‘If I write to her, will you give her the letter? And if she responds, could you bring it back next time? And then if I write to her again, will you take it?’
Bisma had no aspirations to be a messenger owl, and she doubted Luna would appreciate her sister being involved in such a personal, intimate matter.
‘I have a better idea,’ she said, inching closer as she lowered her voice. Haru came nearer to hear. ‘Leave a letter at the edge of the Enchanted Forest; the Forest will deliver it to her either through the soil or via a woodland creature. As for her response, that is up to her.’
‘Thank you,’ Haru said. ‘I will do that. And in the meanwhile can you tell her …’ He trailed off as he tried to decide what the best thing to have Bisma tell Luna would be. ‘Tell her that I am thinking of her.’
‘I will,’ Bisma said, her heart turning fondly for this sweet-faced boy.
‘Oh! And one more thing.’ He disappeared, then returned a moment later with a small box. ‘It’s a pumpkin cake, part of a larger catering order, but I doubt they’ll notice.’
‘Is that so?’ Bisma asked, smiling.
‘Well … better take it quick before I get told off,’ he said sheepishly.
She snuck the box into her basket, covering it with cloth. ‘I’m sure Luna will appreciate it,’ Bisma said.
‘And if there’s anything I can do or anything that she needs, please tell me.’
‘I will.’
Bisma put a hand on Mei’s back, making to leave when she noticed how busy the bakery was. As people waited in line for their orders, they chatted and gossiped.
‘Actually …’ Bisma turned back to Haru. He grew alert, and she motioned for him to come close so he could hear her. ‘If you hear anyone talking about us, tell me. I still don’t know who poisoned Luna, or Mei, for that matter.’
‘You’ve got it,’ Haru said, saluting her. ‘I’ll keep an ear to the ground.’
‘Thank you,’ she said.
As they left the bakery, she tried to think of her more extreme cases, husbands or fathers who had been killed by her poisons, but in all of those instances, it was mere speculation, or the wives and daughters would have been held to trial.
Bisma always made poisons that could not be easily traced or recognized. Other than Xander, no one had ever been able to recognize her hand. As much as he vexed her, as cruel as she could be to him, she knew he would never rat her out.
Unless …
Unless he had not done so intentionally? An idea turned over in Bisma’s mind, but it was not concrete. But it pointed in the direction of Eleanora Chapman.
But if whoever was doing this was doing it to exact revenge, why wouldn’t they come after her directly? Why go after her sisters?
To hurt her?
But to what end?
She couldn’t figure it out.
14
Bisma remained lost in thought as she and Mei walked to the blacksmith’s. She did not notice someone approaching until she felt a gentle tap on her shoulder. She turned to see Xander. He wore a navy-blue waistcoat, and with the sun shining, he painted a radiant picture, though the expression on his face was quite frazzled.
Bisma turned to Mei. ‘Why don’t you go in, honey? I’ll be just a second.’
Xander waved at Mei, smiling at her. She looked at him with curiosity, then at Bisma, then back at Xander again. Something must have clicked in her mind, for she gave him back a slow, sweet smile before giggling at Bisma.
‘Inside,’ Bisma said, not amused in the slightest. ‘And don’t bother Diego, alright?’
Diego was the blacksmith who had taken over the shop after Luna’s father was unable to continue. He was not an outright friend, but not an outright enemy either, and that was much more preferable to Bisma.
Mei went on ahead, while Bisma turned back to Xander. He ran a hand through his copper hair, and it flopped to one side. She took a closer look at him and despite his usual smile and glittering eyes, he looked exhausted.
