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"Unless the Commander doesn’t like honey in his tea, I wouldn’t reject this breakfast"

"Then eat it"

I hesitated Was Valek trying to trick me? Unless he had used a poison I hadn’t learned, the breakfast was clean I ate every morsel, and then drained the tea while Valek watched

"Not bad," he said "No poisons…today"

One of the ht another tray to Valek This tray held four white cups of an olive-colored liquid that s o over so techniques Each of these cups contains , I took a sip An overwhelrinned "Taste anything else?"

I atteht Now pinch your nose tight and try again"

After soulp the tea while holding my nose My ears popped I marveled at the taste "Sweet No rip Immediately, the mint eclipsed the sweetness

"Correct Now try the others"

The next cup of mint tea hid a sour taste, the third had a bitter flavor, and the fourth was salty

"This technique works for any drink or food Blocking your sense of smell eliminates all flavors except sweet, sour, bitter and salt Sonizable by one of those four flavors" Valek paged through his folder "Here is a complete list of human poisons and their distinct tastes for you to meh the inventory of poisons Some of them I had already smelled My Love was at the top The list would have saved me from the dizziness, nausea, headaches and occasional delusional effects of the poison I brandished the paper in the air "Why didn’t you just giveh his folder "What would you learn frout tastes sweet What does that taste like? Honey sweet? Apple sweet? There are different levels of sweetness and the only way to learn the you this list is because the Co as soon as possible" Valek snapped his folder shut "Just because you aren’t going to taste those poisons now doesn’t mean you won’t in the future Memorize that list Once the medic releases you froe If you pass, then you can start work"

"And if I fail?"

"Then I’ll be training a new taster"