POISON STUDY
Chapter 1 – Valek’s POV
by: Maria V. Snyder
The
body hit the floor with a thud. After a few more convulsions, the man died with
a final breathy exhale.
Glancing
up, the Commander put the file he'd been reading down onto his neat desk. "What was wrong with this one,
Valek?"
"He'd
grown sloppy and lazy. If only he'd taken his time, he wouldn't have
died." Valek stood and grabbed the tray.
"I'll get you some fresh breakfast."
"And
train a new food taster. You'll have to take over the job until the next taster
is ready. It's risky."
"Only
if you don't know what you're doing." Valek stepped over the body.
"And
have someone dispose of Oscar's body."
"It's
Oscove...or it was."
"Just
get it done."
"Yes,
sir."
"And
don't play around with the next guy. Train him quick."
Valek
paused at the threshold. "Her. The next person scheduled for execution is
female."
"The
one who murdered General Brazell's son?" The Commander's voice held a
weary indulgence. "You just can't leave that one alone. Can you?"
"There's
more going on with her and I need to find out what it is."
"Brazell
won't be happy."
"I'm
counting on that."
"Just
make sure it doesn’t affect my meetings with him."
"Yes,
sir." Valek wove through the maze of desks and clusters of officers in the
throne room. But his thoughts were on the prisoner who was going to be offered
the choice—execution or become the Commander's new food taster.
Only
two people have chosen the noose since the Commander had taken over the
Territory of Ixia fifteen years ago. Both had been loyal to the assassinated
King of Ixia and chose death over working for the Commander. The rest had hoped
to escape and, when they learned it was impossible, turned corrupt or lazy or
both. Oscove had been selling secrets to their enemies, which Valek as the Chief
of Security for Ixia tolerated until the risks outweighed the benefits.
Valek
brought the Commander a clean plate of eggs then he arranged for the removal of
Oscove's body before sending an agent to fetch the next prisoner on death row. Returning
to his office, he cleared the files off the extra chair and settled at his
desk. A breeze blew from the open window behind him and mid-morning sunlight
warmed his back—the one perk of wearing an all-black uniform—otherwise it was
bloody hot.
Opening
a dossier, he scanned the information on the prisoner. Yelena had been in the
dungeon for almost a year. She was eighteen years old when she slit Reyad's
throat with a knife, killing him. Valek noted that Reyad had been found on the
bed in his room. The sheets soaked with his blood. The most obvious explanation—rape
didn't quite fit. For one, she admitted to the murder, but didn't say why she
killed him. Not that it mattered why to the Commander. He didn't tolerate
homicide from the citizens of Ixia. Self-defense, accident, or pre-meditated—they
all resulted in the same sentence. Death.
But
it irked Valek. He wanted...no he needed
an explanation. She had been one of Brazell's orphans. Raised with others who
lost their parents, educated and doted on—if he believed the snide comments
from the other Ixian generals. Why would she repay his kindness and generosity
by murdering his only son? Something strange was going on with Reyad and
perhaps Brazell as well. Valek hoped to find out.
Before
Yelena arrived, Valek decided to downplay his interest in the circumstances
surrounding her incarceration—act as if he didn't care as long as she performed
her job.
A
light tap on his door announced the arrival of two dungeon guards, escorting
the prisoner. They approached his desk. As Yelena scanned his office, Valek
studied the sorry sight in front of him. Coated with muck, bleeding from
various scrapes, wearing a tattered prison gown, the poor thing strained to
remain upright under the weight of the chains hanging about her. The acrid
dungeon stench wafting off her polluted the air. He hadn’t expected her to be
so…bedraggled and pathetic. She wouldn’t survive the first test.
Valek
met her gaze. An icy calm stared back at him—almost as if challenging him. Interesting.
“A woman? The next prisoner
to be executed is a woman?” He used his most severe tone while pretending to be
surprised.
The poor thing quivered and
Valek felt a pang of guilt for being so harsh. Softening his voice, he said, “I
should have taken the time to reread your dossier.” Valek discharged the guards with a wave.
“You’re dismissed.” After they left, he motioned for Yelena to sit down on the
chair before she fell over.
Her chains jangled when she
sat.
He flipped open her file
and feigned reading the information. “Yelena, today may be your lucky day.”
Valek spotted a brief flare of anger before she bowed her head. She probably
thought he referred to her impending execution. He had various reactions to
that comment from the other food tasters. Most raged at him, thinking they had
nothing left to lose. A couple picked up on the “may be” and allowed a glimmer
of hope to show through.
“Well behaved and
respectful. You’re starting to look like a good candidate,” he said, trying to
goad her into a response.
Still avoiding his gaze,
she studied the items on his desk instead of reacting to his comment.
He switched tactics.
“You’ve been tried and found guilty of murdering General Brazell’s only son,
Reyad.” Valek paused and stoked his temple as if suddenly making a
realization. “That explains why
Brazell’s here this week, and why he has been unusually interested in the
execution schedule.”
Finally, the woman reacted,
but not quite as expected. There was fear. However her body stiffened
in…determination. Would she try to plead for her life?
“I suppose you’re going to
protest the conviction. Say you were framed or you killed out of self-defense.”
Valek leaned back, waiting.
“No, sir.” Her voice
rasped. “I killed him.”
Completely surprised, he
straightened. He didn’t know whether to be impressed or disappointed she didn’t
try to explain her actions. Either way, she managed to amaze him—something only
a few people have done. Valek laughed. “This may work out better than I’d
planned. Yelena, I’m offering you a choice. You can either be executed, or you
can be Commander Ambrose’s new food taster. His last taster died recently, and
we need to fill the position.”
Yelena stared at him in
shock. “A fool would refuse the job.”
“Well, it’s a lifetime
position. The training can be lethal. After all, how can you identify poisons
in the Commander’s food if you don’t know what they taste like?” Valek paused to
let the information sink in and to see if she’d jump in with questions. When
she didn’t, he continued, “You’ll get a room in the castle to sleep, but most
of the day you’ll be with the Commander. No days off. No husband or children.
Some prisoners have chosen execution instead. At least then they know exactly
when they’re going to die, rather than guessing if it’s going to come with the
next bite.” He snapped his teeth together for effect.
Valek knew her thoughts were
whirling by the way she trembled.
“Who tastes the Commander’s
food now?” she asked.
Interesting question. Was
she still stunned or was she smarter than he thought? “I do. So I’m anxious to
find a replacement. Also the Code of Behavior states that someone whose life is
forfeit must be offered the job.”
Yelena stood as if unable
to keep still. She dragged her chains with her as she explored his office.
Valek wondered what she was thinking. He hoped she’d take the position.
She faced him, and he
asked, “What shall I tell the executioner?”
“I am not a fool.”
No she wasn’t. Not all all.
Valek suppressed a grin, getting to know her was going to be an enjoyable challenge.
