A Fool's Tale

Chapter 33 - A Risky Plan

Talia pulled away, her lips twisted in disgust. She made a shooing motion. I turned around, picking my way back along the passage. When we arrived outside Talia's bedroom she checked the peephole then pulled the lever for the panel. There was a click, and she pushed open a section of the wall.

"Come on. We need to figure out what to do," she said, as we emerged into her room.

"What do you mean? Shouldn't you just tell your parents?"

Talia hesitated. "I'm not sure they'll believe me." She sneered. "That slimy advisor has been giving my parents counsel since I was a baby. They trust him with every aspect of the kingdom."

She took on a kingly pose, "I don't know what we'd do without Serpen Rose. Castle Brimstone would fall apart." Talia spoke in a deep voice, a near perfect imitation of King Roland. "I've heard it a million times."

The impersonation was so good that I would have laughed had the situation not been so serious.

"Can you at least warn him not to drink anything at the feast?" I pleaded.

"Maybe, but I'm worried he'll brush off my concerns. Anyways, even if he doesn't drink anything, Serpen would still be a threat, waiting for a different opportunity to kill my father." Talia paused. She seemed to be shuffling through her options. "Will you be entertaining at the feast?"

"I don't know if Gilles was planning to ask me, but I can convince him that I'm ready." I hoped my body had healed enough to perform, but it didn't matter one way or another. If the king's life was in danger, I would find a way to be at his side.

"Do you think between the two of us we can watch Serpen, and if he does poison my father's cup, we can dump it on the floor or something like that?"

I didn't like the idea. It seemed to me we were taking a great risk with King Roland's life. "I don't know. I'll be performing and you'll be talking to the guests. There are so many things that could distract us."

Talia nodded. "I know, but here's the problem. If I go to my parents, they're going to ask me for details. As soon as I accuse Serpen, I don't think they're going to believe me. If I don't give them a name, again, they're not going to believe me." She clenched her fists, frustrated. "If only there was a way we could get them to overhear the conversation we just heard."

I couldn't think of any sort of magic that would recall conversations, but the kernel of an idea sprouted in my mind. "Master Isidor has truth potions."

"That's great, Gael. Problem solved. I'm sure Serpen will be happy to drink one for us," Talia responded sarcastically. Regret flashed across her face after the words spilled from her mouth. "Sorry, I'm just angry about the whole situation. I didn't mean to be so nasty."

"It's fine. Actually, I was thinking that we could do exactly what he's trying to do to your father. When he's distracted, I'll slip some of the truth potion into his cup."

"Hmm, that sounds fitting," Talia mused.

"But if this is our plan, we have to be extraordinarily vigilant. We can't let the king take even one sip from any potential lethal drink."

"I know. He is my father after all. I'll smash every cup on the table if I even suspect I've missed something."

I sighed. "Fine, I'll get the truth potion, and I'm pretty sure I can figure out a way to get it into Serpen's cup during my performance."

"Okay, it's settled then."

"I guess so."

We stood still for a moment, as if we were afraid to separate and set our risky plan into motion.