Page 54 of Poisoned Kingdom (Secrets of Dagome #1)

‘Mainly about the Winter Solstice Ball at the palace. Such as who was hiring musicians and entertainers, who was catering . . .’ she said, smiling when I looked at her sceptically.

‘I know that seems normal for someone looking for a job, but right after that, they started asking about sellers of “unusual” herbs and powders. There wasn’t any mention of which herbs, but one of the men described something made from a flower the girls recognised as nivale. ’

Riordan’s curse was so colourful that my eyebrows shot up.

‘What are you thinking?’ I asked.

‘That someone is trying to incapacitate mages,’ he responded, jaw tight. ‘Augurec manacles, nivale—that’s got to be lanara poison. Those are only used on those gifted with second sight.’

I nodded. He wasn’t wrong.

Sana placed a hand on my forearm. ‘That’s not the end of it.’ She glanced at Tova. ‘It’s time you tell him about the srebrec.’

‘There’s not much to tell yet,’ Tova said, leaning back in his chair.

‘But I’ll know more soon. Remember the dwarven merchants Lily wanted me to entertain?

Well, they told me next to nothing, but I discovered where they like to stay and with whom they traded.

I snuck in one night and grabbed a few scrolls and a sample of their merchandise. They’re planning to take it to Wiosna.’

He stretched theatrically, letting silence draw every gaze towards him before finally continuing.

‘The scrolls contain schemata for . . . something. I don’t know what yet, but I’m working on it. It’s designed to trigger . . . something.

He reached for the scroll Sana had hit him with earlier and unrolled it on the table.

It looked like gibberish to me—rows of overlapping squares filled with intricate runes and scattered numbers. But Riordan leaned forward, completely absorbed, his fingers following the symbols as his brows drew tighter and tighter.

‘Ri?’

‘I’m not sure,’ he muttered. ‘But this—look here—this set loops around . . . yes, right there. That’s the trigger.

Master Orenson is right. It’s an aethereal loop designed to pull in magic, and .

. .’ He paused, jaw tightening again. ‘Well, I’m not sure what happens then, but any mage caught near this when it’s activated would be in real trouble. ’

‘Make a copy and take it to the university immediately,’ I said. ‘We need to know what it is.’

Tova looked like he might argue, but I cut him off. ‘Please ensure the mages work with Master Orenson. His expertise may be needed to solve this problem, and his insight could be critical.’

Tova hesitated, then nodded. ‘Fine. But we should go after the merchants first. And I think I’ve got something that could help.’

He unrolled a large map of the Lowland Kingdoms across the table.

‘Look at this. I’ve spoken with the oxen handlers, and they all mentioned visiting these backwater villages.

Every recent transport from Wiosna has taken a similar route south, bypassing Truso and travelling through the swamp along the border with the Care’etavos Empire.

On the way back, they take the usual trade roads.

’ He looked at Liliana with a smirk. ‘And often stop at your establishment to spend what they’ve earned. ’

‘It’s difficult to control those bloody swamps,’ I admitted, eyeing the map. ‘Especially since the dark fae are claiming we’ve been encroaching on their land. However, if you mark the places on the map, I’ll send some patrols there to investigate.’

Tova’s grin widened.

‘I’m guessing there’s more to it?’ I asked.

‘Oh yes, there is. You know what scrooges dwarven merchants are. They turn every gold coin twice before spending it—yet these lot have been making a show of throwing gold around like it’s river gravel.

They’re flashy, deliberate. And while everyone’s watching them , there’s always one who disappears as soon as they head to the entertainment quarter, only to return in the morning. ’

‘I’ll speak to the grand master,’ Irsha offered. ‘We’ll send Observers.’

Tova shook his head. ‘No, you can’t trust them. Sana told me several of them still support Jagon, and he’s neck-deep in the srebrec trade. If we send the wrong men, we’ll tip our hand. Let me handle it. Whoever they’re meeting with is expecting a dwarf, so . . .’

‘That’s some sound reasoning, but it’s very risky, Master Orenson,’ Riordan said, his finger still trailing over the strange schemata.

Tova’s expression hardened. ‘It is, but I have a bone to pick with M?ot. His paranoia killed my parents. I’ve studied the scroll and know their route.

There’s been a massive increase in mining this past year.

I don’t know where they’re storing the ore, but that much unstable material isn’t just dangerous to the miners—it’s a threat to everyone. ’

Riordan finally looked up, eyes sharp with new interest. ‘Then let’s work together. Srebrec is not just unstable; it blocks the flow of aether. Creates null zones. With the right instrument, we might detect their storage sites. I’d like to review your findings.’

Tova raised a brow.

Riordan grinned. ‘I’ll build the enchantments if you craft the device.’

Tova nodded, pleased. ‘Deal.’

‘Excellent,’ Riordan responded. ‘Now I need to find an artificer skilled enough to help us put it all together.’

Sana spoke then, her voice soft but steady. ‘Tova, promise me you’ll be careful.’

She didn’t try to stop him, and that alone told me how deeply she trusted him. Her brows drew tight with worry, but her acceptance made the dwarf smile.

‘Always, drah’sa. I knew you’d understand.’

Irsha slapped a hand on the table. ‘Good. We’ve got a plan.’

‘Not exactly,’ Sana said. ‘If Tivala’s behind this, we need proof.

We can’t point fingers at men like him without evidence.

They don’t just fall; they circle the wagons.

’ She glanced towards the map. ‘I’ll return to the Brotherhood.

Search Jagon’s workshop, his rooms—anything that might give us leverage.

If that turns up nothing, I’ll go south. ’

‘No.’ The word left me sharper than intended, everything inside me recoiling at the thought. If Tivala had dared attack her here , what would stop him from killing her there ?

‘You can’t accuse him based on a dead mercenary’s words and my hunch,’ she said, gently but firmly. ‘I don’t know much about court politics, but I know enough to realise if you touch one of those arseholes, they will all rally against you. What you need is a signed order, something he can’t deny.’

She was right. I hated that she was right.

‘Sana, if he is behind all this, I’m not going to accuse him—I’m going to destroy him,’ I said. ‘But you’re right. I need time to prepare, and we need to find out what this . . . thing is, what it has to do with srebrec . . . and why the fuck he’s been digging into the ground alongside the border.’

Riordan gathered the plans. ‘Leave the device to Master Orenson and me,’ he said, and I had to fight a grin at the way Tova’s chest puffed with pride when he nodded.

‘Irsha?’ Sana asked quietly, and some understanding passed between them.

‘I don’t work for free sweetheart, even for you.’ He shook his head, but I had a remedy for that.

‘Then I’ll contract your chapter, just like I did before the rebellion,’ I said. ‘You’ll be my eyes and ears in Truso.’

He smirked. ‘You mistake my men for Observers. And I’ll have to think about it before I entangle my Blades in a quarrel between the nobles.’

‘I don’t make mistakes like that,’ I said evenly. ‘I don’t trust the Observers. I trust Sana. That’s why I’m hiring you , Irsha Vilkor. You’ll take my coin—and you won’t fail me.’

His eyes narrowed. ‘For a man who tried to kill me a couple of hours ago, you have a lot of guts asking me to serve you. But fine. Send your man with the contract tomorrow.’

‘Guts? I’m holding a war council in a bloody kitchen. So maybe what I have is a lot of “guts” trusting you all with the future of Dagome,’ I said, looking at the people gathered around me. ‘Though I recognise an opportunity when it arises.’

None of them knew how much was at stake. None of them sat on my royal council or held a military post. And yet—between a dwarf, a half-fae courtesan, and two assassins—I’d received more loyalty, more insight, and more solutions than from a hundred advisors trained in statecraft.

Meeting Roksana had cost me dearly. But now? It felt less like a price and more like fate—like the moment the tide turned, and I was gifted a woman who shifted everything. Including the company I kept.

‘Thank you,’ I said simply. ‘This . . . shadow council has been more enlightening than I could have imagined. Consider yourselves under the Crown’s protection.

Now, Riordan, draft the letter to the Court of Mages and have it ready for me to sign.

I want all their resources at your and Tova’s disposal.

Irsha, the contract will be sent to your chapter tomorrow.

Liliana, I’ll assign a handful of my veterans to your establishment.

Hire them as staff. I’ll cover the cost from my personal accounts. Sana—’

‘Will do her own thing,’ she cut in before I could finish. ‘And right now, her own thing is sending everyone to bed.’ She stood and stretched, and Liliana instantly followed, giving a graceful curtsy.

‘Thank you, Your Majesty. I bid you goodnight. Sana, come and see me tomorrow. We need to talk.’

Irsha followed her out with very little pretence, and I was fairly certain I knew where he’d be sleeping tonight.

Riordan glanced my way before he grasped Tova’s elbow and asked him about his workshop. Both left, giving me a chance to talk to Sana.

‘Go home, Rey. I’m tired,’ she murmured, leaning against the doorframe.

I braced my hand on the wood above her head, refusing to let the moment slip past.

‘You didn’t let me finish, Sanika. I’m leaving, and I’m not sure for how long.

Tova was right,’ I said. ‘I need to check on Tivalaran and its borders. Since the accident, I’ve hidden like a wounded boar, licking my wounds and neglecting my duty while my enemies exploited my weakness.

I need to oversee the patrols and check the outposts. ’

She nodded slowly, guilt flickering across her features. ‘I hope you have a peaceful journey. I’ll come with an update when you return—this time in person, I promise. Hopefully, Tova will have found out more about the strange diagram by then.’

She was all formal, distancing herself from me, but I wouldn’t leave until she knew exactly where I stood.

‘Kiss me, Sanika,’ I said, voice low. ‘I want to remember the taste of your lips while I’m in my cold tent on the dark fae border.’

Her pupils dilated, her breath catching as she placed a hand on her throat. She shook her head, but her voice lacked conviction.

‘I told you it won’t work . . . Don’t trade one weakness for another. I can’t be what you need.’

She turned her face away from me but the flush creeping up her neck and the hitch of her breath betrayed her. I bent down, fingers sliding to the back of her neck, guiding her closer.

She didn’t push me away. If anything, she leaned into me, rising onto her toes, and that was enough for me.

I kissed her.

And gods, she yielded . Beautifully. Sweetly. Her lips parted beneath mine, and I groaned into her mouth, gripping her tighter as I held myself back by the thinnest of threads. I wanted her so fucking much—all of her—but her heart hadn’t chosen me yet.

My tongue traced hers, and the mischievous woman responded wickedly, sucking it between her lips before pulling away just as my hand tightened to keep her close. I nipped her lower lip in protest, a teasing punishment for breaking the kiss before I had my fill of her.

‘I didn’t come here to make sense or hold a meeting, my light.

I just wanted to see you,’ I said, gently tracing my thumb over her lips, slightly swollen from our kiss.

‘I fought Irsha out of jealousy . . .’ I continued, wrapping a strand of her hair around my finger.

‘I needed you to understand that before I go.’

Her nostrils flared in frustration as she swatted my hand away. ‘And what am I supposed to do with that? You know who I am, what I’m going to do. Why do you act as if there could be something more between us?’

‘Because I know what I want,’ I said, voice firm. ‘I want you to choose me, Sana. But how can you do that if you don’t know what the possibilities are?’

Her breath came faster, her pupils blown wide, and I realised I might have pushed her too far. I stepped back, giving her the space she needed even if it killed me.

‘When I return to Truso, we’ll talk again,’ I continued. ‘Stay safe, little Viper. I hope you use this time to get used to the thought of being mine.’

‘In your dreams,’ she muttered, rolling her eyes as she shoved me through the door. I let her push me, a grin spreading across my face. As much as I wanted to stay, she needed to rest, but I couldn’t let her have the last word. Not this time.

‘In my dreams, we do far more than kiss. When I return, I’ll show you just how much.’

The door slammed hard enough to nearly clip me on the way out. I inhaled deeply before striding through the sleepy city, unable to contain my grin.

Fate had pushed us together from the very first moment I’d seen her in the forest.

And like a fool, I had spent the last month tormenting myself, unaware that the woman I sought—a woman who would take a blade for me—had been right under my nose.

1. Navia — an afterlife where all spirits come to rest after crossing the Veil that divides the spirit world from the living.