Chap. 4 Back at Virbula
Back at Virbula, Galaxonite had already found out about the Princess's escape and was taking out his wrath on his new right hand minion, Ebrude.
"Ebrude! If you'd had done like I said, she would have married me long ago! Where are those stinking guards? Asleep like everyone else, I suppose? I have no doubt that that juvenile renegade, Hophter, had something to do with this!" he continued ranting.
Ebrude and all the others knew better than to argue with him. Soon enough, he would grow tired and say he wanted the palace sparkling when morning came, then he'd head to the old thrown room and take a nap in the thrown that belonged to the King. Then, Ebrude made his move.
Ebrude, Rwube, and Nybove sent the workers to the kitchens and bed chambers to continue the thorough cleaning, only so they could set to work on their own devises. Rwube, who was in charge of the kitchens, brought out a small vile of wine-ish looking and smelling liquid. Smiling impishly, Nybove, the field tender, brought out a long-necked bottle with a seemingly unbroken seal on it, but the seal had never been sealed. It was Himny, a fresh, sweet red wine from Virbula's best grape vineyards. Silently they mixed the potions in the bottle and sealed and chilled it.
They silently crept into Galaxonite's thrown room, placed the bottle near his chair with a plate of sweet breads, fruit, and cheeses. They knew he would think it was to calm his hot-temper and help them regain his favor, but he wouldn't guess that the wine had ginenbane in it, a poisonous herb that was almost undetectable and had the effect of rattlesnake poison. The three servants had never been disloyal before, but then, Galaxo had never taken over a place using his recent tactics, and they were tired of playing house servants when they were warriors of great stature. Galaxo had had his fun, it was their turn.