But it also didn’t make sense.If someone wanted to hurt Ovrek, why not target his son?He only had one and from what Brynn had seen, the boy pranced about Istra unguarded.He would have been an easy mark.
Ovrek also made himself accessible to his men.He might observe the tradition of making them leave their weapons outside his hall, but he walked freely through Istra where anyone could attack him.
Even if someone had wanted one of Ovrek’s lovers dead, why not Sifma?She was the one he had given the title of queen, the one who ran his household, and the mother of his two children.From what Brynn had seen, Sifma would be a far greater loss to Ovrek’s rule.At the same time, it seemed unlikely that Gistrid would have been a threat to Sifma.
Ovrek had alluded to other concubines.Could it have been one of them?One of their families?
Brynn blew a long breath out of her nose.She couldn’t even begin piecing this together.
She sensedkaheaded toward her tent from outside, about the size and shape of a person.She shifted, thinking it might be Cenric, but it had only been a couple hours and there was no sign of Snapper.She doubted it was him just yet and Esa shouldn’t be alone, Kalen should be with her.The two of them had gone to fetch supper for themselves and Brynn.So who?
Voices drifted through the canvas as the newcomer spoke to the guards outside.Words were exchanged for a few moments and then the tent flap opened.
Vana stepped inside, her shawl in place.“How are you?”she asked gently, sounding friendly.
“As well as I can be.”Brynn offered a wan smile.
Guin wagged her tail at Vana’s entrance, but she stayed lying in Brynn’s lap.
“How is Cenric?”
“Furious.”Vana took up a place before the hot coals beside Brynn, partially facing her.“But he’s trying to hide it.”
Brynn should have known.She loved Cenric’s straightforwardness.He saw no point in lying.That made him bad at politics, but good at being trustworthy.“Did Ovrek send you?”Brynn watched the puppy as Guin stretched, adjusting her rump and settling back down.
Vana hesitated.
“It’s alright.”Brynn pushed aside her feelings of betrayal and frustration.She locked them deep down in her chest, to be taken out when she had the time and the space for them.“Ask your questions.”
Vana grimaced.She probably didn’t like this situation any more than Brynn did, whether she thought Brynn was guilty or not.“What happened?”
“Shall I start with this morning when I first met Gistrid?”It was the only time Brynn would ever meet Gistrid, she realized.That girl’s body was even now growing cold.
“Please do.”Vana adjusted her shawl.
Brynn told Vana everything she remembered, from the time they had been summoned, to the time they had found the girl’s body.She left out the part where Tullia had confessed knowing, though she mentioned walking with the woman.
“We found that thrall,” Vana said.“She denies you ever saying that Gistrid had been poisoned.”
Brynn quashed her frustration at that.Had Tullia told Lena to lie?
Vana continued.“Is it possible that your healing somehow made her worse?”
“No,” Brynn answered quickly.“No.Gistrid’s illness was caused by poison.The only way it would have worsened was if she was poisoned again.”It was possible for infections to be made worse by giving a personka,but poisons were different.
Vana deflated.Maybe she had been hoping that this could be explained away as an accident—an honest mistake on Brynn’s part.
“Magic does not kill slowly.It…” Brynn took a breath to calm herself.“Spells are not living things.They require active participation of the weaver.”
Vana nodded, but that meant nothing.This was Brynn’s word against everything else.Against everyoneelse.
Brynn blew out a frustrated breath.“What will happen if Ovrek thinks I did it?”
Vana hesitated.“I am not sure.He may demand a blood price, or he may want to avenge her.”
Brynn had assumed as much.“I see.”Was this a scheme to put the blame on Brynn?But why?“What will happen to Cenric?”
“If he complies, nothing,” Vana said.
