Herb-Wife (Lord Alchemist Duology) by McCoy Elizabeth

Author:McCoy, Elizabeth [McCoy, Elizabeth]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Published: 2012-02-24T00:00:00+00:00

Mistress Glassforge, I am given to understand you are sister to Darul Reus, moneylender, struck down by foul alchemy these few months ago. I regret I must tell you his poisoner is a barbarian herb-witch. Immune to the brew herself, she has bargained with the Lord Alchemist for his protection for her crimes. It pains me to give such harsh truth, but corruption in the guild cannot be condoned, even at the highest levels.

The words were ink, not graphite. There was no signature, nor seal on the wax, though the gray was alchemist enough.

Was this threatened in that letter Iasen sent, at the wedding? Gently, Kessa re-folded the letter and offered it back. "There's a watchman named Thioso. His stipend's not paid by the Alchemists' Guild, and he's served the city-prince in a minor matter. He'll want to see this."

Saydra took the letter in a not-quite snatch. "A watchman, you say?"

"You can give it to Commander Rothsam, if you wish." She'd followed Iathor into the watch commander's office, once, and remembered the name. "It should get to Thioso eventually."

"You say it's a lie, girl? Or you just think your husband can protect you?"

"Well. Those are interesting questions." Kessa looked at her hands, clasped in front of her. Zeth hadn't come back, so Dayn probably lurked behind a corner. "I've not yet been in the gardens. Would you walk with me there, Mistress Glasswife?"

"What, so's you can poison me, too?"

Kessa gestured slightly at the door. "Have the driver watch, if you wish. Some of the servant children here, perhaps. They're not dramsmen, and certainly not immune to the truth potion."

The woman hesitated, then said archly, "I'll tell him I'm in the garden, and he's not to leave without me." She turned, opened the door, and stalked outside, leaving it ajar.

As Kessa'd expected, Dayn turned up at her shoulder. "Will you be all right, m'lady?"

"That's an interesting question, too," she replied absently. "Is there a door to the back garden that's not a servant's passage? I think Mistress Glasswife expects something finer."

"The hall with the guest suites has a door at the end. Zeth can unshutter the lights and I'll lead you."

"My thanks." She'd not explored down that hallway, even after a month, feeling too much like an intruding sneak-thief.

Dayn actually ran to the corner. Then Saydra thumped the door open, stalking back in. "He'll not be going anywhere till I leave," she announced. "That cost me some coin, I hope you know."

"I'll ask someone to cover the matter, Mistress Glasswife." Kessa closed the door gently, then began walking slowly down the hall. "I'm told there's a door to the garden area, this way."

Saydra fell into step beside her, in prim outrage. "There's nothing you can say out there that you couldn't say in here."

"Mayhap." Kessa didn't stop.

At the corner, Dayn offered a cloak to Kessa, not even breathing hard. She took it, and he moved ahead of them.

The hall was perhaps un-dusted, and some of the shutters over the Incandescens Stone lamps only half-open, but it was decent enough, Kessa thought.

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