As I was going to withdraw my arm and declare I go my own way, a guard rushed past us with a tray of tea, the fine porcelain clattering together haphazardly. But the noise wasn’t the only thing that caught my attention. A faint wisp of cyan swirled from the spout of the teapot. I blinked, realizing that I had unconsciously reached for my crystal.
“Stop right there,” Ash said. His voice projected across the hall. The guard was in such a hurry that he was already on the other end, but his shoulders hunched at Ash’s command. He turned and trailed back at a considerably slower pace. I recognized him as the buggy-eyed guard Tori danced with at the Debutante Ball.
“Your Highness,” the man said with a bow. He kept his head lowered when he rose.
“What is your name and why are you not on patrol?”
“Peter, Your Highness. I was sent to deliver Her Majesty her tea.” He had a youthful voice, despite his large build. He couldn’t have been older than myself.
“Look at me when I address you, Peter.” Ash’s tone and words reminded me very much of someone else. I couldn’t put my finger on who, but it was clear he meant to intimidate. It was quite effective.
The guard raised his head, looking cowed. He was young indeed, and his round nose accentuated that, especially in comparison to Ash’s sharper features. “Who decided to send a guard to deliver the queen’s tea instead of a regular servant?”
“The head cook, Your Highness. There’s been a shortage of staff with the arrival of the debutantes, so I was told to do the job.” Peter provided this answer quite readily, but the tray shook. My hand itched to reach for my crystal again. Curiosity and wariness stirred in my gut. What was in that tea?
“There were several maids who passed a few moments ago,” I said.
“And you are?” Peter said. His tone held much less reverence than it had when addressing Ash. He stared a little too boldly for my comfort.
Ash stepped in front of me. “Therewereseveral maids who passed us who seemed to be at leisure,” he said. “We have four hundred staff members and a good many of them work in the kitchens. A shortage of staff is impossible, even with the debutantes. I will have to ask you what your tray contains and why you are in such a hurry.”
“It is merely the queen’s tea and biscuits, Your Highness. I’m afraid I will be punished if I don’t bring it to Her Majesty in a timely manner.”
“I assure you will not be,” Ash said. “Have they been through the taster?”
“Of course, Your Highness.”
I gripped my crystal and focused on the teapot. The cyan reappeared, this time brighter.Arsenic.I stifled my gasp. He was going to poison the queen! I stopped myself before I nudged Ash in warning. He already was suspicious of Peter. I hoped he wouldn’t be convinced otherwise.
“Then you will not mind having some,” Ash said. He clasped his hands behind him. They were clenched tight.
Peter flicked his buggy gaze around the hall before settling on the prince. “Your Highness, surely that would not be proper.”
“That was an order.”
I wasn’t prepared for the crash when Peter dropped the tray and dashed down the hall. Ash was after him immediately.
“Guards!” he bellowed as he ran. I was rooted to the floor as members of the Royal Guard streamed in seemingly out of nowhere, pouring in from both ends of the hallway in their purple tunics. Swords were drawn and soon Peter was surrounded. He cowered on the floor before Ash, who was angrier than I had ever seen him.
“This man has committed treason. Take him away for questioning.”
As several guards lowered their swords, Peter stood and laughed. “No need for that,” he said, all trace of respect gone. He surveyed the circle of men around him with his buggy eyes. “I’ll tell you whose orders I’m working under. Captain Maverick Greenwood.”
The shock that registered on everyone’s faces was apparent.
“What proof do you have?” a guard shouted.
Peter sneered. “Isn’t it obvious? His affair with the queen has been put to an end. He’s been poisoning her little by little each year out of spite.” He stared at Ash. “And his own son won’t acknowledge him as father.”
Ash looked murderous. “Lies,” he said. “How dare you lie in my presence?”
A shiver ran up my spine at his words.
“You’ve seen the proof yourself. The queen is getting weaker each day,” Peter said. “Search the captain’s chambers if you still don’t believe me.”
A muscle twitched in Ash’s jaw. He made a motion and three guards split from the group, no doubt off to Captain Greenwood’s chambers. To another, he said, “Take him away and question him thoroughly.”
But Peter’s body fell with a thump. The guards jumped back, widening their circle. I caught a glimpse of foam bubbling out of his mouth and someone holding a finger under Peter’s nose. “He’s killed himself!”
