The Husband Poisoning Society, Chapter Forty-Five: Enter Vanni

Duke Xander turned towards the door exiting the prison, when the door swung open. A man, nearly as tall and wide as Xander stepped in. He wore an elaborate embroidered tunic and pants in traditional Hyperborean style. Xander rubbed his eyes again.

“Vanni. What are you doing here?”

“I’m here to congratulate my big brother on capturing the culprits.” Vanni said, his arms wide.

Xander pushed him away. “You don’t need to be here.”

“But I want to be here. I want to see the witches who have pushed us to war.”

“There need not be a war.” Xander said. 

“Of course there must be a war. An insult such as this must be avenged. A rebellious province must be brought to heel.”

“Hyperborea will lose everything. The other nations will unite against us. We will face an invasion. A land war on our own soil.”

“No they won’t. The other nations fear us. They will sacrifice Ys, rather than risk our wrath.”

“You overestimate how much they fear us. They will not let the jewel of the Boro Sea fall. All nations trade with Ys. Agartha in particular will stand with Ys.”

“Agarthans are diplomats. They will send envoys and try to negotiate.” Vanni said with a wave of his hand. “While they are negotiating, we will march into Ys triumphant and welcomed by the common folk.”

“You think the common folk of Ys will welcome you?” I snorted. “Any common woman in Ys has more power than a duchess in Hyperborea. They will fight to the death rather than let you in.”  

Vanni shook his head. “All women crave a strong hand. Ys is full of weak men. When they see the Hyperborean male, they will accept their proper place.”

I looked at Xander. “Remember my vision. He’s going to get you killed.”

“What is she talking about?” Vanni asked, turning to Xander.

“The tall one is a seer. She saw the tribunal. Some secret society of women kills us all at the tribunal.”

“She’s Yssian, an enemy. She lied. She is afraid of dying. Women will say anything when they are in danger.”

“She was right about every other vision she told me.”

“Then she is clever. You have been tricked by foreign witches. How much you have weakened brother?”

Xander scowled.

A man in leather armor and two women wearing the same but with dresses entered the prison. Xander nodded to them. And they bowed in return. 

Xander turned to Vanni. “I am leaving. And you, Vanni, are coming with me.”

“I don’t wish to leave yet.” Vanni said.

“That was not a request.” Xander answered.

“Are you pulling rank on me brother?”

“Yes. Must I also use force to make you obey?”

Vanni considered. “No. You’d win. Fine. I’ll leave. You can win the battle. But I’ll win the war.”

They left, with the four original soldiers in tow. Leaving us with the new stranger and his companions. 

I reviewed our options. Leon is dying. They have the cure. But they have no way of getting it to him. We could tell Xander, but that feels like too much of a risk. And in any event, Xander had left. And I didn’t trust these new arrivals as far as I could through them. 

“I am Sheriff Adam Valdrson. These are my deputies.” He indicated the women.

“I’ve never seen women dressed as soldiers in Hyperborea.” I said.

“They are secretaries. But they also have the duty of searching the female prisoners.”

I winced. That wasn’t good. 

They unlocked the cell and one of the women approached. 

Fiona wore her poet’s shirt open as usual. And the deputy reached in and rustled around her waist and back. 

The deputy rustled through Amy’s bodice. The process took several minutes and Amy looked uncomfortable the whole time. 

Then the deputy approached me and began to search my bodice. 

“Buy me a drink first.” I said as she ran her hands under my breasts looking for anything.

“I found this, my lord sheriff.”

The sheriff looked at the vial with the cure and glared at us.

“More poison, no doubt. Leave it on my desk.”

“Crap.” I whispered.