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They went down into Rojer’s wing, and Leesha pounded on the door to the chairls had claih the door, and Sikvah shouted in Krasian for theo away

Leesha frowned "Rojer," she said loudly, "run and fetch Gared If this door isn’t open by the tiet back, have him break it down" Rojer nodded and ran off

As expected, the door cracked open asunny," she said, but Leesha shoved past her into the roo Amanvah’s voice toward the privy chamber at the back of the rooain Leesha ignored her and tried the door It was locked

"Where is the key?" she de in Krasian, but Leesha had had enough She slapped the girl hard on the cheek, the crack echoing through the roo you don’t understand me!" she snapped "I’m not an idiot You say one er will be the least of your worries"

Sikvah did not reply, but the terrified look on her face made it clear she had understood

"Where Is The Key?" Leesha asked again, biting off each ith a show of teeth Sikvah quickly reached into her robes, producing it

Leesha was through the door in an instant The richly appointed privy stank of waste and vo in the incense brazier, a sickly conored the stench, going straight to A andHer hood and veils were cast aside, and her olive skin seemed almost white

"She’s dehydrated," Leesha said "Bring a pitcher of cold water and set a kettle on the fire" Sikvah ran off, and Leesha continued to inspect the girl, as well as the contents of the commode Finally, she sniffed at the cup on the vanity table, tasting the residue

"You brewed this poorly," she told Amanvah "You could have used a third as much fleshroot and still safely counteracted the blackleaf" The young da blankly as she labored for breath, but Leesha knew she heard and understood every word

She took afrolance as she filled it with the proper ht the hot water, and Leesha brewed a second potion, bidding Sikvah to hold her irl’s throat

"Open the s to blow in so pillows She’ll need to stay by the commode for the next few hours as we hydrate her"

Rojer and Gared stuck their heads in, and Leesha promptly sent them to bed She and Sikvah tended Amanvah until her insides calmed and they could carry her to the bed

"Sleep’s the best thing for you now," Leesha said, putting another potion to Amanvah’s lips "You’ll wake in twelve hours and then we’ll try to get so this?" Amanvah whispered, her accent thick like her mother’s, but every word clear "My mother would not be so kind to one who tried to poison her"

"Nor would mine, but we are not our mothers, Amanvah," Leesha said

Amanvah smiled "When next I face her, I may wish the poison had killed me"

Leesha shook her head "You’re underforcing you to marry Rojer if you don’t want to"

"Oh, but we do, mistress," Sikvah said "The handsome son of Jessum is touched by Everam First and second wives to such a man, what more could any woman aspire to?"

Leesha opened herany answer she gave would fall upon unco in the hall when Leesha finally e more than to crawl into her bed herself, but Elona stood and moved to ith her back to the stairs

"It true what Rojer says?" Elona asked "The girls tried to poison you?"