Page 78 of A Touch of Poison
Not familiar. “A circle? What could that be?” I glanced at Asher—he was older than me and might’ve heard of it.
He shook his head.
“A hoop made of ash wood?” Brynan spread their hands. “Maybe it means ring rather than circle?”
“It’s unclear.” Gael rubbed a fold of their trousers between their fingertips. “I’m working with a coded reference to a spy’s translation of an ancient scroll. It may be the scroll is clear but the person who coded the note has phrased it in an obscure way as a failsafe to keep the information secret.”
Asher grunted. “Or it may be the text is just as murky.”
The bag containing Elthea’s box sat at my feet. Was there a ring or disc inside?
I huffed and nodded at Gael. “Seems I owe you an even bigger thank you. This gives us something more to go on with our research.”
Brynan rose as I caught his eye. “I’ll put together a reading list.”
“I’m sure you can do that back in your rooms.”
My guests gathered themselves, taking my hint.
“Gael—look after yourself.” I patted them on the shoulder as I opened the door. “And maybe let Brynan look after you a little. It’s as much for him as it is for you. He thought he’d lost you.”
I could picture it. Walking in, finding Kat on the floor in a pool of her own blood, a dark figure standing over her.
Ihadseen it. Kat. No blood, but instead the sharp scent of poison surrounding her. The changeling standing over her, triumphant. My eyelids fluttered as I pulled myself back from the horror of that moment and said my goodbyes.
Once they were gone, I pulled out the box. Kat must’ve cleaned off the soot. It hummed with weak magic, but it could be warded to disguise its contents—that would explain why the Horrors hadn’t pulled apart the chimney to get at it.
It seemed too great a coincidence that Lucius was on the trail of something important and lost, just as Elthea sent me to fetch a magically locked box from Horror territory. Giving him the Circle of Ash would see her well rewarded, her influence elevated—it would give her what everyone at court wanted.
Power.
With a growl, I set off to deliver the box… and work out how to get its contents back before Elthea could take it to her king.
30
Bastian
As soon as I entered the Hall of Healing, Elthea was on me like a fly on shit.
I’d come here along the busiest route possible. If Dawn courtiers saw that I was back, word would soon spread, and with a little luck that would discourage any further attacks. Of course they’d only dared come to our side of the palace while I was away.
Her eyes lit up, skimming over me. “Do you have it?”
I kept my mouth shut and nodded into the depths of the building.
Fiddling with the pocket that held her notebook, she led me upstairs to a tidy office, as pale as her hair. “Well?” She spun as soon as the door shut behind me.
“I have your box.” I watched her as I pulled it out.
Her eyes widened as I placed it on the desk. She slid a hand over the box’s varnished surface and breathed, “Ooh.”
Kat would’ve known what her every action meant. I could only watch and deduce that she looked relieved.
With a long exhale, she smiled.
Had I fallen into some trap? Had I delivered the very thing that would allow Dawn to destroy Dusk? The rules governing bargains meant I couldn’t snatch it away right now, but there was nothing to stop me waiting outside for her to leave.
Bending over, she opened the box.
