“And after, if a cat didn’t eat him.”
“As a different animal? My dear Meenore, you should ask Mistress Elodie. Sulow says I have no talent for mansioning.”
“I am asking you.”
“I can’t tell you that, but I can tell you something. I didn’t think of it until this morning. Walking here with Pardine, I reviewed the lamentable events of that afternoon, and I remembered seeing Sir Misyur flick his wrist.”
No! Sir Misyur loved the ogre. I looked at Masteress Meenore, but ITs expression showed nothing.
“I almost missed it and didn’t pay attention then. I was laughing too hard. Mistress Elodie, you and he might have been conspiring to keep us from seeing.”
What?
IT said nothing.
“I apologize. You would not conspire. Sir Misyur gestured to the servers to delay the next remove. He could see no one wanted an interruption while you performed. His signal to the cats was in addition to the gesture to the servers. It was slight, but a cat teacher couldn’t miss it.”
“Plausible,” IT said.
Impossible, I thought.
“I have more proof. The lord mayor read the count’s will last night. He left everything to Sir Misyur. The news is all over town.”
I could hardly take it in. Before I could form a thought, ITs tail whipped around Master Thiel’s waist and ITs smoke turned purple.
“Let me go, Meenore. Ouch! What have I done?”
“You have told His Majesty about Sir Misyur’s wrist flick, or you have told someone who will tell His Majesty.”
“I thought of it only this morning and I’ve been here. Let me go.”
“You concocted the wrist flick when you heard about the will, and you will make sure His Majesty is informed as soon as you may. Lodie, why will he do so?”
I felt as confused as a mansioner who’s entered the wrong tale.
“Your scales are hot!”
“How unfortunate for you. Lodie?”
“Because Master Thiel doesn’t want Sir Misyur to inherit.”
“And what else?”
I spoke slowly, reasoning it out. “Because . . . neither . . . will . . . His . . . Majesty . . .” I had it! “His Majesty will seize the castle. People will believe Sir Misyur guilty because he had riches to gain.” I felt breathless. “Master Thiel will receive a reward for his lie.”
“I have not told His Majesty. Whatever you think of me, I cannot. Let me go and I’ll say why.”
IT freed Master Thiel with a snap so sharp that he spun twice on his heels.
“Do not try to run or I will snatch you up again, and I will not be gentle next time.”
Master Thiel regained his balance. “Word is all over town. His Highness is deathly ill, poisoned during the feast. He sickened in the middle of last night.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
Master Thiel smiled. “The news is distressing to His Majesty’s subjects.”
How unfeeling he was. I shivered. Greedy Grenny was horrible, but I didn’t wish him poisoned.
My masteress gripped Master Thiel’s arm with a claw. “Who is blamed?”
“Master Jak and the taster are imprisoned.”
IT let Master Thiel go. “Lodie, we must leave.”
“Then I may check my traps, unhindered?”
“Yes. No.” The tip of ITs tail circled his ankle. “Give Lodie her copper.”
He produced a copper from his purse. “Pardine couldn’t tell how pretty you are, or he’d have left you alone.” He bowed.
I didn’t blush. I was finished. “Is anyone else ill?” I asked. “Any of the others on the dais?”
“I’ve been told that Her Highness was a little ill, nothing serious. Her father did not share much of his meal with anyone.”
“Gluttony and selfishness to good purpose for once.” IT lowered ITself. “Lodie, take your seat.”
IT landed in a pasture distant enough from both the forest and His Lordship’s castle to be hidden from both. I jumped down.
“I must deduce and induce and use my common sense.” IT extended ITself on the ground and closed ITs eyes. Only ITs tail switched slowly back and forth. Wisps of smoke rose from ITs nostrils.
I sat on the browning grass. On the farm at this hour, Father and Albin were likely leaving the apple orchard for their midday meal. Our dog, Hoont, would be dancing between the two men, an apple in her mouth, begging to be chased. At home Mother would be stirring the pottage pot. If I were there, I’d be setting out bowls and spoons.
IT raised ITs head and opened ITs eyes. “Lodie, did you see Sir Misyur pass any delicacies to the king?”
“Do you think he and not Master Jak or the taster poisoned him?”
“Answer my question.”
“Several times. Sir Misyur was at the end of the dais table, and His Highness was in the middle. People picked at the food as the bowl went along. They would be poisoned, too.”
“They may have been. Thiel may know only of the king, or he may have chosen to tell us only of the king.”
“Sir Misyur rose and went to the kitchen more than once to make sure all was well.”