A wild period began in the Maenaer Manor, especially once Benira saw her daughter in the grand coffin Silveren had found for her daughter-in-law. It was painted black and inlaid with gold designs. Naeri was dressed in a fine red ceremonial dress to mark her station as the Commandery Princess. Gold hairpins were in her hair, with matching gold jewelry at her neck and gold nail guards on her fingers. She looked majestic in death, and the sight triggered Benira into endless grieving. The coffin was then placed in an ice room constructed at the back of the property.
Benira then sat in the front courtyard of the main house and wailed for all visitors to see her grief.
Silveren ignored her antics but made sure Benira had food when she needed it, a comfortable room to rest, and people to attend to her needs.
Noriel helped her mother manage the house and deal with the team of investigators who overturned the manor and interrogated all the staff living in the manor.
Soriel tried her best to penetrate the mental wall Raithion had put up as he sat on a chair by his son’s bed, while the healers did their best to save Yulin. But Raithion allowed nothing else to disturb him. Not even reports that Haedor had finally found Rasa, Naeri’s attendant, who had been trying to escape the manor in a rice supply cart at the service gates.
“We are holding her in the firewood shed at the back of the manor,” Kailu said. “Should we call Lord Raith?”
“No,” Soriel said. She stood outside Yulin’s chamber, watching her brother through the open doors.
Inside, the curtains were open to allow light into the sickroom.
Yulin lay on the right side of the large bed. Raithion sat on a chair holding Yulin’s right hand, rubbing his son’s fingers between his as though to warm them. The healers were grinding herbs at a table in the corner, their murmurs low in order not to disturb Raithion or Yulin.
Her brother was dressed in a loose white shirt and wool trousers, his feet bare. His hair was down and uncombed. A dark, unkempt beard covered his jaw. Soriel could not remember the last time she had seen her brother so disheveled.
Daron, her brother’s trusted butler, hurried down the hallway.
“Do you have food for him?” Soriel asked.
“Yes,” Daron said, glancing into the room to find Raithion resting his head on his clasped hands where he held Yulin’s limp, pale hand.
“Try to get him to eat a few spoonfuls. If he won’t eat, give him soup,” Soriel said. “He’ll get sick sitting by his son’s bed.”
“I’ll try,” Daron said, then entered the room to see if the healers needed any new supplies.
Soriel sighed as she watched Raithion a moment longer, then turned to Kailu.
“Let’s go talk to this Rasa. Mom says the funeral is in two days. We can open the doors now that we’ve found the missing link,” Soriel said. “Let visitors come in. It might stop Benira’s incessant wailing.”
“I don’t think anything will stop that,” Kailu said, shaking his head.
Soriel tried not to smile at Kailu’s skeptical tone as she followed him downstairs. As if on cue, Benira’s loud cries reached them as they walked to the back of Raithion’s house. Soriel sighed and prayed for grace from a higher power.
In the firewood shed, she was surprised to find that she recognized the young woman Kailu and Haedor held in custody. She was dressed in pale green. Her hair was tied in a tight ponytail. She wore no makeup, but her face was striking. She was a beautiful girl. Soriel had seen her walking behind Naeri every time they met for family gatherings.
“Why would you try to leave the manor while we’re mourning your mistress?” Soriel asked as Miera arranged a chair for her in front of Rasa.
The firewood was packed in neat stacks on wall-length shelves. The roof was weatherproof to ensure the wood stayed dry. The floors were clean. Raithion’s people did not like clutter. Rasa sat on a mat with a tall shelf behind her back. She was not tied, but she looked disheveled. Her eyes were red from unshed tears.
Soriel frowned as she studied the younger woman. Miera invited her to sit and she did, facing Rasa.
“Your mistress has died,” Soriel said, and watched the tears spill from Rasa’s eyes. The girl was sad about Naeri’s death, but not enough to be remorseful. Soriel frowned. Not good. “Naeri was poisoned. A poison the healers cannot find a cure for. For the sake of Yulin, tell me who gave your mistress the poisoned tea.”
Rasa cried a few more moments, then wiped her tears and met Soriel’s gaze. “If you can prove who did it, I’ll answer all your questions. But I will only talk to Lord Raith about it.”
“Ha!” Soriel pointed a finger at her and got up. “Then, Kailu, Haedor, your work is cut out for you. Bring all the evidence you can find in this residence. I don’t believe we can’t get this one to talk.”
****
A day before the funeral, Raithion woke up with a start. He sat by Yulin’s bed, his head resting on the covers. Yulin was still asleep. Raithion took his hand, and a pang of panic shifted through him when the boy’s skin felt too cold.
He got up from his chair and leaned over the boy to check that he was still breathing. A sigh of relief escaped when he felt Yulin’s shallow breath against his cheek. Raithion pressed his palm over Yulin’s forehead, brushing away strands of damp hair before he turned to find Dain hurrying in with a bowl of warm medicine.
“How is he this morning?” Raithion asked, as he watched Dain move closer and start feeding Yulin the medicine.
“He’s holding steady. There is no fever. It tells me we have controlled the worst of the poison’s attack. But we still need the antidote,” Dain said. “Your Highness, forgive my forwardness, but staying in this room delays those efforts. Everyone in your residence is lost without you. Please, get out there and find me the antidote. I promise if you bring it, I will save his life.”
Raithion stepped back from the bed, his gaze on Yulin, who was barely conscious. He had been in this room for three days now. Three days of prayers and hope. He closed his eyes and ran a hand through his hair, caught between helplessness and anger. For all of Naeri’s faults, this was the hardest trial she had ever put him through, and it wasn’t even her doing.
Shaking his head, Raithion met Dain’s expectant gaze and then turned and left Yulin’s chambers.
His attendant, Sharian, met him in the hallway.
“Update me,” Raithion said.
“I have moved your belongings to the master bedroom in this residence,” Sharian said. “The hot water is ready for your bath. As for the rest of the house, the funeral is tomorrow. The Spiritual Priest arrives this afternoon to start the funeral rituals. Your mother has arranged accommodations for your in-laws in the main house, which is why we had to move you here. Lord and Lady Ajai are staying there. They are seeking justice for their daughter’s death with every word. Your father arrived late last night. The Basilinna has been helping Kailu and Haedor with investigations. She stepped out of the manor early this morning to return to the palace. She said she would be back for the funeral. Lady Draug is helping your mother with the arrangements. Between them, they are looking after young Princess Skye.”
“Okay,” Raithion said, suddenly so grateful his family members were strong enough to keep the ship moving when he couldn’t. “I’ll have a bath and dress for the day. Let Haedor find me to update me on the case.”
“Right away,” Sharian said, opening the door to the master bedroom. The room had been stripped of all items belonging to Naeri.
His butler, Daron, was quite efficient in the management of the house. He had restored the room to how it looked before Raithion got married.
Raithion headed to the bathroom, which was tucked in a corner of the master bedroom. The sunken bath was clean and peaceful. Raithion stripped out of his clothes as Sharian opened the large copper taps to let it fill with hot water from the tanks in the kitchen.
Sharian made sure the water temperature was right by turning on the cold water. Then, when the bath was filled, he left Raithion to his bath. Raithion sank into the hot water and cleaned himself until his mind was clear.
Refreshed, he got out of the bath wrapped in a white bath cloth. By the bed, he stared at the black clothes, without any form of adornment, waiting for him. He was a widower now. Obligated to mourn his wife, a wife he had fought every single day of their marriage.
Raithion pushed away the reality of his marriage and focused on dressing: underwear, black trousers, black tunic, and a black leather jacket with silver buttons. He pulled on socks and black leather boots and then sat at the vanity table.
Sharian brushed his hair into a ponytail, then wrapped it with a black ribbon.
Raithion did not bother shaving. He thanked Sharian for his help and left the master bedroom. Downstairs, he headed to the dining room where Haedor was already waiting, also dressed in black.
“Lord Raith,” Haedor said. “I’m glad you’ve come down. We have made progress on the case. There are things we have uncovered that need a delicate hand.”
“What things?” Raithion asked, accepting a cup of tea from Haedor. Aryn and Sira hurried in with bowls of hot food for the morning meal. Raithion filled his plate without reservation. He felt he needed to eat well to face the coming hours.
“We found Rasa, who dared us to find evidence and said only then will she talk to you,” Haedor said. “Kailu and I have had all the investigators following up on Rasa’s whereabouts these last few days. My Lord, this lady-in-waiting is suspicious. The more we uncover, the more we find that she is an informant who was dropped into our manor. There are strong indications that she works for Gesi Ajai.”
“Works for Gesi Ajai,” Raithion repeated as he ate his sweet corn on the cob. An informant working for Gesi Ajai in his manor was not news; what would be insane was if she had caused Naeri’s death. He scoffed. “Wouldn’t he have shot himself in the foot with this if his own people murdered his daughter? Naeri had something she wanted to tell me before she drank her tea.”
“The carriage Naeri took to her parents belongs to us,” Haedor said. “The driver insists that her ladyship left in the company of her two attendants in the morning, but when she was coming back to the manor, she was running and left Rasa behind, only bringing Callie.”
“Oh.” Raithion frowned.
“Kailu will uncover what happened at the Ajai estate,” Haedor said. “For now, I’m focusing on Rasa and what happened when Naeri came back. We’ll have answers by the end of the day.”
“That’s good news,” Raithion said, sipping his green tea. “It will be good to know what happened before the funeral tomorrow. I need to focus on getting an antidote for Yulin.”
Haedor let out a sigh at the mention of Yulin, and the weight of it settled on Raithion’s heart.
“We all hope the little prince can be saved,” Haedor said.
Then, Thanir Maenaer walked in and Raithion and Haedor stood up.
“I’ll give you some time alone.” Haedor picked up his teacup and plate and walked out of the dining room.
Raithion met his father’s gaze, and his resolve fractured when Thanir opened his arms wide. He sank into his father’s embrace and cried, the tears coming even before he could think to fight them. Thanir held him tight, patting his back until he was back in control, then led him to a chair.
“It’s good to get it out,” Thanir said, handing Raithion a cup of cool water. Raithion drank it in one go, glad for the distraction.
“Yulin is not doing well,” Raithion said, shaking his head as he placed the cup on the table. “I need to find an antidote.”
“I heard you have a coroner looking after him.”
“Dain is the only one I can trust,” Raithion said, shaking his head. “Ajai has had too many spies in this residence. I can’t let healers from the street into the house.”
“Okay,” Thanir said, then sat down. “These two days will be difficult. Ajai is in the main residence, and half the time he is pushing for us to fight the Prime Minister. I don’t know why he thinks this is something we’re interested in, but you are his focus.”
“I know,” Raithion said with a nod, wiping a hand down his face.
“Keep your cool,” Thanir said, “and take the hard line with him. You’re the head of your household. Everything should go as you want it to; don’t let them interfere. The Basileus may attend the funeral after all.”
“I know,” Raithion said. “Soriel has helped with the investigations. I should thank her for it.”
“No,” Thanir said. “You’ve been her family’s support; it’s only natural that she is yours, Raith. Don’t think of it.”
“Dad.”
“Yes, son,” Thanir said.
“After the funeral, I need time away from the palace,” Raithion said. “Time to spend with Yulin and Skye. I—I was not happy with how they came about, but now I’m all they’ve got. I need to find a way in my head to be straight with that. I can’t do it if I’m caught up with the palace.”
“I know,” Thanir said. “I will take over your office, and you can go hold the fort in Draeya.”
Raithion met Thanir’s gaze and nodded.
“Don’t worry about Yulin. We’ll do everything we can to find a cure,” Thanir said. “He’s a Maenaer. We look after our own.”
Thanir studied him for a moment longer then reached out and squeezed his shoulder. “It’s almost over, this thing with Ajai. We’ve got your back. From now on, your personal life is yours, Raith. I won’t interfere again.”
“What about what we owe Basileus Dio’s father?” Raithion asked.
“You’ve paid it back tenfold,” Thanir said. “It’s enough for you, Raith. I’ll do the rest if it is needed. Now, let’s eat. I heard you weren’t having enough. You need your strength, son.”
Raithion nodded, and picked up his fork to eat the eggs on his plate. Thanir called out for a plate and cup and Sharian came in to serve him.
They ate their meal in silence.
Then a difficult day started.
Raithion met his in-laws, and it took everything in him not to scream at Benira when she started crying after one look at him. Gesi Ajai, on the other hand, sat in an armchair in his parents’ great room and glared at Raithion.
“Your wife was murdered in your house,” Gesi said. “Aren’t you going to seek retribution? The Prime Minister has been fighting my party for years. This is retaliation for our latest disagreements in court. Draeya Prince, are you going to take this sitting down?”
Raithion wanted to protest Gesi Ajai’s accusation, but then he met his father’s gaze and held his tongue because Thanir shook his head.
“We are doing all we can to find the culprit,” Haedor answered for Raithion. “We will bring them to justice. Please be patient.”
“You’ve said that for the last three days. When will the justice start?” Benira asked. “When?”
“When we’re ready,” Haedor said.
Raithion sat in an armchair as Benira launched into an hour-long lament about her daughter’s death and how Raithion didn’t love Naeri enough. He could not blame her, and strangely, he felt her tirade was deserved. Then the spiritual priest arrived, and Raithion was glad to immerse himself in the preparation for the funeral rites.
****
As the sun went down on the eve of Naeri’s funeral, Raithion stood by the spiritual priest, who was praying for his wife’s soul. He listened with a blank mind, hoping the heavens would turn their grace to Yulin. The boy was too young to face the consequences of his grandfather’s machinations.
The spiritual priest finished his prayers for the day and turned to Raithion with kind eyes.
“The ceremony of burial will start in the morning. Now that all the preparations are ready, it should go smoothly,” he said. “The gravesite is already blessed. Rest well this evening, as it will be a long day, but I promise I’ll get you through it.”
“Thank you for your efforts, Priest Suner,” Raithion said.
“I know this is not easy,” Priest Suner said. “This is a difficult moment for you and your children, but with faith giving you strength, you’ll get to the other side. Be strong, Lord Raith.”
“Thank you,” Raithion said, then turned to his butler, Daron. “Make sure the priest has a warm meal and a place to rest.”
“We’ve prepared it,” Daron said. “Please, follow me.”
Raithion waited for the priest to leave, following his butler with his eyes before he turned his attention to his in-laws, who sat in chairs to the left of the large hall, and his own relatives, who filled the chairs to the right.
Gesi Ajai glared at Thanir Maenaer and had been doing so since the guest lists were finalized for the funeral earlier in the day.
Raithion held his emotions in check and sat on the chair Haedor turned to face the room. Behind him was the altar where Naeri’s painting stood among flowers arranged in wild abandon by her mother and Silveren. Candles burned day and night, to be extinguished tomorrow after the funeral ended. Naeri’s body was already in a coffin, resting in the ice room at the back of the residence. The carriage that would carry her to the city’s private cemetery was waiting in front.
“Now that the priest has begun the rites, this family must move as one in the morning,” Raithion said. “There will be no fights during the funeral. I will not allow it.”
“You won’t allow it, but I will,” Gesi said, his tone abrasive. “My daughter has been poisoned and my grandson is ill. Your family is then planning to entertain the culprit at her funeral tomorrow. It is outrageous.”
“Who do you think is the culprit?” Noriel asked. She sat next to Silveren in the front row facing the Ajai clan. Beside her was her husband, and she looked every inch the head of the household as she faced Gesi.
“The Prime Minister,” Gesi Ajai said. “He cannot be allowed to attend my daughter’s funeral.”
“The accusation is heard, but it is difficult to uphold,” Noriel said. “Lord Ajai, I understand you’re my brother’s father-in-law and the Minister of Finance. But making such an unsolicited accusation will have consequences for the family. It is so wrong that it is unreasonable.”
“Why does Lady Draug dare to meddle in my daughter’s funeral matters? Don’t you even want to show me some respect?” Gesi Ajai asked, his gaze unkind when he looked at Noriel.
“You need evidence before you make such a deadly accusation,” Noriel said, her tone firm and unshaken.
“Speaking of evidence,” Raithion spoke up in support of his sister. “Lord and Lady Ajai have filled this manor with complaints for three days. The more noise we managed, the harder it was to control gossip about Naeri, making this mourning period turn into a circus.”
Raithion shifted in his chair and rested his hands on the armrests.
“Naeri is gone. She and I had many disagreements, but if I didn’t think she deserved a cup of poison, no one else had the right,” Raithion said, meeting Gesi Ajai’s gaze. “After all, she sinned most against me. No one here can refute that truth.”
Benira gasped and covered her mouth with a handkerchief.
Raithion ignored her dramatics and let out a sigh.
“While you’ve been coming up with false accusations, we’ve found the villain who has brought black banners to my house,” Raithion said. “Kailu and Haedor, you finish the work.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” Kailu said, stepping out from behind Raithion’s chair.
A commotion began at the entrance to the large hall as the officers under Kailu and Haedor dragged in Naeri’s attendants. The three women Naeri brought into the manor were dressed in their daily uniform: purple skirts and white blouses. Their hair was held in tight ponytails. They were crying as Kailu and Haedor made them stand in the space left between the aisles of chairs.
“What’s the meaning of this?” Benira asked, pointing at the attendants who came from her house. “Why are you harming the ladies who took care of Naeri and the children of this house? Son-in-law, what do you mean by this?”
Raithion nodded at Kailu, letting him handle the matter.
“Lady Ajai, please calm down,” Kailu said. “The manor was locked down the moment Her Highness took a sip of her tea and fell in pain. Every servant was thoroughly vetted with the help of the palace guard. Not even a rat was spared in the search. Every person’s whereabouts were accounted for except for two of these ladies.”
Kailu pointed at the three attendants standing and facing Gesi Ajai, his wife, and the Ajai clan.
“I’ll ask them for you where they were, as their mistress and the eldest young master of the house drank poison,” Kailu said. He stopped before the first young attendant. “This is Miss Aria. She has been with Her Highness since she entered the Maenaer residence. She has helped raise Yulin and Skye since birth. Where were you when your lady was drinking poisoned tea?”
“Her Highness left the manor to visit her mother for a period. I was left at home caring for the young Princess Skye. I didn’t know her ladyship was back until an alert was sounded to lock the gates. That’s when I found out Her Highness was poisoned.”
“Who was with you?” Kailu asked.
“When her ladyship leaves the residence, I usually take the baby to the main house to spend time with Duchess Maenaer. I was with the staff from Duchess Maenaer’s house in the nursery.”
“What about your companions?”
Aria glanced at the two women standing next to her, then sighed. “Rasa and Callie went out with her ladyship. I did not see them again until your officers brought us here.”
“Thank you, Aria,” Kailu nodded to one of his officers, who led Aria out of the hall. Kailu stopped before the second attendant, who was shaking with nerves. “Your name and what you do.”
“Callie. I work—worked—for her ladyship.”
“Where were you when Her Highness was poisoned?” Kailu asked.
Callie sniffled. “I was in the kitchen in Draeya Prince’s residence. I helped prepare the evening meal. Her Ladyship asked me to help as the residence has been busy with repair work and there was a lot of food to prepare for the extra staff.”
“Who made the tea Her Ladyship drank?” Kailu asked, and Callie closed her eyes, trembling so hard she almost fell. “Just answer the question the best you can.”
“I made the tea, my lord,” Callie said, her voice shaking. “But I did not serve it. R-Rasa asked to take the tea to Her Ladyship.”
“And what kind of tea did you brew?” Kailu asked.
“It was lemon green tea,” Callie said. “Her Ladyship had been suffering a sore throat of late. I blended the tea myself often to help ease the discomfort. This was obviously because I cared for her. I would never harm her or the young prince. You must believe me. I don’t know how the lemon green tea turned into poison.”
“You don’t know, but others do,” Kailu said, shaking his head. “The person to prove Callie’s words is a mason who was fixing the window ledges on the hallway from the kitchen to the great room. Call him in.”
The mason walked into the hall, wearing a clean white tunic and dark trousers. His hair was gathered into a low ponytail, a rough man hoping to shine in a roomful of nobles. He was mildly nervous, but he stood next to Kailu with confidence.
“State your name.” Kailu’s tone was kind even as it carried the weight of authority.
“I’m Jaxon. The mason in charge of the hallway leading to the great room from the kitchen. I worked with two helpers. We were working the afternoon of her ladyship’s poisoning. A commotion started between two attendants near the kitchen entrance. One tripped the other, and the tea kettle on a tray fell and spilled the contents. Then this one,” Jaxon pointed to Rasa, “she came from outside and solved the problem with a new pot, asking one of my men to throw away the broken tea kettle. Instead of throwing away the pieces, we kept them because the porcelain from the tea kettle is expensive and can be used to decorate things. My Lord, I have already handed over the teapot shards to you.”
Kailu raised his right hand, and two of his attendants brought two trays. One carried the shards of the broken porcelain teapot; the other carried the remnants of the tea Callie made still in a silver tea kettle.
“Callie, you were lucky the remaining lemon green tea was still in the kitchen after the accident. We found the last of it in the silver tea kettle you used to make the original batch. Your testimony is true, but your tea never made it to the great room. Instead, it was changed into the tea of death by Rasa.” Kailu turned to the door and nodded.
The coroner walked in with the teapot and the two cups Naeri used on the day she died.
“I’m a direct person,” Kailu said when the coroner stood next to him.
Kailu dismissed Callie and the mason from the room with a nod then turned to Gesi Ajai’s family.
“Explaining the point of poisoned teapots and cups, I will do it with a few words. A trusted attendant dared to bring poison into Lord Raith’s residence and fed it to her mistress and the residence’s heir,” Kailu said. “It is simply said, but the problem is too complex because of who Lord Raith is and who Her Highness was. So, I can only bring out the coroner before you so he can tell you what plagues Prince Yulin, keeping him to his bed on the edge of life. Perhaps Rasa will offer a solution to the poison. Coroner, you start. What is in the tea?”
“My lord, the tea has datura, or what we call the devil’s trumpet, and a blend of exotic herbs. There are two I suspect are from the Nerasa Kingdom, and all of them are toxic,” Dain said. “We have given Prince Yulin activated charcoal to fight the worst of the poison attack, but we need an antidote. If the Prince stays in his current state longer, he will die.”
Benira started crying, painful sobs that were difficult to ignore.
Raithion closed his eyes, fighting the urge to take over Kailu’s job. He gripped the armchair handles tight and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly.
“Lady Ajai,” Raithion said, his voice low, barely above a growl. “If you keep sobbing, when will Kailu gain the answers he seeks for the justice you want for your daughter? Will you shut up for a period?”
The hall went quiet, and Benira stared at him with shocked, wide eyes.
“Kailu, finish it,” Raithion said, ignoring the accusations in Benira’s eyes.
“Yes, Your Highness,” Kailu said and turned to Rasa. “Lady Rasa, Her Highness put all her trust in you. When she married into the Maenaer residence, no one here would object if you were to be called her sister. She gave you that respect and forced us all who live under the Maenaer name to afford you the same. Do you agree?”
“I agree,” Rasa said in a soft, defeated voice.
“Why would you harm Her Highness?” Kailu asked. “Why would you feed her poisoned tea?”
Rasa shook her head, looking at Gesi Ajai, then at Benira, then, to everyone’s surprise, she turned and rushed toward Raithion with a desperate energy. Kailu caught her shoulder just as she reached Raithion.
Kailu forced her to her knees, and Raithion stayed still, not having moved an inch.
“Your Highness, please, you must take me in. I did all this for you,” Rasa said. “For you, Your Highness!”
“For me?” Raithion asked with a small chuckle. “How is it for me when I have to plan a funeral and deal with my in-laws’ wrath? How is it for me when Yulin is poisoned and dying in his bed?”
“I’ll marry you and give you a new heir,” Rasa said, her eyes bright with hope and a madness Raithion had not expected from her. “I’ve helped Naeri run this house for five years since she entered it. I watched her trick you to gain heirs one after the other. I even helped spike the bathwater for her to get Skye. But you, your heart never opened to her. You were kind to me. Always nice, looking for me to tell me what you wanted from her. I know everything about you, Your Highness. You weren’t happy with her. I know I can change it all. I’ll be better than her. I’ll be your Commandery Princess. Choose me, Lord Raith.” Rasa smiled wide. “All the people you truly care for call you Lord Raith.”
“What poison did you give them?” Raithion asked. “If you tell me what it is, I can listen to more of your plans. Quick, tell me what kind of treasure you found for Naeri?”
“You’ll never guess,” Rasa chuckled. “But you’re so handsome, Lord Raith. I couldn’t stand her touching you. Your eyes, your face, your kisses, she didn’t deserve them. I’ll tell you because I know you like to know the truth before you give anyone a chance. You have to give me one now. It was Silver Malice. So difficult to put together because the herbs are hard to get.”
The coroner gasped, and Raithion forced himself to keep his gaze on Rasa, not wanting to lose her attention.
“Is there an antidote?” Raithion asked, his voice gentle, careful, a lover’s caress.
“I’m sure the Nerasa Kingdom has one,” Rasa said with a shrug. “But it’s not easy to brew. You need a skilled healer for it. I was never concerned with the antidote. I just wanted it for my own purpose. I was tired of serving Naeri. She was like a baby who needed to be guided through every step of her life. It was exhausting.”
Raithion stood then, grabbed her by her collar, and pulled her to Gesi Ajai, throwing her with one swift move.
“Here is the reason why we’re mourning,” Raithion said, glaring at Gesi Ajai and Benira. “The culprit is from your house. You take responsibility for what happens to her. I can’t be bothered. My orders stand. The funeral will continue as planned. No one will fight tomorrow, and I don’t want to hear one accusation against the Prime Minister again.”
Benira’s sobs broke out and Raithion was done with it. He left the large hall with Kailu, Haedor, and the coroner following him. Outside in the corridor, Raithion turned to the coroner.
“What the hell is Silver Malice?” Raithion asked.
Dain still held the tray with the poisoned tea. His expression grim as he faced Raithion.
“A poison found in the Nerasa Kingdom,” Dain said. “I read about it in my master’s library. It’s a blend of deadly herbs called harrow, mutagen, and datura. It’s a good thing we saved the tea, because the antidote needs part of that tea. I don’t know how to make it. We need an expert. You won’t like to hear this, but there is an apothecary in the business district who may know how to do it.”
“Find the apothecary. Bring him or her here,” Raithion said. “Hurry.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” Dain said and ran out of the house, followed by two officers assigned by Haedor.
“Rasa.” Raithion shook his head. “A snake slithering in my house and making up a play.”
“You shouldn’t have given her over to Gesi Ajai,” Kailu said.
“It was on purpose. Gesi Ajai has no choice but to deal with her after she’s killed his daughter. Following what happens to her is something we can use. We still need information on why Naeri came running home,” Raithion said, leading the way out of the main house. “Assign a team of ten luckless men to the Ajai property. I want to know what he is eating for his midnight snack and the temperature of his bathwater before it happens.”
“Yes, My Lord.” Kailu left him, and Raithion stopped on the path to his residence, suddenly afraid.
Rasa’s gaze as she said she hadn’t cared about the antidote worried him. His son’s life…
“We’ll get the cure,” Haedor said, placing a hand on his right shoulder as though to steady him. “We’ll find it and Yulin will be saved.”
Raithion closed his eyes, nodded, then continued his walk into the house, hurrying upstairs to check on Yulin. He had been away too long.
****
The next morning, the gates at the Maenaer Manor opened early. Guests arrived at eight in the morning; those who were to be seated were shone into the great hall, others into the many sitting areas arranged in the courtyard.
The spiritual priest started the funeral rites. Raithion, his parents and Naeri’s parents all stood at the front dressed in black.
When the rites ended, six legion officers led by Haedor and Kailu carried the casket out to the carriage, and a procession began to the outskirts of the city, where the private cemetery was located. The burial lasted the whole afternoon, and by the time Raithion returned to the manor, he was mentally and physically exhausted. He wanted to close the doors and shut out the world, but he could not do that, the guests needed to be fed, his colleagues wanted to sit and drink with him.
At around ten in the night, Dain brought the apothecary he had been searching for, and Raithion got a moment to escape the visitors.
Dain led the apothecary to a private office in Raithion’s house.
“What does the apothecary need to create an antidote?” Raithion asked, glancing at the old man seated on a chair in his office. “If you tell us, we’ll get it.”
“The antidote herbs are easy to get for a man of your means,” the apothecary said. “It’s the method that is the problem. The only person I’ve heard skilled enough to make an antidote lived on the Sura Clan’s island.”
Dain and Haedor both sucked in air at the mention of the Sura Clan Island. No one had talked about the Sura in the capital after five years.
Raithion crouched before the apothecary, looking into his eyes, searching for deception, but the old man was honest, and held his gaze without flinching.
“Silver Malice is deadly,” the apothecary said. “Even a small amount will drain your energy and keep harming your organs until you can’t wake up again. The healer from the Sura Clan had some experience because they traded with the Nerasa Kingdom. I don’t know what became of them, but you will need to find a Sura Clan member to tell you what to do.”
“What is the name of this healer from the Sura?” Haedor asked.
“Lasma,” the apothecary said. “She was a healer’s daughter.”
“And the Chieftain’s wife,” Raithion said, his voice low. Azula’s mother.
“What do we do now?” Haedor asked Raithion.
“I need to visit the Basileus in the morning. I’ll get his permission to travel to the Sura Island,” Raithion said.
“Do you think the Sura will be willing to help?” Haedor asked, his tone skeptical.
Raithion smiled at the old apothecary and rose to his feet. “If they don’t want to, I’ll have to find a way to persuade them.”
****
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