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“You were drunk?” Her disapproval was palpable.
“I had one glass with Gilbert Mercer when I picked up Conrad’s coronation cape.”
Her disapproval deepened. “You couldn’t handle one glass of wine?”
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re more disappointed in my inability to hold my liquor than in the idea that I got completely soused and lost my dinner in the middle of the hall.”
“I’m shocked and saddened.” She shook her head and tsked. “One glass. I thought I raised you better.” Then she shrugged. “Lucky for you, the cure for your malady is time, rest, and water.”
I threw off my blankets. “All of which can be done far, far away from here.”
“It’s coronation day,” Onal said. “And everyone already knows you’re here.” She stared at me from over the wire rims of her glasses. “Including Conrad, who was very excited to see you’d bought yourself a dress for the occasion.”
“Bleeding stars,” I muttered. “I left both parcels in his room last night, didn’t I?”
“You certainly did.”
“I don’t suppose there’s any getting out of it now,” I said.
“At this point, not going might make people wonder where your allegiances lie.”
“I’ve gotten very tired of worrying about what other people wonder.”
“This is the life you were born to, whether you like it or not. Just remember: your absence is just as notable as your presence. And, at least, if you’re there, you have more control over what ideas they come away with.” She gave me a scrutinizing stare. “A bath has been drawn for you in the next room. Please, for the love of the Holy Empyrea, wash some of that dirt off your face and make sure your hair is twig-free before you set foot in public. And here.” She put a bottle of one of her remedies down on the table. “This will ease your recovery a little, I think.”
I picked up the bottle and popped the cork, giving the contents a sniff before setting it back down. “This is rat poison.”
“Nonsense. It’s simple chlorella elixir.”
“I know what chlorella elixir smells like. This is not it.”
“Oh, yes. Chlorella elixir is in the blue-violet bottle; now I remember. Curse these aging eyes.” Her tone was regretful, but her smile was not. “Though many of the ingredients in this are very healing. Except for the cyanide, of course.”
“Except for that.” I crossed my arms. “Did I pass the test?”
“Well enough.”
“What would have happened if I didn’t recognize the poison?”
“You’d have died a very painful death, most likely. But it would have been your own fault, really, for not remembering your lessons.”
“Onal, it’s been ten years or more since my herbology lessons.”
“Then it’s a good thing you didn’t forget. But if you would like to resume your education in herbology and give yourself something to do besides feeling sorry for yourself, I could possibly be convinced to take you on again as a pupil.”
“You think that making me memorize which roots cure nausea and which act as laxatives is going to help me feel better?” I gave a mirthless laugh.
“It’s an important distinction,” she said. “And yes. I do.”
“Why? What could you possibly know about how I feel right now?”
“You’re a fool, girl, if you think you’re the only one in the world to be hurt by love. Or its loss.” Her pinched lips twitched ever so slightly. “I’ve lived a good long while, young lady. I’ve seen and experienced more than you could ever dream. It’s because of my infinite wisdom and patience that I will, this once, choose to overlook your impudence and not simply do away with you and tell everyone it was an accident.”
“That would be so much more believable if you hadn’t just attempted to dose me with rat poison.”
She pointed the bottle at me like a scolding finger. “Get up. Get dressed. Get to work.”
“And do what?”
