though I’d be able to foil your escape attempt in either case because you’ve already foolishly mentioned that plan to me.”

“Oh drat!” With a theatrical sigh she added. “You take all the fun out of my plotting and scheming, you know.”

“My pleasure, dear. Oww!”

That last was because of a quickly applied elbow to just under his ribs.

“I love you, too, dear.” Deirdre grinned at him.

“I’m glad to hear it.” He responded while rubbing his side. “I would hate to think what you’d do if you didn’t like me. Or worse, actually hated me.”

“Then watch and learn.” She told him while pointing her chin at a small group of ladies led by Bridgette that was heading in their direction.

“You aren’t going to be fighting again here, are you?” He asked carefully.

“Why, do you want to get out of the way if I do that?”

“No sane man lets himself get caught in the middle of a cat – umm – two women fighting.” He said with a grimace.

“I always knew you were smarter than you looked.”

“Thanks, I think.”

“You’re welcome, dear.”

“Deirdre!” Bridgette approached with a carefully held pleased expression on her face. “I’d heard you were very ill.”

“A little food poisoning is all.” Deirdre returned the smile the other had pretty well pasted on her face. “The source was found and taken care of, and as you see, I’m fine.”

“So I see.” Bridgette carefully rearranged a strand of her curly, and false, red hair while her eyes watchfully regarded the raven haired beauty who had already demonstrated quite well that she was not at all afraid of her. “That is good news. Many of us were more than a bit concerned after hearing the state of your health several days ago.”

“Thanks for the concern.” Deirdre answered with an under the breath exhalation that Garret could have sworn was the word bitch. “But as you see, the rumors about the seriousness of my illness were, as usual with things like that, more than a little exaggerated.”

“Roric will be delighted to hear that.” The redhead nodded.

“Oh, I’m sure he will be.” Deirdre smoothly answered. “Tell him I’m thinking of him, and thank him for his concern. I’ll make sure to thank him personally when I have the chance.”

“We will both look forward to that.” Bridgette widened her smile, though she did appear a bit paler than when she had first approached them. “Garret, don’t remain such a stranger. We hardly see you at all these days.”

“Events have kept me more than a little occupied since my cousin arrived here.” The knight replied just as smoothly as Deirdre had done. “Please give him my regards and tell him I’ll pay him a visit when the time is available to do that.”

“Oh, I’ll be sure to.” Bridgette nodded, gave them both a smile that was shown to be a lie as bright green eyes briefly went flat to hide the emotion they would have otherwise revealed then shrugged. “I know what a busy time it is right now for everyone. There are so many things that need doing, don’t you agree? Some never seem to get done.”

She was looking straight at Deirdre as she said that last part.

“Well, I must be off.” The redhead gave them another smile but offered no hint of giving either of them the least touch of her hand. “You be careful, Deirdre. Do try to avoid more of that unfortunate food poisoning, would you?”

“I plan on it.”

Once Roric’s fiancée had led her coterie of sycophants away, Deirdre muttered. “Either I’m going to kill that bitch or she’s going to kill me.”

“Given a choice, I’d take the first option.” Garret told her. “You should be careful about making threats, even veiled ones like you gave just now.”

“It wasn’t a threat, dear.” Deirdre watched the retreating group with the hand that was out of sight in the crook of Garret’s arm tightly clenched. “It was more of a promise.”

“Umm, do you think maybe you could loosen your grip on the inside of my elbow?”

“Oh, don’t be such a baby, Garret.” Deirdre chuckled, her bad mood dispelled. “You’ve taken worse injuries in weapons practice.”

“True, enough.” He agreed then pointed out. “But not from my own fiancée.”

“Something you might want to consider getting used to for the time being if you keep such a firm grasp on me in difficult situations like that one was.” She suggested.

“I was simply keeping the guards in here happy.” Garret shrugged then pointed out. “See how much more relaxed they are now that you and Bridgette aren’t in front of each other?”

“I wasn’t going to start anything!” Ice blue eyes widened innocently and a pout started forming. “That bi – uh, all right lady and I do use the term in the same sentence as her name with more than a little reluctance – is still afraid to start anything out in the open with me.”

“I did notice she kept a rather careful distance from you.”

“I still really want to see if she really could swallow all of that hairpiece.”

“Evidently she is quite aware of the fact, too.” Garret sighed. “Come on, dear, I think it’s time for a nice quiet lunch.”

“Well, your pet assassin failed miserably.” Bridgette announced without greeting as she entered the room Roric was seated in. “Not only is the little bitch alive, she is out in public and smiling prettily at everyone.”

“Be careful about what you say and where you say it, woman.” Roric growled without rising from his chair or looking up from the documents he was reading. “If the wrong ears had heard that I would have had to get rid of both them and you.”

“I know this room is warded against scrying and your guards keep everyone well away from it.” She answered simply. “But the fact is that whatever you spent on that assassin was wasted. The girl is alive, well, and not at all worried by the fact that someone is trying to kill her. She even told me the source of her ‘food poisoning’ had been found and I quote here, ‘Taken Care Of’.”

“There are other ways to be rid of her.” Roric finally glanced up from the papers on his desk and frowned. “Not so neat as that solution, but possibly there is some profit from keeping the little hellion alive instead of killing her.”

“Your goals will never be reached while that wide eyed little bitch breathes.” Bridgette warned.

“One woman will make no difference at all in these matters.” Roric negligently waved one hand. “Especially if she finds herself as a nameless slave or in some foreign lord’s private stock of females.”

“I say kill her and be done with it.” Bridgette insisted. “She has the luck of one favored by the gods as it is. She would either charm her way out of a situation like you just suggested, or manage to escape or be rescued. So long as she draws breath, your aspirations for the throne are nothing but fanciful dreams.”

“Wouldn’t you enjoy the chance to humble her without interference?” Roric questioned. “Gain some revenge for what she’s done to you?”

“You know I would.”

“Then be patient, my love.” Roric told her before returning his attention to the correspondence he was going through. “Your time will come. Along with mine.”

Bridgette left him to his correspondence, and once she was gone he waved someone forward from behind the heavy curtains between the working space and meeting room. Roric nodded as the man took a seat without being invited. “Well, it seems that your first plan failed. The good part is they also seem to think you’re dead.”

Eel nodded with a deceptively lazy grin in response. “I nearly was. That woman is very good, and dangerous. I believe she is passing herself off as one of the target’s maids. The price is going up, given that I had to use up all my healing potions to recover from that mishap.”

“Just get it done.” Roric answered. “Success will be rewarded very well.”

“Pity she survived that poison.” Eel sighed. “I put a lot of work into making it, then getting it placed so she would drink it. Even with the healers, it should have killed her. The young lady is quite obviously something more than she appears to be. But I’ll find the chink I need for the opportunity to finish this job completely.”

“I look forward to the day.” Roric allowed himself to smile with anticipation.

“You and Bridgette really don’t like each other, do you?” Garret idly asked as they waited for his staff to bring the lunch they were planning to enjoy on the patio outside his rooms.

“That’s putting it rather mildly.” Deirdre grumbled. “I know I’d quite cheerfully use a fisher’s knife to see if she really has a stone where most people have a heart.”

“Why do you hate her so much?”

“She means you ill, Garret, along with all your family.” Deirdre used both hands to toy with an errant curl before absently patting it back into place. “Besides, she’s a two faced lying bi…”

“That part I have already.” He interrupted her with a chuckle. “Very clearly as a matter of fact. So what proof do you have of this plotting against my family?”

“She’s involved with Roric, isn’t she?” With a lift of her eyebrows and a tilt of her head she managed to convey that her claim was a fact so obvious even a total idiot should have figured it out.

“Point taken, my love.” Garret admitted.

“Will you please drop the my love and that other mushy stuff?” Deirdre demanded. “You’ll spoil my lunch if you don’t.”

“But you mentioned marrying me already.” He defended himself.

“Provisionally, and only in the context of whether you would be trying to order me around if – and I mean if – that happens.”

“But you admitted that you loved me.” He pointed out.

“A moment of weakness.” She shot back. “I was ill, had just been poisoned as a matter of fact. Shame on you for taking advantage of me that way.”

“But…”

“I have a whole year to make a decision about that, after all.” She told him, then frowned as she did the math about the time until that decision was due. “Okay, a little less than that. But I intend to take my time and make sure I’m doing the right thing.”

“But we love each other!” He protested.

“Makes no difference.” Deirdre countered. “I’m still pretty new at this woman thing and feel I need to consider all the ramifications an agreement to your request would bring.”

“Ramifications?”

“Ever hear of something called pregnancy?”

“It’s part of being a wife, for the gods’ sake!”

“That’s another thing.” She added. “Am I ready to be a wife when I was looking forward to being a husband not so long ago?”

“Haven’t we covered this ground before?”

“Not in near enough detail.”

“Could we maybe do that after lunch? I’m really kind of hungry you know.”

“If you insist.” She graciously agreed, then grinned.

“Woman, you are impossible!”

“Well, that I am, especially on the woman part of things.” Deirdre answered without hesitation. What has happened to me is supposed to be impossible isn’t it?”

“Not when magic is involved.” He pointed out.

“That, my dear.” Deirdre nodded. “Is just one more bone I have to pick clean with you.”