“Your brother.”
My stomach clenches at the reminder of Nils. Edith tries to steal the vial again while I’m distracted, but I raise it over her head where she can’t reach it. She jumps up, straining for it, so I lift it a little higher. Higher.
“This is a tonic for migraines, you said?” I ask her as I pop the cork with my thumb.
She looks nervous but nods.
“My mother made tonics all the time when I was younger,” I tell her, taking a whiff of the contents. It has the sharp smell of alcohol—the same smell on Father sometimes when he returns late at night, long after patrol has ended. There are other herbal smells, too. But I don’t know what fly agaric would smell like. “I’ve tasted plenty of tonics, including ones for headaches.”
Edith seems to grow more nervous with every passing second.
“So if you’re telling the truth, then this should taste familiar.” There’s only one way to know for sure. Tipping my head back, I take a small swig of the drink. The taste of honey fills my mouth, along with fruits and spices, reminding me more of mead than medicine.
“What are you doing?” Edith asks, eyes wide. “Hey! That’s mine. Give it back.”
She reaches around me, trying to grab the vial.
There’s still more than half of it left.
I sidestep her. It certainly tastes too sweet to be medicinal, spreading over my tongue like rich honey. But there’s something else too. Almost coppery. Warmth spreads through me, my tongue turning heavy in my mouth.
“Why would you do that?” Edith folds her arms across her chest.
I hesitate.
“Because I want to believe you’re innocent,” I admit after a moment.
I don’t know who is more shocked by my admission: her or me. While I’m disoriented, Edith snatches the vial back, our fingers brushing briefly as she does.
To my surprise, she remains seated at the table.
“You aren’t leaving?” I ask her.
“Like I told you, I’m waiting for someone,” she says with a sigh.
My eyes narrow. “Not my brother, I hope.”
“No, no,” she says quickly. “Just two berserkr friends.”
She seems to be telling the truth about that, anyway. I can’t just leave Edith unsupervised. Whatever that potion is or isn’t, she’s still dangerous. But maybe it’s more than that. Maybe some part of me wants to remain here with her.
I sit on the opposite side of the table. “I’ll wait with you.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVEEDITH
I stare down at the vial of truth-teller potion, sloshing the contents around. More than half is left. Nils said the full thing would be enough for an hour, which means I’ll have at most thirty minutes now if Isaac does show. Judging from how Amund is talking, at least I know it works. The tea Helga gave me before must have been diluted. Hopefully he hasn’t figured outwhathe drank or I could get expelled.
Amund sits stiffly across the table from me. His jaw is tight, his body full of tension, but he’s made no mention of the truth-teller potion. The plan can still work, even if there’s been an unexpected complication.
I doubt Isaac and Tala will join me if I’m with a hunter. As much as I’d love for Amund to hear Isaac’s confession, I have to figure out a way to get rid of him. Somehow.
Leaving isn’t an option either, since Isaac and Tala will hopefully be arriving any time now. Even if they’re very, very late. I glance at the clock. The dining hall must be closing soon.
What am I going to do if they don’t show?
“So, what door did you see?” I ask, trying to get rid of Amund. If he’sanything like me, he would rather run away than discuss that.
“The door Nils and my mother left through.” His throat bobs. “They never came back. They live with Helga now. While I’m sitting here, they’re probably eating dinner together as a family.” He forces the words out begrudgingly, like it’s the last thing he ever wanted to admit.
