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I rose, h dose will kill you in two days The symptoms don’t arrive until the second day, but by then it’s too late"

"Did I have a lethal dose?" I heldless and you wouldn’t have tasted the poison"

My sto I forced down the bile inall over Valek’s desk

Valek looked up from the stack of papers He studied erous But I would hardly give you a poison your body had to fight while you suffered from malnutrition There is an antidote to Butterfly’s Dust" He showedback into hed Valek’s metal face had returned; I realized he hadn’t offered the antidote to me

"In answer to the question you didn’t ask but should have, this--" Valek raised the small vial and shook it "--is hoe keep the Co"

I stared at hi to understand the implication

"Yelena, you confessed to murder We would be fools to let you serve the Couarantees Guards watch the Commander at all times and it is doubtful you would be able to reach him with a weapon For other forms of retaliation, we use Butterfly’s Dust" Valek picked up the vial of antidote, and twirled it in the sunlight "You need a daily dose of this to stay alive The antidote keeps the poison fro inand you’ll be dead by the next Commit a crieon until the poison takes you I would avoid that fate, if I were you The poison causes severe sto"

Before full comprehension of my situation could sink in, Valek’s eyes slid past my shoulder I turned to see a stout wo the door Valek introduced her as Margg, the person ould take care ofstrode out the door

I glanced at the vial on Valek’s desk

"Co will direct you"

An obvious dismissal, but I paused at the door with all the questions I should have asked poised on my lips I sed them They sank like stones to , who hadn’t stopped to wait

Margg never slowed her pace I foundto reave up as ’s broad back and efficient stride Her long black skirt seemed to float above the floor The housekeeper unifor froht around the waist The apron had two vertical rows of s finally stopped at the baths, I had to sit on the floor to clearher wide face She pointed to the far side of the baths in aobeyed "Wash twice, then soak I’ll bring you some uniforms" She left the room