Kings Game

Chapter 17 - Blood debt (4)

They turned and started heading back to the apartment. The further into the city they got, the more crowded it became. Roran was forced to dodge between people, while Kell just walked through them, scowling at anyone that didn't get out of her way fast enough.

"Why are there so many people out?" Roran asked.

"It's part of the festival," said Karyn. "That's why they're holding the Iron Gauntlet in the first place. It's the anniversary of the Crucible's construction, so they're holding a little festival week. The big party will be after the final fight and everyone will be out celebrating."

Making it back to the apartment building, Kell handed Roran her spear and proceeded to carry Karyn up the stairs in her arms. Karyn acted offended but she was blushing as Kell cradled her against her chest. Kell only put Karyn down once they were safely back inside the apartment.

Kell went about gathering mugs for wine while Karyn dropped onto the couch, pouting.

"Will someone please tell me what's going on now?"

"Morena threatened to kill you," said Roran, sitting down at the table. "He was trying to goad me into a fight and was using you as bait."

"Oh," said Karyn, the color draining from her face. "I mean, he's been rough with me before but he's never... I mean, there's always been a line."

"That line is gone," said Kell, placing a mug of wine in Karyn's hands. "You'll be staying close to me until that bastard is lying in a pool of his own blood."

"So that's why you two are staying close to me? To protect me from Morena?"

"That's why I'm keeping close to you, I don't actually know what's up with Roran. He wasn't supposed to show up until tomorrow."

"Some stuff happened and I need another favor," said Roran, pulling out the small satchel. "Our town leader nearly got himself killed trying to sneak out of the dungeons." Roran left out the embarrassing part where his childhood friend had facilitated the stupid plan by stealing his marker medallion. "He was hoping to give Morena a dose of this stuff."

"What is it?" asked Nul, coming out of the workshop, the smell of smoke and burnt flesh following them. Their clothes were slightly disheveled and they were pulling their gloves back on.

"I think it's poison," said Roran. "It's a powder and I'm pretty sure it's made from the herbs you got me the other day."

Nul frowned. "It was a pretty strange collection of herbs, though I'm afraid I don't know which ones are necessarily poisonous."

Rising from the couch, Karyn came over to examine the pouch. "Let me see, I'm pretty good with this stuff. Just be careful when you open it."

Roran pulled at the satchel but the strings were knotted closed. He started digging at them with his fingernails.

"Do you know a lot about poisons?" Nul asked Karyn.

"A fair bit. I'm no apothecary but I've studied a lot of different herbs and potions. You?"

"Not poisons or potions," said Nul, "But I use a lot of herbs and rare ingredients in my etchings. I know what most things are, if not their specific uses."

"Sounds like you got the perfect team here," said Kell, pouring herself some more wine and lounging on the couch. "Though I doubt you'd be able to poison Morena. He's paranoid and pays people to watch his back for him. Plus, if you got caught drugging a champion to sway a fight you'd be executed."

"I wasn't planning on poisoning him," said Roran, attacking the knot from a different angle. The knot had turned in itself, locking the string in place. "Despite what my people think, I'm not actually dumb enough to go along with Murrn's plans."

"Your people don't seem to treat you very well," said Nul.

Roran shrugged. "I'm the son of a whore and they all think I'm their bastard child, or their late husband's bastard child. They wish I didn't exist. It sucks but you get used to it."

"You said it's a powder made from herbs?" asked Karyn, attempting to change the topic.

"Yeah, I just need to get the damn bag open." Roran grunted and pulled on the string, trying to undo the knot. It started slipping. "Almost got it. A little more."

Forcing his fingernails into the satchel, Roran twisted and pulled hard. The knot remained stuck, but the bag ripped wide open and a cloud of powder flew into the air. Karyn threw herself backwards, covering her mouth. Kell bolted upright but was too far away to do anything. Roran clapped both hands around the bag, preventing more powder from spilling out.

Acting in an instant, Nul snapped their fingers and pointed. A gust of wind whipped through the room, pushing the finely ground herbs away from everyone. Kell leaped from the couch to the window, throwing it open. Twisting their hand, Nul sent the gust of wind out the window, pushing the powder outside. With a gesture, Nul reduced the gust of wind to a gentle breeze.

"You have it?" they asked.

Roran nodded.

"Here." Karyn downed the rest of her wine and came up beside Roran. "Open your hands and put the bag on the table."

Moving slowly, Roran put the bag on the table and removed his hands. Karyn slammed her mug over it, effectively sealing the powder inside.

With another gesture, the breeze stopped and all was calm in the apartment.

"Nobody breathed any in, did they?" asked Nul.

In response, Roran sneezed.

Everyone stared at Roran. Roran twitched his nose, feeling another sneeze coming on. He wanted to rub his nose but his hands were covered in the powder.

"I uh..."

"Sink, now," said Kell.

Roran moved to the sink where Kell began pouring water over his hands, washing the powder away. Kell pulled a knife and sliced a sliver of soap off and dropped it in Roran's open palms.

"Scrub thoroughly, rinse, then scrub again," said Kell. "The soap should break up any oils that were in the herbs and leave you clean. Toss the soap when you're done."

While Roran scrubbed his hands, Nul and Karyn carefully removed the powder from under the mug. Nul produced a bag and sealed the powder inside.

"We can examine it in the workshop," said Nul, "I should have everything we need."

"I'll help," said Karyn. "We need to work quickly."

The two of them disappeared into the workshop, the door closing behind them. Kell tossed Roran a rag to dry his hands.

"Do you think you breathed any in?" asked Kell.

In response, Roran sneezed again, this time into the rag. Grimacing, he held it up for Kell to see. Roran's snot had the same dark tinge as the powder.

"Well shit."