Page 14 of Poisoned Kingdom (Secrets of Dagome #1)

Roksana

G ods, it feels so good to be clean.

Lily had insisted I wash up in her room with its private bath chamber, and I’d spent the entire afternoon here.

After a hearty lunch and soaking for hours in the lilac-scented water, I was now curled up on a wide, plush sofa with a glass of the sweetest autumn wine I’d ever tasted.

My skin was soft, almost glowing from all the oils the maid had used.

Only my hands still betrayed my work as an herbalist and healer for the dwarven king.

The stains from crushing herbs had refused to leave my fingertips, no matter how hard the poor woman had scrubbed.

‘Feeling better?’ Liliana entered the room, the subtle scent of her lily of the valley perfume trailing after her.

‘Much better, thank you. There’s even some skin left.

’ I laughed, presenting my pink complexion.

‘The dwarves are good people, but their idea of luxury is a communal bath in frigid water. Only Tova understood that women need to soak every now and again . . .’ I stuttered into silence when her eyebrow raised in quiet judgment.

‘Someone . . . special?’ she asked.

I nodded. ‘Yes, but not in the way you’re thinking.

Tova is . . . I don’t know, he’s like a cross between a grumpy older brother and a guardian spirit.

And he can fix anything,’ I said, the conversation with Lily flowing as if I’d never left.

‘He may join me at some point—at least, I hope so. But don’t worry, I’ll find a place for us to stay so that I’m not abusing your hospitality for too long. ’

I took a sip of my drink, letting the blissful sweetness dissolve on my tongue.

‘You’re always welcome, and if this Tova made an impression on you, he’s more than welcome to stay as well. We have plenty of things to fix,’ she quipped, moving closer and placing her hand on my knee. ‘Now, tell me what troubles you, and I’ll do my best to help.’

I blew out a breath. ‘Jagon knows I killed Ignac Tivala—and how. He’s using that to blackmail me.

I’m the ace up his sleeve for a repeat performance, but this time .

. . it’s a bigger fish.’ I tightened my grip on the glass.

‘You’re his bargaining chip. He plans on making you the scapegoat and is threatening to tell the old duke you orchestrated his son’s death.

I’ll find a way to silence the bastard, but we need to be ready for anything.

You need more guards and . . . an escape route. ’

‘So, you returned because of me.’ She sighed before giving me a smile.

‘I won’t run away, Roksana. Jagon is a piece of shit, and we’ll deal with him together.

Now, calm down and promise me you won’t follow his orders.

Since the new king took over, life has changed, and Duke Tivala has faded into obscurity.

He’s not the same man who’d silenced the kingdom while his son went on a killing spree. ’

‘It still won’t stop the old bastard from hiring someone to knife you in a dark alley or poison your wine.’

‘And who would he hire? One of Irsha’s Blades? He would never . . .’ She bristled, stuttering a bit before resuming her usual tone. ‘I mean, all you have to do is to tell Irsha. He wouldn’t let any of his men harm your friend.’

‘That’s true, but I still had to return to Truso so I could tell him, no?

’ I quipped. She looked at me sharply, a flash of uncertainty in her gaze.

‘Lily, don’t worry. I’m not going to fall into Jagon’s hands or give him another card to use against me.

I have a plan that will hopefully distract him from his little game. And you won’t be put in harm’s way.’

‘Oh, now that sounds like fun. Does Boyan know? I can send him a message to let him know his favourite shadow is back to cause mischief,’ she teased.

‘Oh, he knows. I’m just laying low until I receive an official invitation. It won’t take long, so like I said, there’s nothing to worry about,’ I said, hoping I hadn’t overestimated the old man’s affection for me.

‘Thank the gods, then. Let’s drink to that.’ She poured some wine and raised her glass. ‘To the good old times. To revenge, blushing maidens, their poisonous kisses, and beating the bastards down.’

‘No more poisonous kisses or virgin dances, please . . . Gods, that was humiliating.’ I chuckled, remembering my clumsy performance meant to lure Duke Tivala’s heir into taking me to his secret lair.

His death had marked the beginning of my friendship with Lily, the only person in the entire city willing to stop the man responsible for the disappearance of several young women.

Ignac Tivala had been a deviant of the worst kind—someone who had loved his solitude, and using women as a canvas for his carving knife.

While Liliana had devised a scheme to lure him to her establishment, I had come up with the poison that had become the crown jewel of my collection—a lip rouge I named Wrath of Lilies , so toxic that only my magic could neutralise it.

When he kissed me, I let him ravage my lips, then smiled as he suffered, feeling nothing but satisfaction at the perverse justice of it all.

Lost in the reminiscence, I barely heard Lily’s next words.

‘I know you needed to leave, but I’m still mad that you just disappeared.

That bloody note you left me—“ I’m fine and will contact you when I’m settled ” — did absolutely nothing to help.

Did your arms drop off? Because we never heard from you again.

’ Lily’s voice had slowly risen until she was almost shouting by the last word.

‘When I went to the Brotherhood to ask about what happened, Irsha told me that you’d just thrown your bondage price on the grand master’s table and left.

Gods, Sana! He had such a haunted look on his face, I thought the Brotherhood had had you killed and covered it up! ’

Lily turned away abruptly, then opened her wardrobe and pulled out an exquisite shimmering gown that highlighted her natural beauty.

I just stared, open-mouthed, wondering what to say.

I couldn’t share everything, but I knew I had to provide an explanation for my silence.

‘I was afraid Jagon would hurt you if he knew we’d spoken, and .

. . I was afraid you’d talk me out of leaving.

I’d had enough of a life where I had to kill for every moron and his donkey who paid me.

Then that bastard . . . he was so intense .

Jagon behaved like I belonged to him, not as a poisoner or apprentice, but as his woman,’ I spat.

She whirled back around, frowning at me, and I instantly regretted telling her.

I’d intended to take that secret to the grave, but I couldn’t hold it in any longer.

‘I fended him off, but Irsha would have noticed and challenged him eventually, then Boyan would have intervened . . .’ I said before adding quietly, ‘You know I never wanted that life in the first place. But then I left, and I realised the grass wasn’t any greener on the other side, and that I missed you and this city. ’

Liliana looked at me for a long moment, sadness deepening the bright blue of her eyes. She understood. Her career wasn’t exactly what young girls dreamed of either.

‘So, you ran away. Now you’re back, and you’ve landed in the middle of a vicious battle for the Brotherhood. The grand master is ill—some say it’s the graveyard cough, others that he’s been poisoned, but the dogs are fighting over the bones, so to speak.’

‘That explains why Jagon’s behaving like he already owns the place and insisted on my return to Truso without Boyan’s invitation,’ I said. For Lily’s benefit, I explained what had happened in Wiosna, skipping over the name of the target Jagon wanted me to kill.

‘Don’t tell me he wants you to kill Irsha. I can’t imagine Boyan would let that happen without an official challenge,’ she commented while I helped lace her bodice.

‘No, but the position of grand master has to be his primary focus, and if Irsha still harbours feelings for me, I could be used as leverage against him.’

‘Well, one way or another, you’re here. Okay, tell me the perfect plan I’m sure you’ve come up with, and we’ll get it done,’ Lily said, sitting next to me.

‘Not perfect—half-baked at best. I need to weaken Jagon’s position. He has deals that he knows can’t see the light of day or fall under the scrutiny of the mages. That’s where I’ll start. Do they still hold Petitioners’ Day at the Court of Aether?’

‘Yes, every Wednesday, but what does the Court of Aether have to do with any of this?’ Lily asked, confusion marring her features.

I had a one-word answer: ‘Srebrec.’

‘Veles’ pit. Yes, you mentioned that.’ She sat on the edge of the sofa, clearly invested in my story, and I couldn’t help but smile.

‘M?ot is trading it. Jagon is the middleman, but I bet he’s getting a big slice of the cake.

So imagine how happy the mages will be knowing someone in our kingdom is helping sell ore that could put magical collars on their necks.

If they disrupt his plans, Jagon will have to find another way to move his merchandise, and that should take him out of Truso for a while. ’

‘Well then, you’ll need some decent clothes.

Those mages are snobbish bastards and won’t allow beggars into their public areas.

We’ll find you something appropriate to wear tomorrow,’ she said, pausing at the sound of the gong announcing the start of the business day.

Lily stood with the elegance of a dancer, turning back towards me.

‘Would you like to join us downstairs? Who knows, maybe someone will catch your eye and warm your bed tonight.’ She winked.

I burst out laughing. I was in no shape or mood to enjoy the pleasures her business was famous for.

‘No, thank you,’ I said, rising slowly.

Liliana gave a small nod. ‘If you change your mind, simply come downstairs. Our people will be happy to see you.’