Chapter 11

Poison wiped her eyes. Standing, she smoothed her dress. Thoughts raced through her head as fast as she could push them out again. So this was it, she had wanted to understand Aelthar's hatred for their race, and now she did. But was it knowledge she could use against him? And would she want to? Poison found that she wasn't just beginning to understand Aelthar, she was beginning to empathise with him. Her own sister had been taken, and she would have been ready to stick a knife in the Phaerie Lords heart. Of course she hadn't been planning on annihilating the entire Phaerie race, but if she'd had the kind of power the young general had, well, there was no telling what she would have done.

Though she didn't feel up to reading on, Poison knew she would never be able to sleep. An idea sprang into her head, seemingly out of nothing. Standing, Poison decided to make her way back to the great library. There were still a few antiquarians about, Poison asked one for paper and writing implements; "Of course my dear, wanting to write a letter home are we?"
"Not really. More like a diary I suppose."
"Ah, always good to keep a diary dear. Nothing better for sorting through a jumbled mind." Poison was surprised by how easily the old woman picked up on her conundrum. "Well, there's a nice little spot over there, can you see, just in the corner? Where you can sit and write for as long as you like." Poison smiled, the little candle gave out enough light for her to see comfortably.

As soon as she'd begun writing, Poison didn't want to stop, her hand was flying over the page. Once upon a time there was a young lady who lived in a marsh, and her name was poison. She would have continued writing for days, however long it took to get the book finished, but she couldn't, because she was interrupted early in the morning by the sound of breathless shouting and smart footsteps. "Sir, no, she's busy. My lord please!" It was the old woman's voice, the antiquarian who had shown Poison the desk, she was shouting at someone. "Out of my way woman, I'll speak to her now and I you will not stop me!" Poison stood up, stretching her arms above her head for a moment, then she walked up the row of books and came face to face with Aelthar. "What?" She hadn't slept a wink all night, and she was beginning to feel the effects on her temper.

"Explain this!" He threw something large down at her feet, without bothering to look at it, Poison turned to the Antiquarian. "You wouldn't go and fetch some tea would you?" The stressed woman nodded with a grateful smile and removed herself from the situation. Finally looking down, Poison was confronted by the sight of Aelthar's book. The one she had taken from these very halls herself. "Oh that! What on Earth are you getting so upset about?" He looked affronted.
"You are digging into my private life, you have no right!"
"Don't be ridiculous. I have every right; have you never heard the saying, 'know your enemy'?" Poison bent down to retrieve the book and turned back to her desk; she deposited the tome and sat down herself. Aelthar remained standing, towering over her. Poison sighed,"Is there anything else? Only I'm rather busy."
"As a matter of fact, there is!" He took a breath and seemed to regain some calm. "I was wondering if you would consent to a meeting, regarding the return of the human children to your realm." Poison nodded, "Of course, this afternoon though, I need some time to wake up." He huffed and strode away, almost upending the tea-tray carrying antiquarian who had appeared at the end of the hall.

"Oh dear, that boy does have a terrible temper." Poison laughed quietly, "What was he shouting about this time?"
"He found out I'd been reading his biography."
"Oh dear! What on earth possessed you to tell him?" She set down Poison's cup and started pouring the tea. "I didn't, he must have found it... in my room!" With a jolt Poison stood, "He searched my room!" For a moment, Poison was actually surprised, he had come into the library and shouted at her, all the while knowing that he had invaded her privacy!

She caught up with him in the hall, "My lord, my lord! Aelthar. Stay still for a moment!" The Phaerie lord paused, turning on her, "What?"
"How did you find the book?" For a mere second he looked slightly ashamed, then the cold smirk was back. Poison shook her head at him. "You really are a hypocritical cretin, aren't you?" Anger left her voice strained. "Perhaps I am, but I'm still the one in charge here, you may not have realised yet Lady Gull, but without the Hierophant's protection you are completely at my mercy." Poison was well aware, but she kept calm. "Of course I realise that, I am not a fool. However I am still here, I am standing in front of you and I have no fear. You can't scare me away Phaerie, you can't threaten or bully me, so unless you're actually prepared to act, I suggest you stop boring me with your empty threats." Aelthar looked slightly taken aback, as well he might, since Poison was standing in an empty corridor, shouting at him, without a hope in hell of defending herself should he choose to attack. Of course, he didn't know about the dagger...

"Lady Gull, do not mistake my threats as empty, you have simply not given me sufficient cause to expend the energy it would take. Yet." A lack of sleep, general irritation at the Phaerie lord, and confidence gained from reading his book; combined to make Poison act rashly. She reached inside her gown and removed the knife, taking hold of the blade end, she proffered the handle. "I am providing you with a weapon, and giving you my word that I won't act to stop you." Aelthar took the knife in his hand, weighing it, as though he was debating slitting her throat. Suddenly Poison felt the cold of the blade touch her skin, he had moved so swiftly she hadn't even seen it. She gasped, but the blade didn't pierce the skin. Aelthar lowered it, pressing it back into her own hand. He was so close she could feel warm breath on her neck as he spoke;"Perhaps, Lady Gull, you are more interesting to me alive." He turned his back and walked away.

Poison had to lean against the wall for a while, to regain her composure. She waited for the knot of fear in her stomach to dissipate, there was another feeling in the pit of her stomach, something that was not quite fear, but Poison knew better than to pay any attention to that feeling. She took off, heading to the baths. She would bathe and change before going to see him, this discussion should be interesting.

As she lay in the hot, sweet smelling, water; Poison wondered about the recent altercation. At first glance Aelthar had come away the victor. She had been terrified, and powerless. And yet... she was not dead. She had offered him her own knife, and her neck, and he still chose not to harm her. Why she did not know, but she was beginning to think she had far more power over the Phaeire Lord than he would credit her with. The question was, what should she do with it?

Bram and Peppercorn were glad to see Poison when she entered Fleet's lounge. He was not there himself, but Andersen had led her there, probably at his mistresses request. Poison took her time explaining everything, she was in no hurry to go and join the Phaeire Lord for another round of their verbal sparring. Bram nodded slowly through her explanation, and offered a valuable piece of insight when she had finished telling Aelthar's story. "Poison, I may not understand most of what you've just said. But I understand this; when everything's said and done, Alethar's a young man who lost his little sister. He wants someone to blame, because he most likely blames himself for not being able to protect her. I don't know what that means, but I do know it's something to remember." Poison nodded thoughtfully. "I think you're right Bram, sometimes it even seems that we have the same feelings driving us. We both lost a sister, but at least I've had hope of finding mine, he knows he'll never see her again." Peppercorn sniffed.

Outside the Phaerie Lord's chambers something wasn't right. Poison could see the door had been left ajar, and there was no sight of Aelthar through the crack, she took a tremulous step forward; for some reason she was terrified. Another glance into the room gave her reason to be. Asinastra wason the ceiling, her head craned around at an unnatural angle, as she held out a small bottle. Two drops of black liquid dripped from the bottle, into Aelthar's wine jug on the table. For a moment the elf wine clouded black, then it settled back to its original colour. Poison put a hand over mouth, she had just seen the spider queen poison the Phearie Lord's drink. Now what was she going to do about it?

Asinastra scuttled away through the window, when she was out of sight Poison allowed herself to breathe again. Before she could get her mind working properly again, she heard Aelthar's footsteps behind her. "Lady Gull, I apologise for my lateness. Please step inside." Poison followed him in without thinking. He sat down at the sofa, gesturing for her to do the same, she perched opposite. Her thoughts were still chaotic when he took the wine bottle and poured her a glass, Poison took it, but didn't raise it to her lips. She watched, not breathing, as he poured on for himself. Aelthar toasted her and raised his goblet, Poison watched.

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