Chapter 6
Chapter Six
The dead reptile bled out on the floor and Gustav exclaimed, “How did that get in here?”
“No idea,” Avera stated, heading for a wash basin.
“It’s a spotted viper,” Gustav declared. “Did it bite you? Its fangs are full of poison.”
“No bite, but I am covered in its blood.” She grimaced as the water turned pink the moment she dipped her hands in it.
“Why didn’t you wake me?” he accused.
“I tried. I called out to you, but you were sleeping hard.”
“Impossible,” he scoffed. “I am a light sleeper.”
Avera turned with a damp cloth in hand. “And I am not. Usually, I can sleep through anything.” She learned to do so given the nursery level could be noisy when a baby got colicky.
Gustav paced as he ranted. “If the food were drugged, how come it only affected me? We ate the same thing.”
Should she mention how the lamp had gone out and reignited once the snake died? It would sound rather crazy.
She let Gustav continue to vent instead. “How did it get inside? These snakes aren’t common on this side of the continent. I’ve only ever heard of them living in Reedsy Marsh which is more than a week’s ride from here.”
“Perhaps someone kept on as a pet and as it got loose,” she offered even as she didn’t believe it.
“A pet?” Gustav couldn’t help an incredulous note.
“We don’t know for sure it was planted,” was her weak reply.
“Don’t be stupid. It doesn’t become you,” Gustav growled.
He marched to the wardrobe. The door was slightly ajar. “I see where they stashed it. Some of its skin rubbed off when it slithered free. Dammit. This is my fault. I should have searched the cupboards.” Gustav blamed himself. “I will relinquish my position at once, Your Majesty.”
“Oh, stop with the self-flagellation. Of all the things to worry about, a poisonous viper hidden in the wardrobe would have never made the list.”
“It didn’t get there without help.”
“Perhaps it was meant for the next consort,” Avera suggested.
“Again, you’re smarter than this. We both know you won’t be married that quick. The snake was meant to cause trouble now.”
“Only, no one knew I’d refuse the queen’s chambers and we were both in here the entire time they set up the bed. No one went near the wardrobe.”
“Indicating it was planted before. The last person to be in that cabinet would have been Benoit and whoever helped him move.”
“You think the former consort left it?” She found that hard to believe. Benoit might have been miffed at his loss of position, but that hardly made him a killer.
Gustav pursed his lips. “I don’t know. It doesn’t really make any sense as he had to know it would implicate him. Not to mention he’s a milksop. Pretty to look at but not much else going on.”
An interesting observation given she’d always seen Benoit as sly. She’d observed him on a few occasions, and when he didn’t realize anyone watched, he would get a cold and calculating look in his eyes.
“I’ll have him brought in for questioning,” Gustav declared.
Could Benoit have been involved in the murder plot?
“How would he benefit? He lost all rank and privilege when the queen died. He’d hardly be first in line for the throne had I perished too.
” Left unsaid—though it crossed Avera’s mind—was that Benoit would have known the ins and outs of the palace, their routines, perhaps even discovered the passages.
Add in the fact his family was one of the older and more powerful ones, perhaps with everyone dead he’d expected to slide into the role of king given his proximity to the throne.
“Who knows what he thought. Perhaps he was angry at losing his pampered position. Even if he didn’t do it, he might have noticed some people in the room.”
“You’re right. He should be questioned. He and anyone else that was anywhere near this room. Grand Rook, please ensure it’s done,” Avera commanded. She had to start somewhere.
“With pleasure, Majesty.” The tight smile let her know Benoit wouldn’t be treated as gently as he’d grown accustomed to.
“Can we have that thing removed?” She waved her hand at the dead snake only to gape as it collapsed in on itself before turning to dust.
She blinked. “Um, Gustav…”
“I saw it,” was his grim reply. “The blood on you is gone too.” She glanced at her nightdress, damp from her mopping but otherwise stain-free.
“How is that possible?” she whispered.
“Foul magic.”
“Magic isn’t real,” she scoffed.
“That’s where you’re wrong, my queen. Magic exists, it’s just not prevalent on Daerva.”
“You can’t be serious?” she squeaked. The very idea astonished.
“Daerva is actually the only continent where magic doesn’t flourish. But that isn’t the case elsewhere. Merisu has witches advising their Emperor, while Pequilh employs warlocks in their army. You should have learned this already.”
“I didn’t think they could actually wield magic,” she exclaimed. “Does this snake mean we have a warlock or witch in our midst?”
“Doubtful. More likely the spell used to conjure the snake was bought outside of Daerva and smuggled in, given our laws banning its use.”
“Smuggled how?” she asked with a frown.
Gustav rummaged in the closet before emerging, holding a clay figurine of a serpent. “The culprit. The magic that conjured the snake most likely resided within it.”
“Felt real when I stabbed it.”
“Because in that moment, it was. Luckily, you killed it before it could cause harm. Now to ensure it doesn’t create another.” He dropped the object to the floor and stamped it with his boot, breaking it into shards.
“I wonder if it was responsible for my lamp not working and you sleeping so soundly,” she mused aloud.
“Most likely.”
“Do you think there are more?” She eyed the room suspiciously.
“Doubtful. My understanding is that because embedding magic into an object can be taxing, purchasing those totems is costly. That said, we should be prudent.”
She rubbed her forehead. “This is too much for me to handle this early on an empty stomach. I’m going to scrounge up some breakfast.” Dawn had arrived while they dealt with the snake, and she found herself hungry, although she could have done without the attention that came when she arrived in the dining hall.
Despite the early hour, many of the guards stationed within the palace were seated along with some of the servants, and even a few early rising lords and ladies.
Once more Avera felt judged. People watched her every move as she went to the buffet and piled her plate under Gustav’s watchful eye. He took nothing for himself but stood a few paces behind her chair when she sat.
Sat alone because no royal family remained to fill the seats flanking her.
Previous to now, she’d occupied a spot at a table in the corner rather than with her family.
An outcast in her own home, but even she had to admit it was by choice.
The queen had designated the end seat at the head table as hers. Avera just rarely used it.
To her surprise, one of the ladies in attendance approached and curtsied. “Your Majesty.” The woman remained with head bowed, legs bent.
“Lady Vienna.” Avera knew the matron by sight but had never spoken to her.
“My condolences on the tragedy,” said Lady Vienna as she rose and clasped her hands in front of her.
“Thank you.” What else could Avera say, even as it sounded trite. This was more than a tragedy. It was the absolute darkest moment in their history.
“Should you require anything, I do hope you’ll call upon me.”
Rather than ask, “Whatever for?” Avera muttered, “That’s most kind of you.”
After an awkward pause, Lady Vienna left and Avera leaned back to say, “What does she think I need?”
“In her case, I’m thinking it’s about her marriageable son, recently widowed.”
“Matchmaking so soon?” she squeaked.
“Perhaps, although more likely she’s hoping to become a part of your inner court.” By which he meant the gaggle of ladies that attached themselves to the queen. “Your mother never included her.”
“I’d not planned to have one.” Avera had no interest in ladies suddenly fawning for her friendship given they’d ignored her practically her entire life. Then again, they only copied the actions of her family.
“Don’t be so quick to say no. You will need to surround yourself with people you can trust,” he advised in a low tone.
“And how do I know if I can trust them?” she groused.
“That is an impossible question to answer.”
“You’re not much help.”
“Just being honest.”
Which she appreciated and hated all at once. “What should I plan for today?”
“Overseeing the funeral arrangements. Also, most likely you’ll also have people seeking audience as they begin currying for favors.”
She sighed. “I’d rather have you whack me with a sword.”
“We can do that as well. Exercise is healthy.”
“But let me guess, that exercise doesn’t include a ride on Luna.”
“Not until we can be sure we’ve handled all the assassins.”
“You think there’s more?”
“Maybe. Even one could shoot you dead with an arrow. And we now have to worry about magical traps.”
The reminder someone might still try to kill her decided her next move. “Announce that I am in mourning and I’ll not be receiving anyone until after the funeral.”
“Going to hide?”
“Actually, I’m going to the library.”
“Whatever for?”
“Information.” The more she knew, the better. Left unsaid, she could use a quiet spot where she wouldn’t feel on display.
The library, two stories in height and lined on every wall with bookshelves, had long been a haven for Avera. Despite her best efforts, she’d not managed to read a fraction of the tomes, but she kept trying. Her nightstand usually held two to three books to keep her entertained.
On this visit, she ignored the fascinating history section for the dustier shelves lined with the books on royal protocol and laws, most enshrined long before even her mother’s birth. Daerva didn’t embrace change and its citizens clung stubbornly to tradition.