The chef gasps as he slouches against her. Arienna shoots to her feet, only to be pulled back behind Jace. The guards standing at attention along the walls rush forwards. They stand ominously behind the nobles as I wonder which one of them tried to poison me. No one will be leaving this place until the person responsible is found. The chefs never work alone; they’re merely the hand someone uses for their dirty work.
My eyes find Tanya, wondering if she looks annoyed that her latest attempt on me failed. But there’s nothing in her eyes but judgment for whatever idiot tried to poison me given all my food is tested first.
My tester groans as he drops his hands to the table. His eyes on the chef, they water with accusation.
The chef groans in pain, blood gurgling up his lips. His pierced lung seems to be filling with blood.
With a shaky hand, my tester reaches up and whacks at his chest once more, as if he hopes he can save himself with such a simple motion.
What a fool.
He is just a boy...
Wheezing, he turns to me.
He opens and closes his mouth a couple of times.
I hold his gaze, owing him at least that.
But his grey eyes aren’t glazed like I expected them to be. They’re teary and wet but not afraid. “Wrong... pipe.” He coughs. “I’m so… sorry.”
Everyone’s eyes fly to him. I search him for any sign of a lie. But his coughsareweakening, and the blush on his cheeks looks to be more from embarrassment rather than sudden fever. Tears falling, he turns back to the chef.
“Dad.” He coughs once more, his face twisting in pain.
“Oh my gods,” Arienna says. Her tester stands beside her bowl, completely fine, a used spoon in his hand.
Turning my head, I lock eyes with the closest server, then nod at my bowl. He steps forwards slowly, and with a new spoon, he takes a bite of my yam.
A moment of silence descends, heavy and thick.
I watch him for any signs of poison as the chef groans in pain.
Nothing.
Accepting that my tester is telling the truth, I turn to his dad. Fabia’s knife is still inside him, plunged to the hilt. She has nicked his heart, no doubt, so once she pulls it out, he will bleed to death faster than his regenerative powers can save him.
“Do you wish to be resurrected?” I ask him.
“Please,”his son cries, but I ignore him, my eyes on the chef.
He shakes his head weakly. “But, Son… I want you to know…” He looks at his boy, his life waning. “You’re… a… little shit.”
My lips tight, I nod as the boy chokes again, this time on his sobs. “Let him die, Fabia.”
Her hand shaking, she pulls her knife free. I study her, wondering if this is all too much for her – taking a life that meant no harm.
She lowers the chef to the ground as he dies. She keeps her eyes on his for way too long. I could’ve been stabbed twelve times by the time she rises to her feet – something I’m certain Jace will discipline her for later.
As some guards step forwards to take away the chef and his son, I pick up my spoon and start to eat. Jace guides Arienna back into her chair. The nobles don’t hesitate to eat their own desserts. Conversation flows freely.
“Well, that was a shitty first day for him,” someone says.
“The tester?”
“Mmm. My son caught him practicing this morning. He was all excited to have been given the honour. I reckon that is gone now.”
As those around me continue to chat, my eyes stay on my queen. Her bowl sits untouched. If every sight of blood is going to cause her to stop eating, she’ll wither away into nothing but bones.
