Chapter 11: A Dram Most Dangerous

The butterflies threatened to creep up her throat as Saffron stared at herself in the mirror. She barely recognized the woman staring back at her. Her face had been scrubbed clean, rouge rubbed into her cheeks and lips and her eyes lined with a thin stripe of black soot. She liked the look but found it unsettling.
Even though it was not yet her wedding day she felt as if it were. The castle had been decorated a bit more festively than usual and the kitchen was churning out platters of food that could feed their entire army twice over.
Mary was plaiting and twisting Saffron’s long blonde locks into a complicated knot atop her head. All of the pulling was giving her a headache. She had already decided on the day of the actual wedding, she would be wearing her hair down. She did not fancy having to balance a large pile of hair, a veil, and a tiara.
“You are set. Let’s get your dress on now before Verita comes looking for you and we both get a scolding,” Mary said and pulled the evening gown from the wardrobe. Saffron had chosen this gown herself but it still brought a smile to her face every time she saw it. It was done in a light grey silk that seemed to shimmer like moonlight. It had a high waist which meant a corset wouldn’t work underneath it. Verita had quite a fit when she found out. Saffron still chuckled thinking about it.
The long gossamer sleeves widened at the wrist and flowed down nearly to the floor. The bodice was simple with a smattering of dark grey beads woven throughout. The neckline was low and square. Verita had also scowled at that but Saffron knew Elric would appreciate the soft swell of her breasts that peeked over the top of her decolletage.
She turned a few times to admire the way the dress shifted in the candlelight before pushing her feet into the heels that Mary set out for her. This was one trend that she was not going to miss once they got to their home, Avolire Estate. Saffron loved the way the name danced across her tongue. Elric said it was his mother’s maiden name. She longed to go there and get away from the prying eyes of the court.
Verita pushed open the door without knocking and looked Saffron up and down, her hands held behind her back, her customary scowl on her face. “Good, you are ready. Let us go. We don’t want to keep everyone waiting,” she disappeared again.
Saffron followed her down the back staircase to avoid running into the arriving guests. They took a narrow corridor that deposited them in the kitchen near the back door. Saffron avoided the swirling pots and pans that the cooks and servants were bearing, praying she didn’t trip and end up with a vat of stew down the front of her.
She escaped the kitchen unscathed. Verita opened the side door to the large ballroom. Elric was already seated at the high table. Her stomach dropped when she saw the King and Queen sitting next to him. She had not yet met the Queen, who chose to take private counsel for every meal and event. She looked startlingly like her son, Kingsley. Her shock of white hair flowed in gentle waves to the floor. She looked so pale it was as if she were glowing. Her large, violet eyes watched as Saffron approached, her face otherwise blank.
Saffron curtseyed to the King and Queen before taking her place next to Elric. He reached for her hand under the table and squeezed it. “I apologize in advance, but I do believe this is going to be a rather dull evening,” he whispered into her ear. She grinned at him.
“That seems to be a theme here. At least there will be food,” she replied. He laughed softly and traced her figure with his eyes.
“You look beautiful, although I don’t fancy getting that red all over my face,” he said, his eyes lingering on her lips. Thankfully, the rouge on her cheeks hid her blush.
“You look handsome as well. Nice to see you without blood or dirt crushed underneath your fingernails,” she replied. He did look rather dashing in a forest green doublet with tiny stitches of a dragon head along the collar. She touched one of the dragons and shared a secret smile with him.
His family began to filter in. taking their places at the adjoining table. Kingsley was granted a seat next to his mother since he was unwed. The hall had been lavishly decorated with candles and banners of white and gray hung across the rafters. It gave the hall the appearance of being trapped in a snowstorm. Saffron loved it. She knew her dress matched perfectly. More people began to filter in. This was a smaller party than the wedding in a few days’ time. Most of the kingdom would be present for that.
A band sat up in the corner and began playing a low, cheerful tune. People chattered around them and began making their way to where Saffron and Elric were sitting, introducing themselves. Saffron couldn’t catch anyone’s names there were so many. She just smiled and nodded, eating a few bites of food in between.
The room came to a sudden hush as King Orion stood. The band stopped playing and everyone waiting quietly. Saffron marveled at that power. The power to stand and everyone paused what they were doing; waiting with bated breath to hang on your every word.
“As you all know, we are here to celebrate the engagement of my son Elric and his fiancée, Saffron from Gilramore. This was unexpected: however we are glad to welcome Saffron into the Arkadios family. I will save the longer speech for the wedding but until then, join me in raising your glasses to congratulate and bless their union,” he raised his goblet and took a seat, his eyes not leaving Saffron’s as they both took a drink.
The band picked up a lively tune as the food was cleared from the tables. “Shall we dance?” Elric asked as he stood. Her face flushed.
“Only if you are okay getting your feet trodden on,” she said with a smile as he pulled her from her chair.
“I think I can manage,” he said and swept her onto the dance floor and into his arms. He led her around the room in a waltz that left her breathless and laughing as he twirled her. Her dress was a spectacle, and everyone stopped to watch the two of them move across the dance floor, green and silver wrapped into one.
The song slid into a slower beat and Elric pulled her close, his hand firm against her lower back. He gazed down at her; his eyes soft. The King and Queen watched this with blank looks upon their faces. “Interesting,” Queen Ishild murmured to her husband.
“What is?” he said, drinking from his goblet.
“It is as if they have known each other all of their lives as opposed to a few weeks. Are we sure he doesn’t know the girl from before?”
“My men say no. She was engaged to the Baron of Gilramore before she left with Elric. I’m not sure what exactly she is up to, but we should keep our eyes on her,” he said, studying the beautiful girl dancing before him.
“Indeed, we should,” Ishild replied, coolly.
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Saffron kissed Elric again as she opened the door to her rooms. She was still dizzy from the dancing and copious amounts of strong wine. Her brow was glistening, and she felt giddy as he kissed her again.
“Can you stay?” she asked as they walked into her sitting room. She tugged off her heels and kicked them into a corner.
“For a moment,” he replied, with a smile watching her teeter slightly towards the bedchamber. “Would you like me to get your useless lady in waiting in here to help you with your dress?” he called.
“Please! I believe I’ll have to live in it otherwise,” she replied, her voice sounding muffled as she was trying to tug the garment off.
“I’ll return shortly,” he said with a laugh and pulled the door shut behind him. Saffron lay back on her bed and watched as the canopy spun slightly. She had more to drink this evening than she had in her entire lifetime. The candles beside her bed cast flickering shadows that danced against the wall. The sight made her slightly nauseous, so she sat up carefully and waited for the room to right itself.
There was a goblet near her bed that she didn’t see earlier. Perhaps Mary had anticipated the amount of wine that was to be drunk this evening. Saffron sniffed the contents. It was tea and still warm. Mary must be lurking around here somewhere. She greedily drank the herbal tea, lapping up the honeyed concoction. She gagged as something bitter touched her tongue.
“That is the worst tea I have ever had,” she murmured aloud. Suddenly the room began to swim faster and black licked at the corners of her vision. With a groan, she grasped her head in her hands. She felt her heartbeat race and then begin to slow, beating sluggishly. She began to gasp for air as her throat tightened.
Calm yourself, she said to herself. What are you feeling? She listed the symptoms while battling back the panic. Poison. She had all of the side effects of being poisoned. She couldn’t worry about the intent or the poisoner now. With her blurry eyes, she looked into the teacup. A small residue of green powder lined the bottom.
On unsteady feet, she found her medicine kit and pulled a few leaves from a pouch. Before she could get them into her mouth she collapsed. As her vision went dark, she saw the swish of long black hair brush past her and the door closed as did her eyes.
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Fog welled up around her feet as she walked in the Wood. She suddenly began to run, feeling as if something were behind her. Her feet pounded against the grass, but she was barely moving. She turned to see what was behind her and she screamed as Abbington walked towards her, in his hand a vicious looking whip.
She pumped her legs harder and stumbled over roots and rocks. She knew safety lay ahead. The cave! She would be safe in there! Running as hard as she could, she raced for the mouth of the cavern. She felt the lick of the lashes against her back as she dove into the entrance.
Confused she looked around; she was in her rooms in the castle. Elric was lying on the bed, smiling at her. He naked, covered with only a blanket. His long hair tumbled over his shoulder as he beckoned her forward. She walked slowly towards him. He grasped her roughly, pulling her onto the bed with him.
Kissing down her neck, he ripped away the bodice of her dress. She gasped as he bit her hard. She felt blood begin to run down her neck, but she didn’t care. She wanted him to take her. She kissed him back hungrily, cutting her lip on his sharp teeth. He pushed up the hem of her dress and sat her on his lap. She trembled with desire and tossed her hair back out of the way. She caught a glimpse of their reflection in the mirror. She stared in horror as she saw a dragon making love to her, its hands where Elric’s were. She screamed.
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Saffron woke, choking, the bitter taste of mulberry leaves on her tongue. She coughed roughly, the acrid taste of the poison still in her throat. Blearily, she looked up and saw Elric hunched over her, his eyes frantic with worry.
“Saffron? Saffron!” he yelled, gripping her shoulders.
“I’m fine.” She croaked. “How did you know how to help?” she asked, through gasping breaths.
“You had these leaves in your hand,” he said and showed her the chewed remnants of the mulberry leaves. She nodded and her head fell back again. She would live but her body was still weakened from the poison.
“What happened?” he asked.
“Poison. In my tea,” she gestured towards the cup that lay innocently on its side.