“Hello, my flower,” I say, pushing away the feeling of pain. Her brightness is like a balm to my soul against the danger and pressure of the day. Of this place.
Then a waft of something sour and metallic hits me.
“What have you been cooking this time?” I ask, with a half laugh.
She gestures me in, and I see her vases and baubles scattered around the room. She’s got a talent for potions, and more talent than the best healer I’ve met. So much so that she’s been making a small fortune in the business.
She has been supplying an anonymous buyer for the last month with bundles of herbs and tinctures to restore fertility.
“What have you been working on now?”
She smiles, still remaining at my side. “An invisibility potion.”
“Ah, that explains the metal.” She smiles, and most of the stress of meeting with Arion melts away.
“Father,” she starts, “What happened to Arlet?”
I hadn’t expected her to bring that up. After she’d gotten back from the wedding, she had been quiet and upset that Mrath wasn’t successful.
I consider telling her the truth, but worry about her kind mind. This world is too dark for her. I only brought her here because Mrath left me no other option, I don’t want her to stay awake at night worrying over a human.
“She’s alive. In the dungeons for now.”
“She won’t die, will she? I liked her.”
I shake my head. “No. She will be all right, I think.”
In reality, I don’t know. The trials will be brutal. She doesn’t seem that strong, and she is, in the grand scheme of Mrath’s power play, inconsequential. She may have joined herself with Arion, she may be some sort of tunnel to his power, but once Arion is dead, she will go back to being just a regular person.
If she dies, it might help our cause.
But…Knowing that Vesilane wants her to live changes things. She is dear to Liana as well.
Suddenly, I feel myself being pulled toward this frail creature. If only for those who I love.
Fine.
I will help her.
“I was wondering if you had any advice for how to cure someone who contracted a fever from a wound infection. Someone of another species.”
She looks up at me. “Like an ogre? Or a troll? I wasn’t aware there were any in the city.” She thinks for a moment. Then she walks to one of her baskets and begins to rummage through a host of bottles. She pulls one out.
“It doesn’t matter, really. Faerie Flower should work the same on anyone. Just give her this—you could even enhance it with a bit of your magic to make it extra potent.”
I smile at her as she explains the properties to me. Pride flows through my veins. She is such a lovely young woman—such a good daughter.
“Thank you, my flower,” I say again, accepting the vial. Then I look around the room again. “I am deeply sorry to interrupt your work.”
She casts me a sweet smile and my heart clenches.
“Arion is growing more paranoid. I think it’s best if you leave these rooms.”
She looks at me, clearly disappointed.
“Is it too dangerous?” she asks. “I was so excited you’d finally brought me to the capital and let me help.”
“I know, moonbeam. You did well.” I shake my head. “And it’s not too dangerous yet. I don’t think he suspects me, so I will remain here. But the king is fickle. I cannot risk you again.”