The Peace Offering

Kouen: Chapter 18

As I left Sindri in my room I instructed a group of five gaurds to not let anyone in. I walked back to the bathing room and had everyone leave. How did the attacker get in and how did nobody noice them? I pondered these questions, but couldn't come up with an answer. I stepped back out into the hall. There were no maids around to fetch him, so I resorted to my voice.

"Koumei! Get over here now!" I shouted. My loud voice resonated throughout the halls and corridors. Soon my brother Koumei arrived.

"What do you want? I was about to feed my pidgeons." Koumei sighed as he rested against the wall.

"Sindri was just attacked. Somebody tried to drown her while she bathed. I need your help to figure out how and why they did it."

Koumei's eyes widened and he quickly entered the bathroom. His nose crinkled at the sweet aroma in the air. I let out a yawn suddenly, which surprised me. Koumei looked over at me sharply. I knew an idea was forming in his head, I followed him as he walked over to where the aromatic incense was burning. As soon as he saw the light pink smoke coming from the incense he placed his sleeve over his mouth and nose.

"Don't breathe this air." He warned as he smothered the incense. I placed my sleeve over my mouth and nose as well. It was obvious Koumei wanted to tell me something but he was being cautious of listening ears. I led him back to my office where I knew we would not be overheard.

"What is it?" I asked as soon as I closed the office door.

"That incense burning in the bathing room was Dymer bark. It's used by doctors to put patients to sleep. Someone was deliberately trying to put Sindri to sleep. That incense is usually only available to doctors and is hard to find in the common marketplace."

I banged my fist on the table. Whoever was behind this obviously wanted Sindri dead and the treaty annulled. This strengthened my resolve to keep Sindri safe and the treaty in place.

"Koumei, I need you to do something. Gather a team and investigate this matter. I want to know who is behind this." I stated as I collected some paperwork to take back to my room. Koumei sighed at the addition of more responsibility, but I wouldn't give the task to anyone else. The palace has always been a dangerous place of scheming and cunning plots, but as this directly involves my personal life and bloodline, I can not let it go. This time, it's personal.

I left Koumei in my office and went back to my room where Sindri was sleeping. Now that I knew about the Dymer incense it was explainable how easily she was able to fall asleep after such a traumatic experience. Her hair was still wet and had made a large wet patch on the bed. Grabbing a towel I began to gently dry her hair. While I was drying her hair I noticed my hands were shaking slightly, it had finally sunk in that someone had tried to kill her. My throat constricted at the thought of losing her. We had only been married for a day, but already I was willing to do anything for her.

Placing a gentle kiss on her forehead I went over to my desk to work on some paperwork. After a few minutes I placed my pen down. My back was to Sindri and it was making me anxious. As quietly as I could I turned the desk around so that I had full view of the bed. Smiling slightly I picked my pen back up and went back to work. 

Hey everyone! Happy Fourth of July for those who live in America! Have fun with fireworks, but remember to stay safe. I want to thank everyone who have been leaving comments and votes, they really give me motivation to continue writing. :)

Also, shameless self promotion: I have a new story out called RavenShadow. It's a fantasy adventure novel based in a world I made with my friend Aspentrix. The world is known as Panarix and will have several novels, connected and unconnected, based in it. Please check it out of you might be interested and tell me what you think.