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My unifor hidden inside a drawer, my journal lay open on the top of the desk Someone had read my impressions of poisons and other inforut was replaced by a cold, hard sensation Theh to have gone through my personal papers He had probably even reasoned that it was his duty toAfter all, I was just the food taster, and not entitled to any privacy

Grabbing the journal and uniforuards waited outside while I soaked in the water I tookto carry out his orders like so poison in alered on like sory as I was about Valek readingat Valek’s office, I cut off any s, "Where’s your test?"

Amusement touched Valek’s face He rose fro his arm with a dramatic flourish, he indicated ts of food and drinks on the conference table "Only one item isn’t poisoned Find it Then eat or drink your selection"

I tasted each iteled I held rown cold Most of thethe poison easy to spot, while the fruit drinksthe last item, I turned to Valek "You bastard They’re all poisoned" What a nasty trick; I should have suspected he would pull a stunt like that

"Are you sure?"

"Of course I wouldn’t touch anything on that table"

Valek’s gaze was stony as he walked toward ed into naw holes inI was right I challenged Valek to prove

Without hesitation he raised a cup "This one is clean"

"Drink it" I remembered that cup It was laced with a bitter poison

Valek’s hand wavered a bit He sipped I bitMaybe it was the cup next to it Valek held ue He spat

I wanted to jump, to cheer, to dance little circles around him Instead I said, "Blackberry poison"

"Yes," Valek said He alternated between exa at the rows of cold food

"I passed?"

He nodded, still distracted Then he walked to his desk, and he gently placed the cup down Shaking his head, he picked some papers up only to put them back unread

"I should have known you would try to trick me"

My heated tone drew his eyes I wished then that I’d remained silent

"You’re all fired up And it isn’t because of the test Explain yourself"