Page 19 of The Broken Elf King
He watched me intensely. “Should I?”
I popped an almond covered green bean in my mouth and moaned, then I set the fork down and grabbed a clean one, cutting into the sweet potato pie.
“Maker have mercy on my soul,” I cooed as the sweet maple syrup splashed across my tongue.
The king’s eyes bored into me so deeply then that I straightened a little, wondering if I was doing something wrong.
“And the roll?” I asked, clearing my throat.
He swallowed hard and nodded. I tore off a small piece and chewed it, making no noise for fear I was breaking some royal protocol. I had manners, but probably notnoblemanners.
“I would like to enjoy food as much as you do,” he said wistfully, and my stomach dropped.
He feared every meal would be poisoned? What an awful way to live. “My lord, do you really think Queen Zaphira would try that again?” It was a serious question. I knew the queen actively wanted to wipe out all of the magical races, especially their kings, but to poison again? It seemed too obvious.
His eyes narrowed, and he stared at me like I was a complete simpleton. “Why do you think I am in need of a new taster?”
I froze, the hairs on my arms raising. “The other one is getting married?” I hedged.
He looked at me point blank. “That was my assistant. My former taster is dead. Once a year since I was crowned, QueenZaphiratries to kill me. I never know when it’s coming so it always keeps me in an active state of worry, which I’m sure is her intention. Always a flavorless, scentless poison that I cannot detect until my taster is dead.”
Pure terror gripped me and I swayed on my feet, swallowing hard. “Are… are you not able to heal them?”
He sighed. “Poison is a tricky thing to heal. I have to take enough into myself to filter and allow the other person’s healing to kick in, but not so much that I myself become ill. Impossible to do blindly with a scentless, tasteless poison. Whatever she is using isn’t something we grow here.”
And just like that I wanted to be assigned to dishwashing.
“Sir, I recommend we find a new taste tester immediately.”
He chuckled, and then just looked sad. “As you can imagine, not many want the job, but I’ll keep looking.”
Zaphira was still actively trying to poison him after keeping him alive all those years ago? That was some seriously psychotic behavior.
“Feeling okay? I am quite hungry,” he asked. I checked my pocket watch. It had been two minutes and I felt fine other than the sense of impending doom pressing in on me.
“I’m fine. Enjoy your meal, sir.” I curtsied, taking my plate and leaving him be.
As I reached the door he called out to me: “Kailani? When we’re alone you can call me Raife.”
I smiled, trying to see that as a good thing, but all I could think about was that I’d taken a five-year job post that I might not even live a year to see. First thing tomorrow I was interviewing for new tasters.
