“That tiny vial came in on a trade and you found it?” Certainly no one would be so stupid as to bring it across the border.
“You look as if you recognize it, Lord Chancellor.” He placed the vial in my hand.
“That I do, but I assure you it’s of little value to your people. How many came in on a shipment?” I wrapped my fingers around it.
“Twenty, maybe.” There was an intensity in his stare that almost made me uncomfortable. “You seemed determined not to tell me what it is, and now I’m afraid my curiosity has gotten the best of me.”
There’s no way I’d tell someone who hated magic that it was a potion. Humans seemed to like the word tincture. “It’s a fae tincture.”
“What ailment does it tend to?” He wouldn’t let it go, and now I was being forced to awkwardly describe what it was used for to a lord I had quickly grown to despise.
“Pregnancy.” My eyes held his. “I assure you it was a mistake.”
“A woman who is pregnant would take it to achieve what?”
Stars above. “It is taken to prevent pregnancy.” I tucked the vial back into my pocket.
“Why would any woman want to take part in that?”
“Listen, I don’t think it’s my place to debate why a femalewould choose that for herself, seeing as our realms have wildly differing opinions, but clearly someone will be reprimanded for this rather uncomfortable ordeal.” I scratched my head. There wasn’t enough coffee to drink this morning for all of this. “You may return the vials to me or one of my men.”
He nodded. “It is a most surprising discovery. Maybe Nythrel needs a better handle on all of their shipments.”
“I assure you, I will personally see to correcting this misfortune mix-up.” I fought the urge to say anything else. With the look on his face, I wasn’t sure if he could handle my normal commentary.
“I’m certain that you will. You are dismissed,” Remus said.
“Wonderful.” I turned from him, hoping never to have to endure another conversation like that one again. That was surely enough for my career.
I would have to go interrogate all of my men, but first I needed to check on Ashlyn.
A guard directed me to the royal sitting room. I waited to hear her voice as I approached, but the silence left me uneasy.
“Are you certain?” I asked.
“She went in there an hour ago.” The guard knocked before pulling the door back.
Ashlyn sat staring out the window, by herself. Green light washed over her from the stained glass, making the blue of her hair appear only bolder. Her face seemed paler than before.
“May I help you, Lord Fyn?” her lady’s maid asked.
“I am here to check on the princess.” I stepped closer to Ashlyn, but she didn’t turn to face me. “Where is the prince?”
“He had a matter to attend to,” Eva replied. “Do you need to speak with him, Lord Fyn?”
I shook my head, pulling back the chair beside her.
A single tear clung to her cheek, but she didn’t turn to look at me.
“Your Highness?” I softly whispered.
“My lord.” She watched the garden outside the window.
“You certainly would succeed at a staring contest.” I studied her.
“I’ve never been in a staring contest,” she said.
“You must have had a very boring childhood then.” The vial rolled in my pocket as I tapped my side.
