The Husband Poisoning Society, Chapter 15

Xander placed me in a cell intended for nobility. The walls stood bare. But the bed had a soft mattress and proper sheets. A chamber pot sat at the foot of the bed. And a privacy screen stood in the corner. I may have been a suspected murderer, but I was still a lady. And even in Hyperborea that mattered. 

My cell sat at the end of the hall, three other cells sat between mine and the door out of the prison. I rested my head against the bars of my cell and closed my eyes. The prison smelled of wet stone, though I’d found no puddles or mold. The cell was cold, the stone was cold. And the prison lay silent save for my own breathing. I felt alone. 

I considered my circumstances. Hyperborea hoped that Ys would sacrifice me to prevent war. I knew that Leon wouldn’t do that. But the Council of Lords might instruct Leon to do otherwise. Although that would take time. The world of Ossedei did not have a method of instant communication. Which meant that Leon held the power in the short term. 

But would his refusal to sacrifice me help or hurt Ys? And would his refusal make a difference to my fate? Hyperborea might convict and execute me over his objections. 

And in the meantime, the killer walked free. And who knew what the killer’s motives actually were. 

The creak of iron and wood stirred me from my introspection. I looked up to see Fiona and Amy. A guard led them to my cell. Amy cradled Quincy in her arms.

“Don’t be long.” The guard said and left us to speak in private.

“Hey Lovers,” I said.

Amy’s makeup had run. She had been crying. Fiona looked pristine as usual. 

“Dearest, what do we do?” Amy asked. Quincy whined along with her. 

“Hyperborea has issued its ultimatum.” Fiona said. “They insist that Ys must admit wrongdoing. That Ys must condemn you to execution or face war.”

“Which means it’s not only your life on the line,” Amy added, “Your good name and the good name of House Myrddhin is on the line.”

I chuckled. “I don’t have a good name. House Myrddhin is another matter.”

“If Ys admits to such wrongdoing, it will damage her reputation among the other nations of the Boro Sea.” Fiona said. “Ys's standing among her trading partners is at risk.”

“They want you to sign a confession.” Amy said. “If you don’t, they say that they will declare war. Do you think they’re bluffing?”

“No,” I said. “They’ll declare war either way. I’m starting to think Hyperborea killed their own Duke as a pretext to declare war on Ys.”

“Surely not?” Amy said.

“Who else? Why kill the prime suspect? None of this makes sense. What are we missing?”

The door to the prison swung open and Duke Xander marched in. His face flushed red. “What have you done?”

“I’ve done my hair.” I answered, “There isn’t much else I can do in here.”

“Lord Ari Leifson is dead, Siggis’ youngest brother. You’ve killed all the male heirs for Clan Wulfling!”

I raised an eyebrow, “This happened while I was in here?”

“Ren couldn’t have killed Lord Ari if she was in here, could she?” Amy asked.

“Indeed. Ren can see the future. She cannot teleport.” Fiona said.

“His majesty has decided that this means you must have an accomplice. I am to question you, and determine who that is.”

“And if I don’t have an accomplice?” I said.

“I am to find one. The interrogation will not be pleasant.”

“You mean that you’re going to torture me?” I suppressed a shudder. I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of knowing that he’d scared me.

His face softened. And he nodded.

“I am sorry.”