Page 76 of Esperance

“The attempted murder of five of the most important women in Esperance is more than demoralizing,” Argent bit out, his eyes livid as he looked up from the note.

Footsteps sounded at the door and Chancellor Trevill rushed in. He staggered briefly as he took in the scene, and then his darting eyes settled on the knot of people in the middle of the room. He hurried over to join them.

“A guard told me the women were poisoned,” he said. “What happened?”

“It was the tea,” the physician said grimly. “Kazzah, to be more precise. It’s a local poison that causes agonizing death. Usually. From what I can determine, it wasn’t a strong enough dose to actually kill them.”

“Is there any way to determine if that was intentional on the part of the poisoner?” Trevill asked.

“Unfortunately, no,” the physician said.

“I think the message leaves little doubt that the goal was their deaths,” Ivan said, his tone dark.

“The door,” Jayveh rasped, struggling to form words.

Argent bent closer to her. “Easy, my love. You don’t need to speak.”

Her lips pursed, and she shook her head. “Door was . . . locked. No one . . . came.”

Argent’s brow furrowed. Then he shot a look at the high cleric. “Why were there no guards outside this room?”

“I—I don’t know. There should have been, but it’s possible they stepped away for a brief time.”

Argent’s expression grew thunderous. “When you complained about my wife’s bodyguards being in the way of your men, you assured me that Esperance guards would be sufficient to defend any room she was in. And now you tell me that they may have left her for abrief time?”

Zacharias’s jaw worked. “This is a temple, Your Highness. While the guards are attentive, we’ve never had such things happen—”

“Cora wasmurdered,” Argent growled. “We still haven’t found her killer, yet you allow your guards to act like they’re guarding nothing more than an empty chapel?”

The high cleric flipped a hand toward Trevill. “He’sthe one who hasn’t found Cora’s killer yet!”

Argent didn’t give Trevill a chance to respond. “You want the credit for the peace, Zacharias; you can shoulder the disasters as well.”

The high cleric’s face flushed from the reprimand, but he said nothing as Trevill asked to read the message.

When the chancellor finished, he was frowning. “This message is longer than the last and in a different, messier hand. I’m not sure it’s the same person.”

“But it could be.” Argent looked to him. “I want you to investigate this as well, Trevill. Talk to the servants, the guards—everyone. Ensure something like this cannot happen again.”

“Of course, Your Highness.” Trevill eyed the high cleric. “If you’ll stop impeding my investigation and let me talk to everyone I need to, that would be appreciated.”

Zacharias’s eyebrows smashed together. “If you’ll stop accusing clerics of killing Cora—”

“I’m not the one who rushes to make accusations,” Trevill snapped. “I’m simply asking questions.”

“A cleric would never do this! Neither would my guards, nor my servants.”

“This tea was prepared inyourkitchen, carried in byyourservants, and this room was supposed to be guarded byyourmen,” Trevill said. “Whether you like it or not, I will be questioning them all.”

“Enough,” Argent broke in before Zacharias could offer a retort. He then turned to the physician. “Can the women be moved to their rooms?”

“Yes, I think they’re all stable enough. They won’t be able to walk that distance, though. I can call for servants to help carry—”

“No need.” Argent instantly scooped Jayveh up, one arm at her back and the other beneath her knees. She wrapped her arms around him and ducked her head against the curve of his neck. Argent tightened his hold on her. “Dinner will be taken privately tonight,” he said to Zacharias, each word a clear command. “And I want guards outside the rooms of every woman.”

The high cleric stiffly bowed his head.

Argent barely acknowledged the man as he strode for the door, ignoring the servants who rushed forward and offered to carry Jayveh.