The Husband Poisoning Society, Chapter 30

Duke Xander left and once he was gone, we emerged from our hiding places.

“So, this is all terrible.” Lynn said.

“We are out of options.” Fiona said. Fiona’s voice always had a flat affect to it. She spoke as though she were reading numbers from a bank statement. Now though, there was a quaver to her voice. I had never heard it before.

“There are always options.” I said. “We need to find them.”

“If I had not acted so rashly. But I could not let them harm you.” Fiona said.

“We will find a way, and -”

The world began to swirl and I staggered. A vision was arriving.

“Catch me.” I managed to say before the world went black. I could only hope that somebody did. I wouldn’t know until I woke, and then I could have a concussion.

“Your grace. The foreign duke. Something is wrong.” The voice was male with a Hyperborean accent.

“What is wrong?” That voice was Duke Xander. 

“He seems sick.” A pause. “Perhaps poison. He is vomiting.”

“Damn. Summon a doctor. Immediately.”

“Ren? Can you hear me?”

I felt the timber floor beneath my back. I opened my eyes, and then shook my head. “Unforced visions are normally longer than that. But at least it was relevant.”

Everyone clustered around me. 

“Well?” Amy asked, “What did you see?”

“I didn’t see anything. I heard a conversation. We have to hurry, it sounds like somebody has poisoned Leon. Or will shortly.”

I stared around the room. The room of the castle might have been mistaken for Ys, if not for the pillar tree banners. It reminded me of my arrival in Ossedei from Earth. Back then Ossedei had been a strange and alien world. Now it was home. And Leon was my friend. And Leon was in danger. And I wasn’t going to let Leon die. 

Everyone watched me, I reached for Amy and Fiona. “Help me up. We need to reach Leon.”

“Is that wise?” Fiona said. “We are wanted fugitives here.”

“Wise or not, I’m not letting Leon die.”

Vincent nodded. “I agree. We all go home, or nobody goes home.”

Laila’s eyes widened. “You Yssians are loyal to one another. I don’t think I would risk so much for my duke.”

“Technically, I’m Agarthan.” Vincent said with a grin. “Leon is my friend, not my duke.”

Lynn stalked a circle in the center of the room. “But what do you plan to do? Barge in sabers out?”

Fiona nodded, “I say that this is exactly what we do. Duke Xander may be responsible for the poisoning himself.”

I shook my head, “He sounded surprised at the news. If it was him, he’s an impressive actor. But I agree, we take this head on. Lynn, stay back here with Quincy. You aren’t implicated yet, We can use that later.”

Lynn shook her head. “Together. That is my Leon you’re talking about.”

“That gives up an advantage.” Fiona said.

“If he dies, I want to be by his side.” Lynn answered. 

I couldn’t argue with that. So I nodded. Fiona and Amy looked at me and nodded as well. 

Lynn turned to Monique, “Take care of Quincy. You’re our eyes and ears now.”

Monique stepped forward. “But you’re doing all this for me and my sake. I can’t sit back and let you risk your own lives.”

“And without you staying back, we have nobody on the inside who isn’t a fugitive.” I said.

Laila took a step towards Monique, “Let us help you. We want to do this for you.”

Monique reached out, and it looked as though she were going to touch Laila’s cheek. Then she  paused, and laid a hand on Laila’s shoulder. “Thank you Laila, please be careful.”

The two ladies stared at each other blushing. Neither spoke. Finally, I coughed. 

“If you’re coming with us, we need to go, Laila.”

Laila turned away and nodded. 

Fiona looked at me. “Can you walk, Beloved? After your vision, I mean.”

I leaned on my cane experimentally. My arms shook. My legs wobbled. But I remained standing. 

“I’ll manage.” I said. “Now let’s go give Duke Xander a surprise visit.”

Fiona nodded. Amy hooked arm through mine and nodded. 

We set off, and I continued to mull over our problems. My visions always happened before an event. I didn’t see visions of the past or the present. But I’d had visions mere minutes before events occurred. For all I knew, Leon had been poisoned already. For all I knew, Leon was already dead. I decided not to dwell on that thought, and failed. 

Amy helped me as we marched through the castle halls. The stone hallways sat empty. All the guards were out in pursuit of us. I didn’t know what we would do when and if we would be able to save Leon. But that was a thought for a later time. For the moment, we had to keep Leon alive.