I am Being Poisoned

I look around the hall at the dregs of society. I call them that because they believe themselves mightier than anyone outside the castle walls. But only I am mighty. I am the queen. Nothing bests me.

I called them all here today without divulging a purpose. It's more fun that way. Keeps them guessing. Slowly, I peruse their faces. All fifteen of them. For a while, I sit in silence and listen. Listening is how I learn. Listening is how I've come to realise that I am being poisoned. Now to suck it out. 

"I am being poisoned!" I say in a low and commanding voice. "I... am being... poisoned." The second time I say it purely for dramatic effect. 

The chatter in the room lulls as soon as I close my mouth. Now they are all frightened of me. That's the way it should be. To my left, I look to the six cardinals dressed in red robes and hats. Amongst themselves they have determined Cardinal Buckley to be their king. I despise the way he wears his hat so high up on his head as though it is a crown. Patiently, I wait for him to rise. He is predictable that way.

"My queen," he inevitably says, groaning as he gets to his feet. "I for one am shocked to hear such news. Please tell us how, and whom is responsible, and they will be punished."

I smirk at the old man and flap my hand to make him sit. 

"Take his hat," I tell the guard. "Cardinal Buckley thinks himself a prince, a lord, maybe even a king."

Everyone trembles as my favourite guard, Dmitri, marches towards him and whips his hat away. 

"My queen," the old man says. "I do not hope that I am of suspicion. I would never seek to harm your majesty. I have no reason to." 

I wiggle my fingers at Dmitri and he hands me Cardinal Buckley's hat. I dangle it over a lit candle beside me and laugh as it burns into ash. 

"You are a poison," I tell him. "Do you, or do you not, seek to head up the new church? When I specifically said that I was to lead the church? This country will look to me where religion is concerned."

The other cardinals separate themselves from Cardinal Buckley, shuffling on their asses to get as far away from him as the pew will allow. Amongst the cardinals, the youngest of them laughs. 

"What's so funny?" My little brother says, jumping up from the floor beside me to address him. "Tell your queen what makes you laugh so."

The young cardinal stifles his laughter and looks to the man beside him.

"Nothing, my prince," he tells my brother. 

"Nothing?" my brother replies. "Are you not a poison too?"

I straighten my back as the young cardinal squirms.

"Well?" I say. "Confess your sins or I shall have to make Dmitri kill you."

The young Cardinal is shaking now. I can see the beads of sweat on his forehead from here. 

"I did nothing," he says with jittering breath. 

"You went against my sister's word," my brother says. "True or false? You have been secretly handing out gold to the peasants against her explicit wishes."

The young cardinal gulps. I see him look to a woman on the other side of the room. Her name is Bess, and she is married to my beloved cousin. 

"I only did it because it is what is expected of the church," he says. "Should we not practice charity?"

My brother claps his hands together loudly. 

"And there we have it," he says. " As you look to your lover on the other side of the room, it appears you have divulged more than one poison."