Page 24 of Tanglewood Magic (The Three Sisters 2)
She shook her head. “I have reason to believe that Eleanor wants this meeting to happen a bit too much. Her enthusiasm unsettles me.” She pulled a roll of parchment from her bag and handed it to Circe.
“TheDaily Dragon?” Circe read aloud from the newspaper. “The Eyes and Ears of Paragon.” Her eyes skimmed the headline article. “Return of Royalty: Heir Apparent Plans to Challenge Brynhoff for the Throne.”
“Look at the date,” Medea said.
“This morning.” Circe frowned. “Before you sent your falcon?”
Medea nodded. “Eleanor must have leaked this to their press. Very few knew Tavyss’s identity before yesterday. This was an attempt to force his hand. If he hadn’t intended to challenge Brynhoff, this article would have been enough to send rumors flying all over Ouros. Eleanor is orchestrating every move we make, and I just don’t trust her.”
Rhys scoffed, reading over Circe’s shoulder. “I don’t either. This isn’t just manipulative. She’s gained control of the narrative. This makes it sound as if Tavyss is the one demanding his place in the kingdom and threatening violence if he doesn’t get his way. Ironic, considering the truth. Eleanor invited—no, forced his decision using the old law. She said the Council of Elders agreed with her interpretation of that law. None of that is even in this article. This makes it sound like you’re behind this, Medea, as if you want it to gain political power.”
“Yes. But there’s more.” She sighed. “I’m concerned that someone in Darnuith is working with her.”
“What? Who?” Circe bristled.
Medea held up a hand. “It’s a theory, really. It just doesn’t add up why Lazys attempted to kill me if what Eleanor wanted was for Tavyss to rule by her side. She knew I was pregnant. How long had she known? And she knew that Tavyss was the former heir apparent to Paragon, despite our efforts to keep his identity secret. She knew all this long before we arrived in Paragon. There was no surprise on her face. She’d already discussed his existence with the Council of Elders. She’s known all this time. Which means someone from Darnuith is in league with her.”
“I thought we already knew it was Lazys,” Circe said. “Eleanor must have cursed him to do her will.”
“Maybe.” She sighed. “But again, then why poison me? And, as Rhys questioned before, who made the poison? Dragons are not adept at such things. Although Eleanor likely has a witch in her employ, it’s such a strange move given her next one.”
“I agree,” Rhys said. “The choice of poison suggests someone with in-depth knowledge of the flora of Rogos. There’s no way Lazys refined it. Someone gave it to him to give to you and cursed him to kill himself rather than give up the true perpetrator.”
Medea nodded. “Which is why, this time, I need you two and Isis to stay here. Keep your eyes open. We’ve told no one our plans. With your ears to the ground, perhaps you can learn who in Darnuith wants us dead.”
“I worry about you,” Circe said. “It’s not safe for you and Tavyss to go alone. What if you are poisoned again?”
Medea ran a hand over the small mound of her stomach. “There are benefits to being mated to a dragon. Last night, Tavyss fed me his tooth.”
“Histooth.”Circe bristled. “Why?”
“Dragon’s teeth hold magical properties. He’s bound this body to his immortality. I can’t be killed as long as he lives. It’s a dragon’s oldest and strongest inherent magic. Aside from beheading, I can’t be killed.”
Circe exchanged looks with Rhys. “Are you sure about this magic?”
Medea drew her wand from her sleeve and, with a whispered incantation, dragged it across her hand. A deep cut parted her skin. Circe watched the blood pool in her palm. But then, like a miracle, the wound started to heal. She stared in wonder as the blood was drawn back inside, the skin knitting together, bright pink, then silver, then as if the cut had never happened.
“Fates’ fury,” Rhys mumbled. Circe exchanged glances with him. She’d never seen anything like this.
“So, will you help me? Will you be my spies in Darnuith while I’m away?” Medea asked.
“Of course. We’ll get to the bottom of this, Medea.”
She nodded. “I hope so. Because I fear the person who tried to murder me and my son still walks among us, and soon I will not be in a position to bring them to justice.”
ChapterTwelve
After Medea and Tavyss had left for Paragon, Rhys and Circe had agreed to divide and conquer. While Circe watched his apothecary, Rhys planned to visit Viktor Franwise and find out if anyone else had access to the gila vine on his property. When he returned, Circe would go to the market and listen for wagging tongues that might give them clues as to who was behind Medea’s poisoning.
Rhys landed his broom at the edge of Viktor Franwise’s property. He was a good mile from the front door of the man’s farmhouse, but it was never a good idea to fly over another witch’s sheep. Doing so was practically asking to be hit with a petrification spell.
He started up the drive toward the red farmhouse on foot. The air around him thickened as he drew near, and Viktor materialized in front of him, a smile spreading across his graying features when he saw who had set off his wards.
“Ah, Rhys. Tell me you have good news. I lost another sheep last night to the ivy!”
Rhys held up his apothecary basket. “Have it here, my friend. Enough antidote for you to cure half your herd if you needed to, along with a tonic that should keep the growth at bay.”
The elderly man whooped and thumped Rhys on the back. “I knew you and Circe could do it. If you don’t mind hearing it, people told me not to trust Bloodgood’s with a Tanglewood sister working there, but they don’t know a damn thing! Ya ask me, if the sisters are so powerful, it would do a body good to have them on our side.”
