“Saving his life thefirst time?” Kimu asked.
“Yes,” Cyn said. “I thought you were there last night?”
“I was. I just . . . when you say the first time, it usually means there was more than one time.”
“He was poisoned twice. The first time, it was with food instead of an arrow,” I said. “The mueyaru fur was needed for the antidote.”
“And you're supposed to find the woman who poisoned him?” Kimu asked.
“Woman?” Cyn asked.
“I told you, women are more likely to use poison than men.” To Kimu, I said, “They caught the first assassin, and it was a man.”
“No way,” Kimu said in surprise. “And then that human shot him last night.”
“That guy was human?”
“Yes,” Cyn said. “The Talons are still looking into him.”
“So there's a contract out on him,” Kimu said. “Someone is hiring people to kill the King.”
“I don't think they're being hired so much as enchanted,” I said.
“Enchanted? Fuck! A magic-user is after you?” Kimu looked at the King. “Can you think of any magic-users you’ve pissed off? You'd better hope it isn't a necromancer.”
“No one comes to mind,” Cyn said with a scowl. “And I've never met a necromancer.”
“Lucky you,” Kimu said with a shiver.
“You're a king. The reason could be more than simple vengeance,” I said. “Now, maybe you should get off that—”
With a terrible creaking, my only chair gave way, and the King crashed to the floor. He sat there staring up at me with such shocked dismay that both Kimu and I burst into laughter.
“How dare you laugh at me!” Cyn growled.
Kimu and I instantly went silent.
Then the King started laughing. “Your faces!” he hooted and smacked his knees as he sprawled among the debris.
I grimaced from him to Kimu. “He thinks he's funny.”
“He kinda is,” Kimu said.
“Don't encourage him.”
“He's the King. Does he need encouragement?”
“Probably not,” I conceded.
The King stood up and brushed off his ass. “So, gentlemen, what's our next move? I mean, beyond buying some new furniture?”
Chapter Fifteen
After arguing over whether the King should go outside, I finally agreed to allow it. Kimu reminded me that the entire Forgotten knew to respect us and anyone with us. And with his hood pulled low, no one would recognize Cyn. So, we cleaned up the mess and pulled on our cloaks.
“Damn it,” I muttered as I went to my trunk.
“What is it?” Kimu asked.
