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“The first sample is rirzed raised under my care,” she says. “The second came from the bundle sold to me. The third was secured from the seller’s locked stock. The smooth stems and oily sap identify numiscu. All three contaminated samples match.”

The keeper presents the salve jar next. Its wax seal carries Fiona’s mark beneath the guard seal applied after my collapse.

“This jar contains fylvek, rendered fat, beeswax, and the substituted numiscu,” Fiona says. “The poison was hidden beneath the stronger root scent. I prepared and applied it believing the purchased flowers were rirzed.”

Varrus points his restrained hand toward her. “She confesses the act.”

“She identifies the method,” Theron says. “The council will determine the act.”

Varrus’s red gaze hardens.

Joran calls the covert guard.

The Zagfer soldier steps beneath the Arbiter’s seal and gives his oath. He recounts the threat carried by karasu, his surveillance of Nessa, and the market exchange. He admits losing sight of part of Fiona’s purchase when a wagon blocked the lane.

Varrus seizes upon it. “Then he witnessed nothing unlawful.”

“I witnessed your agent enter the merchant’s rear room after Lady Morwen’thir left,” the guard says. “I could not hear the exchange or identify what passed between them. After the poison was discovered, I followed that agent from the same rooms to a warehouse leased through Varrus ipia.”

“You entered property under my protection.”

“The Lowtown market keeper placed the warehouse under sealed search. Inside, the evidence keeper found the ledgers, numiscu stock, and wrapping from the shipment sold to the Lady.”

The guard captain presents the market keeper’s seal. Theron examines it and passes it to the Arbiter’s witness.

Nessa is called next.

She enters without restraints, though fear has drained the color from her face. Her brown hair escapes its pins as it did at her market stall. Fiona watches from my right, utterly quiet.

Nessa places one hand beneath the Arbiter’s sigil.

“The merchant told me my family would lose our stall and rooms before the next snow,” she says. “He said the debt would be forgiven if I performed one service.”

“What service?” Theron asks.

“I was to send Fiona away from the rirzed seller she trusted. I had to direct her to the second stall and keep her there until she bought the blue herbs.”

Her voice shakes. She continues.

“I did not know they were poison. I knew the merchant served a noble house. When I asked which one, he showed me a payment strip marked with Varrus’s counterseal. He told me refusal would put my younger brothers in the street.”

“Why did you not warn Lady Morwen’thir?”

Nessa looks at Fiona. “I tried badly. I held her arm. I lied so poorly she knew I was frightened. But I still sent her to the stall.”

Fiona’s face reveals nothing the council can use.

Theron studies Nessa. “Were you promised safety after the purchase?”

“No. The merchant said the debt strip would be burned when the service was finished. It was not. The interest remained in his ledger.”

Joran opens the marked page for the elders. The debt stands undiminished, with another charge added the night Fiona returned to the stronghold.

The betrayal of Nessa’s obedience is characteristic. Varrus did not intend to release the pressure. A frightened human who had already yielded once could be used again, or condemned as the sole architect if the poison succeeded.

Varrus turns to the elders. “A debtor invents a noble patron after her crime is discovered. Her fear proves guilt, not my involvement.”

Joran places the merchant’s payment strip beside the ledger. The counterseals match.