The Master of Poisons

The Second Chance

My head felt like it would combust at any moment. The throbbing pulses of pain echoed throughout my skull, intensifying by the minute. I couldn't tell if this was from dehydration, an allergic reaction to the old hay, or the poison the Master had forced upon me the day before. All I knew was I would give anything for it to be over.

A new pulsating thump emerged from the silence. This time, the thumps came from a wooden staff against my door. "Emerge, apprentice", the Master commanded. "It is time."

I heard his staff make the same percussive punctuation against the stone floor as he walked away. I was left fumbling in the dark, trying to feel my way to the thick door to my cell... room... whatever I would end up calling this place. Eventually, I opened the door, and shielded my eyes from the sudden torrent of light.

The Master stood by the cauldron, smelling the antidote as it simmered. "Before we test this, apprentice, reflect on your symptoms. You are in between hours 13 and 15, where this poison does the majority of its dreadful deeds."

I remained silent, still struggling to see. "Well, I have an awful headache, thats one." I said.

The Master placed the long wooden spoon back in the cauldron, and hobbled over to me once more. "That is a common enough symptom. What else do you feel?"

I tried to consider his words, but the pain in my head grew more intense the longer I remained in the light. "I... I don't..."

The Master prodded me with his staff. I only realized I was on my hands and knees after he kicked my wrists out from under me, sending me crashing to the floor.

"Your cognitive and motor functions are stalling" he said, pacing a slow circle around me. "Your eye muscles are included in the relaxed muscles, unable to contract your pupils. These are all signs of the Distant Alibi poison in its 13th hour."

He stopped by the cauldron once more. "You are still within the time frame to drink this antidote and save your life for the next hour and fourty minutes. Two more symptoms are expected to emerge between then and now. Once you have identified them, we will test your antidote."

I raised my head towards the Master. "Why..."

He waved my question away before I could even ask it. "Not pertinent. Tell me your symptoms when they arise."

I tried to take a deep breath, trying to gather myself. I couldn't. "I can't... breathe..." I gasped aloud.

"Another correct symptom, apprentice." The Master praised me, while I collapsed onto the damp cold stone floor.

I tried to curse at him. This man was enjoying watching me die, torturing me for 15 hours after my failed regicide. My mouth moved, but no sound came out.

"The last symptom. Now, for the antidote." The Master hobbled to a row of bottles near the washing basin, selected one with a long narrow neck, and brought it to the cauldron. I watched as he dipped the jar into my brew, filling it around half way, and examining the contents.

As he brought the neck of the bottle to my mouth, everything faded to black