The Redwood Palace by M.K. Hutchins

Author:M.K. Hutchins [Hutchins, M.K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Immortal Works
Published: 2019-07-06T22:00:00+00:00

Moss caught up with me on the gravel path and let me put my arm around him for support on the hobble home.

Despite Moss’ help and my splint, by morning my ankle looked like an over-packed sausage. After tasting Lady Sulat’s breakfast, she glanced at my injury and informed me that I’d spend the morning helping Poppy arrange the many flowers from her brave sons.

However it grated, Lady Sulat was right. I couldn’t make it down the porch steps. Poppy helped me sit down on the porch between a pair of those ubiquitous redwood pillars that supported the eaves.

At least last night wasn’t a complete failure. I’d learned Lord Torut wasn’t part of Fir’s plots, either. He was simply a revolting human being. If I gathered enough such tidbits, wouldn’t the whole picture fall into place?

Osem had been right to criticize my plan. I wanted to apologize for upsetting her, but that would have to wait until the day before my trial. No doubt I’d have to resort to more hasty, ill-conceived reconnaissance before then. I needed more time. And an uninjured ankle to go with it.

But where to look next?

Poppy kindly brought me a rock to prop my foot up on. “I heard about your fall, but I didn’t realize it was that bad.”

“Oh, she had a long night,” Moss chipped in. He sat on the bottom porch step, whittling some pine. The curls of wood drifted in the breeze toward me, their scent sharp and bright.

Poppy’s eyes widened in scandal. “You went to see Bane, didn’t you?”

Frustration boiled in my chest. “No! Of course not!”

“That’s a lot of protest,” Poppy said as she added candyflowers and blue-eyed grass to her vase. “I suppose I wouldn’t want to die an unloved woman either, but you should still make it proper. Have a rushed wedding without your family and without a formal engagement ceremony like the Acting Master Chef is. I thought Bane too conscientious to treat you otherwise.”

“Bane is one of the best young men that I know! Nothing like that happened.”

“So you are fond of him?” A smile crept onto Poppy’s mouth.

My face burned. “I wasn’t with him!”

“There’s someone else?” Poppy asked, bright-eyed and eager for details.

Moss shook with silent laughter. I glared, but that made him laugh harder.

“Poppy.” I exhaled and steadied my voice. “Would you be so kind as to request some pickled garlic-stuffed cherries from the kitchen for me? I can finish your vase for you, while you’re gone.”

She looked from her magnificently displayed blooms to my half-empty vase. “Keep working on what you’re doing, all right?”

Arranging flowers. I should be following through on some plan to exonerate myself, but my mind felt like overcooked mush. The flowers stared at me. No answers here. I knew how to cook some of these, but not how to make them prettier.

“Y’know,” Moss said, “I’m glad you didn’t run away. I hate to admit it, but this may be better than knocking you down with bolas, no matter how much I like winning bets.

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