Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 101336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 507(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 507(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
He approached, keeping his eyes on her. “Did you find something?”
She glanced up at him. “Your healer, do you have one? She would be of help to confirm what I suspect.”
“Verina died shortly after my father. I am currently searching for a new one. Why? What have you found?” He stretched his hand out to help her to her feet.
Sky grasped onto his hand, enjoying the comforting feel of his strong touch, and held onto him a bit longer than she should have, but neither did he let go of her.
Wrinkles spread across Sky’s brow. “That is odd that she should die not long after your da. Was she ill or simply old?”
“She was not old or young, though she was frail at times. But what is it you found?”
Sky pointed to a green sprout in the ground. “The odor alerted me, though it has yet to grow strong. But if I am not mistaken that is nightshade, a deadly plant that could have been used to poison your father and perhaps your healer as well. Could someone in the clan have poisoned your da?”
“I don’t believe so. They all would fear the consequences of such a betrayal.”
“But this plant is one you would find in a healer’s garden, not the keep’s kitchen garden.”
“So, a healer would know how to use it?” he asked.
“Aye, a healer would know how deadly it could be if not used properly. How long had your healer been with you?”
“A year at the most. She was here when I returned from a battle and seemed pleasant enough, though she kept her distance from me and my men. We are trained to tend to our wounds and each other’s wounds, so we had no need for her.”
His brow narrowed and she asked, “You have a puzzling thought.”
“Rory, the liar, told me that the man boasting about poisoning my father did so without even meeting him. I wonder if he got Verina to poison my da and she accidentally poisoned herself in doing so?”
“I suppose that is possible. With your father’s illness worsening over several days, it seems unlikely that it was someone passing through who sought shelter for only a night or two.”
“Not likely at all since anyone seeking shelter is not allowed inside the gates. They are welcome to shelter in the village outside the gates but only clan members are allowed beyond the gates.”
“Did he entertain other nobles or chieftains in the Great Hall or in his solar?”
“He did, but none that I would suspect and none that I haven’t already questioned. The fear in their eyes alone while talking with me confirmed what I suspected, none had a reason nor the courage to take my father’s life.”
Sky could only imagine the fear of the men Slayer had questioned. They knew what he was capable of, what horrible revenge he would inflict on whoever was responsible for his da’s death. She doubted any one of them would take such a terrifying chance.
Though that had not been her reason for asking. “Would any one of them have hired someone to do the deed?”
“I doubt it since they would know that when I caught the person, I would make sure to get the truth out of him.”
“Not if the person was dead,” she said.
He was impressed with her questions, for the thought had crossed his mind as well. “As I told each one of the men who I questioned… there is always a link, and I promised them that I would find it.”
Sky’s concern to solve the mystery of his da’s death grew, realizing that if his da could be poisoned so easily so could he and that realization upset her.
“Did your da die quick or did he linger in death?” she asked.
“It was several days before the healer realized it was not an illness that he suffered from but that he had been poisoned.” His brow narrowed again. “Though come to think of it, it was Euniss who suggested my da might have been poisoned, not the healer.” A puzzling look settled in his eyes. “I wonder why Euniss suspected poisoning when the healer hadn’t.”
“You cannot think Euniss had anything to do with your father’s poisoning?”
“I will not disregard anything,” he said.
She tilted her head in question. “Do you trust anyone?”
“Few. Lies fall far too easily from tongues especially when the lie can prove beneficial. Greed can tempt the most virtuous soul.”
“And the most desperate and neither apply to Euniss,” Sky said and looked past him. “Shall we find out?” She waved, seeing the woman, and called out, “Euniss, a moment, please.”
Slayer turned, ready to summon the woman with a snap of his hand but she was already walking toward them.
“Do you need help, Sky?” Euniss asked when she reached them.
Slayer kept tight rein on his annoyance that his wife was not shown the respect due her as his wife, being addressed properly as Lady Sky, even if it was for her own protection. He was impatient to see this matter settled so she could take her rightful place as his wife.