The Husband Poisoning Society, Chapter 12

“Don’t let her see the body.” I said. “Hide it.”

“Where?” Vincent repeated.

“Why?” Amy asked.

I stopped, “What?”

“Why shouldn’t we let Lynn see it? We can trust her.” Amy said.

I considered it. Then nodded, “Knee jerk reaction to protect her. Let her in.”

Amy stuck her tongue out at me, then smiled. I shrugged back in response. Fiona opened the door.

Lynn looked into our room and then her eyes widened.

“You should come inside.” Fiona said.

“Yes. I should.” Lynn agreed. 

Lynn stepped into our room and we closed the door.

“You’ve had visitors.” Lynn grasped my arm and pointed. 

I nodded, “An immortal assassin sent by Duke Xander.”

“The Duke?” Lynn gasped, “I thought we could rely upon him. How do you know?”

“Amy did a reading. Duke Xander is sympathetic, but that won’t stop him from protecting Hyperborea. They think the killer is a local. They are trying to cover up the crime. And they want to frame me as the killer for a bonus.”

“Why you?”

“I killed Crown Prince Wulfric.” I said. 

“I did that.” Lynn said.

“No, you poisoned him.” Fiona said. “His own soldier delivered the killing blow.”

“It was my plan,” I said. “ It was my poison. And it doesn’t matter in any case. Hyperborea blames me for his death.”

“I gave you the silver potion.” Fiona said.

I smiled, “Yes lover. You did. But I don’t think the Hyperboreans know that. I also doubt they would care. I’m the one with the clever nickname. It’s easier to pin the blame on The She-wolf of Ys.”

Fiona paused, and then said, “I need a nickname. Fiona the Fierce? The Countess of Death? What do we think?”

“One of Wulfric’s soldiers called you a butcher, maybe we could work with that.” I said.

“Maybe we could discuss the dead and bleeding diplomatic crisis lying on your floor.” Lynn added. 

“Shouldn’t we report the attack?” Amy asked. “They didn’t send the royal guard. This wasn’t an official action by the crown or even the duke. So they don’t want to accuse you, do they?”

“They’re playing it cautious. But for how long?” Vincent asked. 

“Why play it cautious at all?” Amy asked. “What is going on? If they want to frame Ren, why not march her into the prison ahead of twenty guards?”

“Politics.” Fiona said. “This stinks of politics. Xander is trying to outmaneuver somebody else. But who? And Why?”

“Well if that’s the case, then Xander doesn’t want to arrest me yet. So let’s make the attack public. We can report the attack to him.”

“Bold.” Fiona said. “But is it wise?”

“Do we have any wise options right now?” I asked. 

“It’s not the worst idea.” Lynn said, tapping Fiona on the shoulder. “At least it forces them to react. It puts them on the back foot. I’ll go with you. They’ll be less likely to do anything rash with a baroness around. I hope.”  

“It is a plan.” Fiona agreed. “I will defer to your ladyship.”

“You don’t have to concede based on my rank Fiona. We’re friends.”

“I have no better ideas. And you are my direct superior. So I defer.”

We left the bedchamber and headed to the great hall. We couldn’t guarantee that Duke Xander would still be awake. But if he was, he would likely be in the great hall. As we walked an angry voice rolled down the corridor, echoing off the walls. 

“You were flirting with the duchess, Siggis’ widow. How dare you? She is mine.”

“She's not yours. Not yet. Not until you can manage to get the ceremony completed.”

“Bitch.”

The sound of a slap echoed off stone.

We stopped.

“Was that Laila?” Amy asked.

“And Agnar,” I added. 

“Why are we stopping?” Lynn asked. “He clearly hit her. We have to do something.”

“That’s my line.” I said, and we both started moving towards the argument. Lynn outpaced me, as I had to lean on my cane. The vision had left me weak. 

Vincent and Fiona picked up the pace to chase Lynn. Amy started to join them, But I grasped the shoulder of her cloak.

“I could use the help. I’m not moving quickly this soon after my vision.” 

Amy nodded and I wrapped an arm around her. 

We caught up to find Lynn an inch from Agnar. 

“You might be a Baroness back on your island. Here you’re a little girl.” Agnar was almost growling as he spoke. 

“If you believe that, then go ahead and hit me. See what happens.” Lynn didn’t step back.

They stared at each other.

I coughed. Agnar turned to look at us. I leaned on my cane and caught my breath. Fiona stepped past me.

“Yes. Lord Agnar, see what happens.” I knew that Fiona had no weapons beyond her hidden clasp knife. I still didn’t think much of Agnar’s chances. 

“Duke Agnar.” He said.

“Have they found the ducal signet ring then? Or did you have it all along?” I asked. 

Agnar opened his mouth and then closed it again. 

“I think that they have not found it.” Fiona said. 

Lynn tapped Agnar’s shoulder. He turned back to face her. 

“Lord Agnar, I think you should worry about the results of their investigation. What they find will determine whether you ascend to your late brother’s position as duke.”

“It is already mine.” He said.

“Is it? Then why do you sweat?  

I tapped my cane and all eyes turned back to me. “You’re afraid of what we’ll uncover if we keep looking.”

“I have done nothing wrong.” Agnar said.

“Then you have nothing to worry about.” I answered. 

“I am duke. I have nothing but the king to concern me.”

“Keep telling yourself that.” I said. 

He stepped towards me. Fiona stepped between us as he moved. He looked down at her slight frame. 

“This is not Ys. We hit disobedient women here.” He said.

“Indeed. I would like to see you try that.” She answered. 

He hesitated. 

“Yssian witches. All of you.” He turned and stalked past Laila. “I will remember this insult.”

“Um. I’m Agarthan.” Vincent called after him. 

Laila giggled at that. And turned to us, “Thank you. Your timing was impeccable.”

“Not quite,” Lynn said, tapping Laila’s cheek, “He struck you.”

Laila shook her head. “Nothing bad. Only a slap.”

“No Yssian man would do such a thing.” Fiona said. 

“Nor Agarthan.” Vincent added. 

“Why do you tolerate it?” Amy asked. 

“What else can we do?”

“According to Duke Xander, you can poison them.” I said. 

“Yes, Hyperborean women do poison their husbands. But that is a dangerous act. There are consequences if it isn’t done with a careful hand.” 

“Speaking of dangerous acts,” Vincent said. “Did I hear him accuse you of flirting with Monique?”

Laila turned crimson and looked away. “Accused, yes. It’s nonsense of course. Her grace is beautiful. But women can’t marry each other, so what does it matter?”

“That doesn’t change how you feel though, does it?” Amy asked. 

“No, it doesn’t,” Laila sighed. She caught herself and added, “Not that I have feelings for her grace.”

“What’s wrong with having feelings for Monique?” I asked. “She’s a lovely person. And pretty too.”

Laila stared at the wall, facing away from us. “Of course, her grace is lovely and pretty. I’ve spoken to her. She is charming, kind, and friendly. But we are both women and such things do not happen. So even if I did have feelings for her, which I absolutely do not, it wouldn’t matter. None of that matters. Two women do not get married.” 

“Did you know that we are engaged to be married.” Fiona said, indicating Amy and myself.

“All three of you? Together? Is that legal?”

“In Ys it is.” I answered. “Scandalous. But legal.”

“You have so much privilege in Ys. Why do men give you such liberties?” Laila asked.

Fiona shook her head. “They do not. They are not our superiors. And they are not privileges. They are our rights.” 

“To even think in such a way, I don’t know how you do it.” Laila said. “But it sounds wonderful.”

Amy raised her hand. “I’ve never thought of it as something special before. But I suppose I’ve taken it for granted, haven’t I?”

“Every society has flaws,” I said. “We have a horrible class based system with aristocracy firmly on top.”

“But that’s just the way things are dearest. Do you know any society without an aristocracy?” Amy asked. 

“But you have no slavery.” Laila said. “My house owns half a dozen slaves. It makes me sick. But their lot isn’t so different from mine. My cage is more elaborate, but still.”

“Chattel slavery is worse.” I nodded. “But class based discrimination is oppression as well. Being better than slavery is not exactly high praise.”

“You know,” Vincent said. “You don’t have to marry to have a relationship. Many ladies have had liaisons with their ladies in waiting.”

“I could be beaten or worse if I were discovered. So could her grace.” Laila paused. “Not that it would be the two of us.”

Vincent raised an eyebrow, “Of course not.”

“But what are you doing out so late?” Laila asked

We looked at each other. I made a decision, “An immortal attacked us. We are going to report it to the Duke.”

Laila brought a hand to her mouth, “But if it is an immortal, it is almost surely an agent of one of the great clans.”

“Indeed. All the more reason to report it. His grace must know that another clan is acting in his territory.”

“But what if it is Duke Xander?”

“We must trust our host, mustn’t we?” Amy said, raising her hand.

“In Hyperborea? That could get you killed.” Laila said. 

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