Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 119158 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 596(@200wpm)___ 477(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119158 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 596(@200wpm)___ 477(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
I glanced over at Nylian and the elf appeared as confident as always, not showing any signs of discomfort or worry. The sneak even smirked at me, as if he knew I was panicking.
I tried to talk myself down from my mental ledge. I’d faced his uncle, who was a far better swordsman, and survived with my dignity intact. Sort of. This should be nothing. I could handle a few snakes.
Just as Nylian was lifting his hand to use the large metal-ring doorknocker again, the massive wooden door creaked open and golden light spilled out across us like a warm beacon of hope. Except that beacon was leading us to a woman who specialized in snakes and poisons.
A short, balding man with a bland, expressionless face and an impeccable livery of black and silver stepped into the opening. He bowed his head at us. “My apologies, sirs, but Lady Covington is not welcoming guests this evening.”
“Good evening. Please extend our apologies to Lady Covington for this intrusion,” Nylian said. “But Prince Xeran Elrich of Wolfrest and Prince Victor Montcroix of Edros request a brief audience with the duchess.”
The butler’s half-closed eyes popped wide and a flush rose to his pallid cheeks. He stood there with his lips moving, but no sound was coming out. Clearly, the arrival of two foreign princes was enough to break his brain.
“Yes, please come in,” he managed at last. He stepped aside and opened the door wider, motioning for us to enter. We followed him into a small but nicely decorated parlor, where he paused long enough to light some candles before leaving us to alert his employer.
“This is a good start,” I said, clinging to a positive.
“Mn,” Nylian grunted, gazing about the room while remaining in the center. “There are a lot of snakes in this house.”
I stopped my wandering and edged closer to the elf. “How can you be sure?”
“I can smell and hear them.”
“They’re in cages, right?”
Nylian flashed me a broad smile. “No.”
There was no point in voicing my hope that it was only the nonvenomous snakes that she allowed to roam free in her home. That was silly, though I now had questions about how the servants worked every day in this place without constantly worrying about being bitten. Were the snakes that well trained? Or did the servants rely on a steady diet of antivenom to remain alive?
“Just remain close to me and you’ll be fine,” Nylian reassured. He attempted to slide his arm around my waist, but I jumped away from him at the first touch. Yeah, now I was super paranoid. It was bad enough that I was afraid of snakes, but add in flying, deadly venomous ones and I was lucky to be conscious.
I almost wept with joy when the butler returned a short time later to show us to the rear of the house. We entered a giant glass conservatory that rose more than two stories in the air. Most of the enormous room was filled with trees and plants, while a stone path wove through the large fern fronds and palm leaves. The soft, distant splash of water created a peaceful atmosphere. The only thing that was a bit creepy was the regular movement of the leaves, despite there being no breeze. There were definitely snakes in this room.
Closest to the entrance were several high wooden tables and shelves covered in glass vials and other containers, reminding me of a chemist’s workplace. Was this where the duchess harvested the venom to make her poisons and antidotes? At the very least, it seemed like a peaceful place to work, if you didn’t mind being surrounded by snakes. But considering her chosen profession, I was going to assume she didn’t mind at all.
Minutes later, a stunningly young and beautiful woman swept into the conservatory, wearing a long, elegant black gown that revealed creamy pale shoulders and a long, swanlike neck. She had an adorable heart-shaped face with hypnotic dark eyes that glittered in the flickering lamplight. At a guess, she appeared as if she couldn’t be more than twenty years old, possibly even younger. This was the accomplished King’s Poison Maker of Lockeheim?
Her tiny smile grew even wider when her gaze settled on me. “You look surprised?”
“You’re so young.” The words tumbled out before I could stop them.
Bright, tinkling laughter slipped from her lips, and she clasped her dainty hands together in front of her bosom. “I am. The youngest poison maker in all of Lockeheim. Certainly, the youngest to be named the King’s Poison Maker.”
“And I’m sure that will give you ample time to become the most accomplished King’s Poison Maker in all of Lockeheim’s long history,” Nylian said smoothly. “It is a great honor to meet you, Lady Covington. I am Prince Xeran Elrich of Wolfrest, and my companion is Prince Victor Montcroix of Edros. We apologize for showing up on your doorstep so late in the evening.”