Chapter 7

Rene hurried to meeting room and asked for an audience with the king and princess. She knew this was the time Petra would be off by herself.

‘May I give a reason for this request?’

‘A fear.’ She waited a minute before the door was opened and she was allowed entrance. They were not alone, a few guards seemed to be milling around. ‘Your majesty, your highness, I’m sorry for interrupting.’

‘What’s wrong?’ The king asked quietly.

‘Lady Louisa . . . she is . . . she said that she believes that Petra is using magic on the princess.’ Before they could start talking she held up her hand. ‘I don’t believe it. Petra may be different in looks but not in heart. There’s no way she would use magic on either of you. I just thought you would . . .’ she looked at her hands. ‘It makes me fear.’

‘For us?’ Princess Rose frowned, this was the first time any of her companions had expressed any sort of concern.

‘For Petra.’

‘Thank you Lady Rene, we will keep an eye on Lady Louisa.’ Skylar was surprised to see the woman visibly relax.

‘Thank you Sire.’ She curtsied and left the room.

When the door closed Skylar motioned for one of the guards.

‘Yes sire?’

‘Have a guard on Petra at all times. Make it . . .’

‘It will be done discreetly; Petra will not even know they are there.’

‘Thank you.’ He watched the guard hurry from the room to arraign some guards.

‘Thank you Skylar.’ She grabbed his hand knowing he felt her hand tremble.

‘Sis . . . I’m sure she is safe but . . .’

‘I know.’ Rose watched him for the rest of the meeting; he was distractedly looking at the guards. ‘Relax; there will be one on her already.’

Louisa moved through the castle in the most unused halls until she arrived to the kitchens by way of a disused door. Over the last few months she had been making this trip with the excuse that she was interested in the herbs and spices that was used in the meals. But what she was truly watching was how the meals were arraigned. The kings’ and princess’s meals were made from that which everyone was served. But Petra’s was a little different, she didn't eat meat and only a few herbs were used in her meals. She like plain foods three times a week. Louisa scoffed at the idea, but it gave her the perfect opportunity.

‘Good evening everyone.’ She said in a superior voice.

‘Good evening Lady Louisa.’ The cook said with a smile that she knew was expected, she didn't like the woman but knew she had to follow orders. Her position in life depended on keeping her job as head cook and if putting up with this snippy woman was what was needed, she would just do it.

‘I see this is one of the plain days for the foreigner.’

‘Yes Lady.’ She hurried around the table and dusted Petra’s pan of soup with salt. She moved away from Louisa in case she was in a foul mood.

Louisa watched everyone as she reached into her pocket and opened a small vial unseen.

‘That woman needs to learn to at least blend in where food is concerned.’ She bent over the pan as if smelling the content as she tipped the vial. Standing up she gave the soup a quick stir, mixing in the fine white powder.

‘I really like Lady Petra; she has a way about her.’

‘That woman is no Lady, remember that.’ She hated the way the servants all called her by the title Lady, which is a title that someone was born to.

‘It is just a term of respect where Petra is concerned Lady Louisa.’ She didn't really try and disguise her feelings of this woman that invaded her kitchen at inconvenient times put her workers on edge and often made the meal late.

‘The title of Lady is not to be used by someone that is not born to it. Don’t ever let me hear you call her that again.’ Her voice was light but everyone in the kitchen heard the threat.

‘As you wish.’ She didn't call her by the title she was not allowed to use for one she liked.

‘Lady Louisa.’

‘Sorry?’ She knew what she was talking about, but enjoyed the look of annoyance that crossed her face.

‘You will call me Lady, which is my right and your privilege.’

‘Of course Lady.’ She hurried around the table and smiled at one of her workers. ‘It’s looking wonderful Karen, keep up the good work.’ Out the corner of her eye she saw a look of fury wash over Louisa’s face before she turned and bent over the pan again before giving it another stir and leaving the room. The cook watched and her stomach flipped, something was wrong. She walked over to the pan that twice had been smelt and stirred. She used a spoon to give it a slow stir, nothing looked like it had been added and it smelt the same. As she removed the spoon she walked away and tasted the soup that was still on the spoon as she reapplied the heating spell. It tasted the same. But still she was uneasy.

She wanted to ask if anyone saw her adding anything but thought better of it. There were those of the kitchen that were spies for her family. There was nothing about her kitchen that was a threat to anyone of that family so she had never bothered to get rid of them, but now she glanced at two people with a deep frown. They looked away from her and refused eye contact. Something was up and she hated not knowing what it was. She decided that she would make a new meal and replace this one. Two hours before diner she was about to start cooking Petra’s meal and stood at the table. Over the time she felt her stomach start to turn at the thought one of her favorites would be harmed by food from her kitchen. She didn't hear the person enter the kitchen behind her. She fell to the floor; the girl stood over her and called out. A young man hurried in and helped her pick up the cook and take her away.

‘She can be the one that is blamed for killing Petra.’ He said with a smile.

‘Yes, but she tasted the soup, she may not live much longer than that woman.’

‘How much did she eat?’

‘She just licked the spoon. That will teach her.’

‘She may last week’s then, a very slow and painful death. Let’s put her in her room.’

They hurried to the cooks’ room and placed her on the floor. ‘Wait.’ The woman said as she took a little of the blood from the wound and wiped it onto the side of the draws.

‘Why did you do that?’

‘It will look like she fell and banged her head. She is known as a drinker and no one will be surprised.’ She smiled as they left the room.