Toil and Trouble by Jaelyn Elliott

Author:Jaelyn Elliott [Elliott, Jaelyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-09-08T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21

The queen’s chambers were lavishly decorated. Allie looked about herself in awe at crystal chandeliers, a large fireplace, and lush carpets in a mossy green. Leaf and vine motifs were found throughout the room both on the furnishings and the walls. One wall boasted a lovely painting of a summer meadow. Allie could almost imagine the flowers nodding in an unseen breeze. She turned her attention to Maivelynn as the queen entered the room, Lord Nightwind at her side. Allie curtsied as Dez bowed low.

“Welcome, friends,” Maivelynn said with a smile. “Shall I have some tea or chocolate served?”

Remembering the creamy hot chocolate Grandma had somehow procured, Allie replied, “Hot chocolate sounds good, if that’s all right.”

Maivelynn laughed. “It is absolutely all right. Between the three of us, I’ve always preferred a good pot of chocolate to tea. Just something soothing about it, wouldn’t you say?” She nodded to a servant standing nearby and the servant disappeared out the door with a bow. “Now, let’s talk about why you desired this audience with me, Allie.” She motioned for them to be seated while Nightwind took his place lying next to her on the carpet. “I suppose you aren’t here with good news.”

“I’m afraid not, my queen,” Dez admitted. “We learned much today and what we learned leads us to believe the attack on Allie was a ruse.”

The servant returned with a tray laden with a gleaming silver pot, three mugs, and a plate of cookies and scones. “Thank you, Calliope,” Maivelynn said to her before turning her attention back to Dez. She served mugs of chocolate to everyone before asking, “A ruse? In what way?”

Dez related the information they’d learned at Cynthia’s apartment as well as what they’d heard at The Green Villain. “Twyla was not being fully honest with me, nothing I could charge her with, of course,” he added with a scowl, “but enough missing pieces to make her information almost useless.”

“The list of ingredients she gave you, what all was on it?” Maivelynn asked.

“All the normal things you would expect in a sleeping potion except for one. This potion, if we can trust her, had dragonbane extract in it.”

Nightwind snorted as his head jerked up. “Dragonbane? That can be lethal if not used properly.”

“Yes, which is why Twyla joked the person it was used against should still be sleeping,” Dez replied. “However, dragonbane extract and essence of nightshade typically counteract one another. If done correctly, this potion would essentially be rendered useless. It would knock Allie out for a few moments, which is what happened, but she would have woken soon enough to fight against her attackers, assuming I was not quick enough to save her myself.”

Maivelynn frowned. “This is deeply troubling. What purpose would an attempted kidnapping serve?”

“Well, it frightened the crud out of me,” Allie admitted. “And it drew attention away from the realm, and more importantly you.”

“You think the person behind this is actually interested in me?”

Dez sighed, “Everything points that way, Your Majesty.

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