“As well we know,” said Svetlana, moving even closer as she started tracing Tal’s jawline with her finger.
“—ambitions that require he not fear for the safety of Olasko on multiple fronts.
“He sees your husband as a tool of Miskalon or Roskalon, or perhaps even the Isles, and would like to find an absolute way to end that threat.”
She kissed him, then moved back slightly, and whispered, “We must find another way to reassure our beloved Kaspar, but we will never swear fealty. Perhaps you could attend a meeting with my husband’s Cabinet tomorrow, and we shall ponder things a little while longer.”
Tal whispered back, “I am at your service.”
Smiling, she pulled him forward as she lay back on the divan, and said, “Yes, you are.”
As morning drew near, the Princess said, “Time to go.”
Tal dressed. As he pulled his boots on, he said, “I thank Her Highness for her hospitality.”
Svetlana laughed, a genuinely amused, warm sound. “I thank the Squire for his enthusiasm.”
“That was easy enough, m’lady.” He leaned over and kissed her. “The drug in the wine was unnecessary.”
She feigned a pout. “At my age one worries.”
“With your beauty, you needn’t.”
She rose up, ignoring her nakedness. Embracing him, she said, “You have no idea how difficult it has been. Since our two children were conceived, our last over a decade ago, my husband…let’s say he prefers the company of others.”
Tal shrugged. “His loss.”
“And it’s so difficult sometimes to convince a young man of the court that…well, they fear the Prince’s wrath.” Her voice turning bitter, she added, “When they should expect his thanks and relief.”
“I might fear him, save I expect to be departing tomorrow, perhaps with a declaration of war following me.”
She escorted him to the door of her apartment. Kissing him deeply, she said, “All is not lost. You’re a wonderful boy, and I admire you, but I shall not bend my stance for your protection. However, I will tell you that war is a last resort, and I see no joy in it. I will expect you to make a persuasive brief to the Cabinet this afternoon, Tal. Give me something to work with and we can prevent it.” Lowering her eyes, she said, “Either way, I expect we shall talk about this alone, later tonight?”
“My pleasure, Highness,” said Tal before kissing her once more, then leaving the apartment.
If the palace guards were surprised to see a visiting envoy leaving the Princess’s private apartments at dawn, they did a masterful job of disguising the fact. They held their positions with eyes forward as Tal returned to his own quarters.
He entered the room and found Amafi asleep in a chair, feet out before him, next to a table covered in vials and jars. As the door closed with a faint click of the latch, Amafi came awake.
“Magnificence,” said Amafi. He stood and pointed to the table. “It is done.”
Tal looked at Amafi in surprise. “After you left,” Amafi said, “I took the liberty of completely inspecting these premises. Salmater observes the formalities of diplomacy. There are no secret listening posts or peepholes, of that I’m certain.”
Tal nodded, then looked at the clutter and said, “Which one?”
Amafi picked up a tiny blue vial, and said “This is the one.”
“No one is suspicious?”
“I paused at three apothecaries, buying different ingredients at each, telling the guards I could not find that which I needed for your health. They were bored and distracted by the time I had wasted the entire morning in several shops seeking more gifts for Lady Natalia.” He pointed to another table in the corner, where several objets d’art, items of personal jewelry, and bottles of rare perfume rested.
“Natalia will be most amused,” said Tal.
“How was your night, Magnificence?”
“Pleasant enough,” said Tal. “It’s a shame, in a way. She thinks me a young fool and will try to play me to her advantage while I am sent back to Kaspar with a clever little request from her husband. It’s a ploy to buy time.
“It’s a shame we can’t find out who she sends messages to and identify the true architect of this plot against Olasko.”
“You might if you could find a source of information inside the palace. Minister Odeski seems a man of ambition.”
Tal grinned. “My assessment as well. But all this cannot play out in one night. We must get back to Olasko before the unfortunate events that are to take place transpire.” He motioned to all apothecary items on the table. “Make sure everything is destroyed.”
“Of course, Magnificence. I will drop a vial into different garderobes throughout the palace. No one will be sifting through the middens, I am certain.”
The waste from the palace would be hauled away by wagons and perhaps dumped outside the city or spread out in the midden fields to dry and later be used for fertilizer on local farms. Either way, should a farmer find a tiny blue glass bottle in his fertilizer, he would have no idea where it came from.