Perhaps this dinner was not the best idea. In hindsight actually this dinner was a monumental failure, a room full of warring kingdom diplomats are not trustworthy guests, and now all of the food was inedible. So much for dinner.
“Shall we try supper again another time?” Lady Dihal suggested as she scraped the remnants of her meal to the young dragon accompanying her. Her lips were pursed, clearly annoyed that her plot had failed. The room was tense, yet I couldn’t help but find the humor in this entire situation. I mean I expected at least one assassination attempt to be tried, maybe two, but seven was excessive. Luckily I had been prepared, for I had with me a secret weapon– A woman who not only built up an immunity to nearly all poisons but could taste the difference.
Three weeks ago my father had fallen ill. He was bedridden and hysterical. Whispers of poison, and curses filled the halls. I dismissed most as idle gossip as I took the responsibilities of the kingdom upon myself. Every day he worsened, common remedies seemed only to make him worse. Daily I was receiving threats to the kingdom from the surrounding foes who sought to prey on our weakness. I spent sleepless nights praying my father would wake and save us, but every day he slipped further and further from me. That was until that fateful morning when my advisor approached me in the study.
He was careful, speaking with an uncharacteristic stutter as he whispered of a woman who survived on rotten fish, and the poisonous ruby tip petals which take root in the forest. He told me she may hold the secret to saving the kingdom.
She lived just outside of the main city, when I found her she was fishing under the main bridge where the common men usually dumped their chamber pots. Her hair was matted and oily. Black streaks which clung to her gaunt face. Her eyes were reptile like, with a green hue which pierced my soul. This was her home, or so I had been told. I was terrified, she was powerful and I had no idea how friendly she was towards the crown. I came with a gift for the girl, a sweet cake made from the finest honey. When I approached she stared at me in awe and appreciation. She did not speak. My advisor assured me this was the girl, so I took her back to the castle. I had the servants help her get cleaned, I ordered her to be treated as an esteemed guest, at least until she could be properly tested.
I gave the girl a day to rest and be cared for. After she was cleaned I couldn’t help but notice she had an eerie beauty to her. Her skin was green tinted and in certain lighting seemed to glisten like gemstones. She was tall, especially for a woman. I had not noticed before as she tended to keep herself hunched over and low to the ground. She spoke crudely with a low rasp, and answered in one or two word answers.
“What is your name?” I asked another time. Again I received the same answer, “Have none.” I sighed, deciding to call her Noywn, a name meaning ‘A mystery’.
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The next morning I was ready for answers. I took Noywn to my father’s chambers. He was at his worst. Sweat poured from his brow, and his eyes were bloodshot. He was screaming incoherently as guards restrained him. “It is time.” I handed Noywn a plate with half eaten, rotted food. She was unfazed. “This was the last thing the king ate before he became ill. I need to know, was it poison?” I tried to keep my tone even, but a desperation crept in. She nodded and took a bite not even flinching at the mold. Her eyes squinted, but she said nothing. Before I could even react she moved to the king, her long nail piercing his finger. Her lips met his finger, licking the blood from her lip.
“Alykoki-ny. The Devil’s whisper. It grows in the marshes 3 miles to the west.”
I only stared. Disbelief and confusion consumed me.
“Simple to treat. Grind fish bone, and ryne root. Boil. Twice a day. He will heal. Back to himself by sunrise.”
“You heard her.” I barked. Swiftly the servants left the room, they were back within the hour. I propped my father up, slowly pouring the sludge like concoction into his mouth. He winced and fought but eventually he swallowed the last of it.
Almost immediately he stopped squirming, he relaxed and laid back. Peacefully drifting to sleep. I heard my advisor whisper “I hope for your sake, you were right.”
She was. The next morning my father was sitting up, a color returning to his face. He was weak, but able to speak. As soon as he was able, we started planning.
We would find who did this, and we would remind our enemies how great our kingdom was.
Which brings us to the feast. A plot to find who would be willing to poison a beloved king to take his kingdom. The plan was to host a feast with the surrounding rulers, and have Noywn taste the food while we spoke. She would tell me if any had been poisoned, and what type. What I did not expect was that every ruler brought their own poison.
“We will not be feasting,” I declared. Anger filled the room. “And why not?” King Ordu hissed.
“Because the food has been tainted, poisoned to be precise. All of it.”
Queen Ayalia feigned ignorance, “you called us here to poison us?” I chuckled. “No I have no poison, but it appears all of you have generously provided it yourself.”
“That is preposterous,” Lord Keneith laughed, “I do not even know the names of poisons, how could we possibly?”
Noywn stepped forward, “Venyin root. Kemnin. Qyip. Gruule. Jehuvu. Seyl pedals, and finally Alykoki-ny from you my lord.”
The room was silent. I watched each ruler, flies caught in a web, until, “and what shall you do boy ruler?” one hissed. I stayed seated.
I heard footsteps approaching, the door swung open, “"...Okay, are any of the dishes not poisoned?” A calm voice bellowed, “Is there anyone at this feast who did not poison anything?" The room fell into silence as my father stood in the doorway. “No? Well then I suppose the feast should be canceled. Leave now, and heed this warning, Anyone who attempts to take my kingdom will learn first hand the taste of The Devil’s whisper.”