“Does it count as being poisoned if it technically was a venom and was injected, not absorbed or ingested?” Kían pointed out with a slight smirk.
Niamh rolled her eyes.
“I don’t think now is the time for technicalities, Kían,” Clía said, her own mouth curling into a grin.
“I would think they’re rather important in matters of healing.”
“Enough. Explain, please.” Sárait struggled to sit up, and Kían rushed to help her while Clía adjusted her pillow. “Do you know who did it?”
Who else but the man who’d sent them on their quest to bring the venom to the castle.
“Kordislaen,” Clía said. The name was foul on her tongue.
But what was the motive?
A memory came to her.
“The night before you were poisoned, I overheard two men talking,” she said. “One talked about getting something done before dawn. Handling it quickly. He said someone got too close to classified information.”
Sárait’s brow furrowed in concentration. “I remember... I was working, picking up Kordislaen’s clothes that needed mending. I found something. At first, I didn’t think much of it—you would be surprised the strange things I find in men’s pockets.”
“What was it?” Kían asked.
“A letter. I only got a brief look at it. From what I remember, it spoke of troops coming here. To Caisleán Cósta.”
“Aid? Reinforcements?”
“Or the Tinelann soldiers,” Clía suggested.
A sigh came from Niamh. “Did you see anything else? Anything that might narrow it down?”
Sárait bit her lip, and guilt rose in Clía. Her friend had nearly died, and the first thing she woke up to was an interrogation. She needed to rest. To heal.
“We don’t have to discuss this now.”
“No, this might be important. I think—he wasn’t the sender of the letter.” Her eyes widened as the memory came back to her. “I was curious when I didn’t recognize the handwriting—I thought perhaps it was even a love letter that he was carrying around, but I should have known better. It was signed by someone... Cuilinn. Their name was Cuilinn.”
The name struck Clía as familiar, but she wasn’t sure why.
“Did it include a title, or maybe a seal?” Any bit of information could be useful.
“I can’t be sure.” Sárait’s gaze fell. She looked as if she wanted to say more, but there was nothing left to tell.
Kían took their hand. “You’ve done enough. Now all you need to worry about is healing.”
Sárait’s eyes widened. “We were supposed to get breakfast! Then I was supposed to see you off on your mission.”
“How about we make up for it when you’re back on your feet?” Kían said, leaning closer to her. Their foreheads brushed.
“All right.” It was more breath than voice.
“All right,” Kían echoed. “You know, I was really worried about you. I thought you were going to die.”
Sárait raised a brow. “I hope you’re not expecting me to apologize for getting poisoned.”
Kían laughed, full and light. “Never. I only said that so that you might forgive me when I do this.”
They leaned in, touching their lips to Sárait’s.
