The room beyond was large and square. Its uneven floor was spattered with suspicious-looking stains. But it was spacious enough, with a fireplace, a large table in the middle of the room, and many cupboards around the sides. Strange devices hung from some of the walls, and jars cluttered the cupboard tops. I’d need to wear a good pair of gloves when I investigated those, and possibly a mask. Who knew what poisons they might contain?
“This is good.” It needed cleaning up, of course, and I’d need to move in my own supplies, but I could work with this. I turned back to Mila. “Find someone to come clean this place tonight, but don’t let them touch any of the cupboards or the jars. Just sweep the floor, clear out the cobwebs. I’ll need some wood for the fireplace, too. And I need someone to go to my house and fetch my things for me. The books, the vials, the bottles, the flasks. I’ll make up a list—or I can go.” I glanced at Mila. “No, I can’t go. But you can go. Now. Please.”
“I’m not supposed to leave you unguarded, Your Majesty.”
She could leave, in theory. The guards had always followed the king and queen’s commands, including making themselves scarce if need be. But Mila clearly thought any such order would be unwise right now, and she was probably right, after all that had happened. “Then someone else can go,” I said. I looked around the room again, already imagining it transformed. It would be perfect. Larger than my old laboratory, and safer for storing my more dangerous ingredients. I could definitely work with this. “Please,” I said. “Find out for me?”
“Of course, Your Majesty.” Mila bowed and stepped out of the room.
“Would you prefer me to wait inside the room, or outside it, Your Majesty?” Reynold said.
“Outside.” The idea of being watched while I explored made me feel far too self-conscious. “Please.”
Once he had closed the door, I walked over to the nearest set of jars. They were coated with dust. Anything potent in there might have lost its power years ago. But maybe . . . I wiped a finger along the counter, leaving a line in the dust. Perhaps it would be better if I cleaned this place myself, so no one could disturb anything.
I picked up one of the jars and held it up to the light. Someone had written something on it, once, but it had faded half away. Whatever it contained, it was almost certainly unpleasant. Something that poisoned, something that burned, something that would convince a victim to reveal all their secrets.
I explored the rest of the room carefully, looking through drawers—mostly empty, but a few pairs of tongs remained—and mentally cataloging whatever I could.
I couldn’t wait for the messengers to return with my things. I definitely couldn’t wait for someone else to clean up the space. I needed it now, needed to research, to create something that was mine once again.
I grabbed a cloth and began to dust.
TEN
I SPENT HOURS IN MY NEW LABORATORY, SORTING through its secrets. My silk dress was quickly covered in dust and years of untouched grime, and I didn’t think I’d ever get the bloodstain off the table, but the space was good, and I’d begun to catalog the strange jars around the room. Many of them contained the remnants of herbs with healing properties—not what I had been expecting. I suppose you couldn’t have your prisoner dying of blood poisoning before you had all the information you needed, or at least before you got the chance to kill them yourself. Other jars contained far more expected chemicals—a few poisons, liquids that burned, a powder that, when mixed with water, was good for getting blood off the skin.
Someone knocked on the door. “Your Majesty?” It was Reynold Milson, the black-haired guard. “I am sorry to interrupt, but you intended to see Rasmus Holt at three.”
I wiped my hands on my skirt. Holt was supposed to be teaching me more about being queen, or at least more about how he thought I should be queen. Traditions, and presentation, how to speak, and how to think.
He might have a chance with the first two, but no amount of speaking lessons were going to help the rest. Even if he gave me a script for every encounter, it would all fall apart the moment someone else spoke.
“What time is it now?” I said.
“Three, Your Majesty.”
I looked down at my dust-covered dress. I’d wanted to make an impression on my council, but this wasn’t exactly what I’d had in mind. I hurried to the door, where Reynold and Mila waited, one on either side. At least they didn’t comment on my appearance.
“I’ve sent the order for your things, Your Majesty,” Mila said. “But it may take a couple of days. For reasons of security.”
“Thank you,” I said.
They led me out of the dungeons and up to the third floor of the Fort. But someone stepped out of a doorway as we turned the corner, missing collision by inches.
“Oh!” It was Madeleine Wolff. She took a tiny step back, but even when startled, her mask of courtesy did not slip. She glanced at my grimy gown as she swept into a curtsy. “Your Majesty. Are you all right?”
Of course Madeleine Wolff would be the one to collide with me when I looked like this. I forced myself to smile back at her. “Yes,” I said. “Yes, I’m fine. I’m sorry, I—I wasn’t looking where I was going.”
“No, Your Majesty, it was my fault.”
What was I even supposed to say? I was already late, and the awkwardness was a physical presence between us. “I’m sorry, I have to—”
“Wait, wait.” Madeleine grabbed my hand. “I wanted to speak to you. To thank you. For saving me yesterday. I would be dead if it wasn’t for you.”
I didn’t deserve her thanks. She had only been in danger because of me. If she hadn’t spoken to me, she would never have picked up one of the tarts in the first place. I shook my head, scrambling for words, and she squeezed my hand.
“I’m grateful,” she said. “Truly.”
“I—I’m just glad you’re all right.”
Madeleine beamed. “There was one other thing, Your Majesty. I know now might not be the best time, but it’s not really a matter I wish to bring up in front of the court.”
“What is it?”
“There’s an orphanage in the city. I’ve been supporting it for years, but—well, it’s struggling, Your Majesty. I hoped you might be willing to visit it with me. They would love to see you.”
“That would be—I’m not sure it’s safe.”
“Of course, Your Majesty. Things are so uncertain now. But please consider it. Perhaps when things are more settled? I—it would mean a lot to me, to know you might be thinking of them.”
“All right,” I said. “I’ll—when things are safer.”
“I know it seems odd,” Madeleine said, leaning closer. “Bringing this up now, when you have so much to deal with. But—it’s very important to me, Your Majesty. And I hope—I hope things like this will also be important to you.”
She curtsied again and stepped aside for me and my guards to pass. I nodded at her, no idea what else to do. She seemed so earnest, but why would she bring that up now, in the corridor, whispered in my ear? The strangeness of it made me shiver. But I had to hurry on. I was already stupidly late.
When I reached Holt’s door, I knocked without pausing to catch my breath.
“Come in.”