She was once again stirring it, as if nothing had happened. The poker was nowhere in sight.
“It’s under there,” she said, pointing to the flagstone under the cauldron. “The missing money.”
“Are you telling the truth?” the king asked, looking at her from narrowed eyes.
“Look for yourself.”
The king nodded to two of his men. They came forward and took hold of the cauldron as the cook began to protest. “That is cooking,” she said. “You must not move it. Leave it there. You’ve no right.”
The king nodded to another of his men who grabbed hold of the cook’s arm, pulling her away.
The cauldron was shifted over to the corner out the way, the poker rolling out from under it as it went. The men turned to look at Daisy who pointed. “That flagstone there.”
“You lift it,” the king said, shoving Daisy forward. “If it is a trap, you will be its victim.”
“No trap,” she replied, wedging the poker in the gap and heaving the flagstone up once more. With it shifted out of the way she was able to look down into the hole underneath. The sack was there but it was empty. Where had the treasure gone?”
“It was right there,” Daisy said, rummaging in the hole. “I swear it.” She saw the cook smiling at her. “She took it. She must have done.”
“I dinnae ken what she’s blethering about,” the cook said. “I am naught but a simple cook.”
“All right,” Daisy said. “If you’re a cook, you must be proud of your cooking, right?”
“Of course,” the cook said, eyes shifting from her to the king and back again. “I am good at my job.”
“Then show us how good your soup is today. Why not take a sip?”
Daisy grabbed a bowl from a nearby table and dipped it in the cauldron, taking the contents over to the cook. “Just a sip should do.”
“I cannae do that. It is not for me.”
“Drink it,” the king said, his face cold. “Do as she says.”
“All right,” the cook said, taking the bowl and lifting it toward her lips. As she did so the guard’s grip on her arm slackened.
She held the bowl up and was about to drink when she suddenly threw the bowl and its contents at the guard. He was taken by surprise and fell back, wiping his eyes as the cook tried to run.
She didn’t get far. The king held out a foot and she tripped over it, falling headfirst into the cauldron. She came up gasping, spitting and choking. “You’ve killed me,” she said, clambering out and clawing at her mouth. “You’ve killed me.”
As she ran frantically around the room, the treasure spilled from underneath her apron, clattering onto the floor and rolling in every direction. When she came toward Jock, he grabbed hold of her, turning her to face him.
“What have you done?” he asked, shaking her in place. “Speak the truth or I’ll snap you in half right now.”
“She was dipping beggar’s cap mushroom into the soup when I arrived,” Daisy said as the cook continued to cough and splutter.
“Poison?” Jock said. “And now you’ve drunk your own brew? Some would say that is justice.”
The cook staggered, falling to the floor, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water.
“Confess,” Jock said, kneeling beside her. “Confess and you may yet find the door to heaven remains open for you.”
“Robin,” the cook croaked. “He paid me to dope Eddard and Morag.”
“But why?”
“To keep them docile until he was ready.”
“Ready for what?”
