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When I regained my co two drinks An opened wooden cabinet revealed rows of odd-shaped bottles and multicolored jars stacked inside Valek placed the bottle he was holding into the cabinet and locked the door

"While we’re waiting for Margg, I thought oblet filled with an aoblet, he made a toast "To Yelena, our newest food taster May you last longer than your predecessor"

My goblet stopped short of my lips

"Relax," he said, "it’s a standard toast"

I took a long swig The shtly as it slid downto rebel This was the first ti other than water Then it settled

Before I could question him as to what exactly had happened to the previous food taster, Valek askeda smaller portion, I replied, "Peaches sweetened with honey"

"Good Now take another sip This ti"

I complied and was surprised to taste a faint citrus flavor "Orange?"

"That’s right Now gargle it"

"Gargle?" I asked He nodded Feeling foolish, I gargled the rest of es!"

The skin around Valek’s eyes crinkled as he laughed He had a strong, angular face, as if someone had stamped it fro me his drink, he asked me to repeat the experi the faint orange taste Bracing led Valek’s drink and was relieved that gargling only enhanced the orange essence

"Better?" Valek asked as he took back the eup his quill, he talked to"You just had your first lesson in food tasting Your drink was laced with a poison called Butterfly’s Dust Mine wasn’t The only way to detect Butterfly’s Dust in a liquid is to gargle it That rotten-orange flavor you tasted was the poison"