Chapter 9 - A common purpose


Teti informed Rabêz that we needed to speak to the queen, and to my surprise this request was granted immediately. Rabêz led us through the palace up to the queen's chambers. We were quickly admitted in. It was a very traditional but finely decorated room, with walls of richly carved golden oakwood. It was dimly lit by moonlight streaming in from the large windows on the far wall, aided by a handful of candles on the bedside table. The queen lay in her bed at the center of the room, nestled in thick blankets with a cool, damp cloth on her brow. She greeted us, her voice as strong as ever, and dismissed Rabêz.

"I'm sorry to call so late, but it is a matter of urgency," Teti said.

Ar-Zimraphel waved dismissively, "I will always make time for such matters. Please sit. I'm sorry the circumstances don't allow us to meet somewhere more suitable. Now, what is so urgent?"

"I know who the poisoner is," Teti said, "But due to limited evidence and political concerns, I fear an accusation will be all but impossible."

"I will do what I can to help you," Ar-Zimraphel said solemnly. "Zigûr is a powerful enemy, but even he -"

"It is not Sauron," Teti interrupted. "Though we are certainly meant to think that, or else why would Poxbark be used? It is not a particularly reliable poison, as recent events have no doubt shown, nor is it all that subtle. But if one wishes to cast suspicion on Sauron, what better to use than a poison from the land he once ruled, with such a name as Sauron's eyes? But Sauron himself, why should he go through the trouble to import it? There are many objectively superior poisons available locally."

"Supposing though that it was Sauron," Teti continued, "who was his target? Clearly he had no designs on the king, as he was the one who prevented the king from drinking the poison in the first place. Was Elrond his target? If so, Sauron has been uncharacteristically incompetent. As the chef told us, Elrond drank the entire glass of wine, truly the best-case scenario for any would-be assassin."

"Especially in light of recent events, it seems likely I was the target. After all, I am usually the one who pours my husband's wine." Ar-Zimraphel suggested.

"An excellent theory, and one I could not entirely rule out until the second attempt."

"Rule out?" I asked incredulously.

"Yes, rule out," Teti answered. "You see, in this most recent attempt, the poisoner made a key mistake."

"What was that?" asked the queen.

"Poxbark takes at least a hour to produce a rash, but on you it appeared immediately."

Ar-Zimraphel's eyes narrowed. "What are you saying?"

"You know what I am saying," Teti answered. Suddenly, Ar-Zimraphel lunged for a drawer on the bedside table, but Teti, seeming to expect this, caught her by the wrist. "There is no need to get your knife," Teti told her. "As I said, evidence and politics prevent me from making an accusation. Truthfully, I am not sure I would want to. It seems to me if a man forces a woman into marriage in a land where she is only freed from such an institution by his death, he should not be surprised if she tries to bring it about."

"You mean that she is the poisoner?" I exclaimed.

"Naturally. She hoped to take out two enemies at once. She had access to the wine cellar, so it would not have been too difficult to slip in and tamper with the bottle. But, then there is a problem! Either she does not wear gloves, or they are inadequate, and the powder contacts her skin. A rash develops. She hides it with high collars and long sleeves and waits for the day the wine is brought out.

"Then the second snag in her plan: Elrond's arrival. This is not something she foresaw. And - bad luck - this is the day the wine is called for. She tries to carry out her plan all the same, and leaves while the chef fetches the wine. Naturally she believes Sauron will pour in her absence, and so the blame for the poisoning will fall on him. Elrond, however, has been far too charming, and is asked to pour instead. Sauron, having heard of the plan from some spy, sees this as a chance to save the king, win favor, and eliminate Elrond all at once, so he accuses Elrond of poisoning the wine. We know the rest of that story.

"This is not what she wanted. Her husband is alive, her enemy is seen as a hero, and her beloved uncle is accused. She hears of my interest in the case, and sees it as a chance to fix at least the last of these problems. It is risky though. If Elrond is shown to be innocent, where next will suspicion fall? Perhaps on her? She attempts to wait until the most damning of the evidence against her, her rash, has faded. But weeks go on and still it is there.

"She calls me in anyway and forms an alternate plan. If the rash will not fade, she must provide a reasonable explanation for it. So, with Sauron sitting close enough to be a suspect - a nice touch - she sprinkles the poison on her own food in a way that will induce symptoms, but will not be fatal."

Ar-Zimraphel sank back against the pillows. A long, slow sigh of defeat escaped through her teeth.

"What was Elrond even doing here?" she muttered, more to herself than to either of us.

"Attempting to save you from your husband," Teti answered.

There was a quiet, wordless groan of dismay and guilt.

"In a sense, he succeeded," Teti continued. "Sauron was clearly aware of your plan. If Elrond had not presented a more politically convenient target, you would likely have been accused instead."

"Why are you telling me this if you do not intend to accuse me?" Ar-Zimraphel asked. "Do you wish me to buy your silence? I will pay whatever is reasonable, of course. More if you will say that Sauron did it."

Teti smiled warmly "I am not nearly foolish enough to try to blackmail you. No, I came here because we are of a common purpose."

Ar-Zimraphel looked at him, puzzled. "You wish to kill Pharazôn?"

"I wish to save Elrond."

"Ah, of course."

"I believe I can get him out of the prison and beyond the palace walls, but I have not the connections to get him off of the island. You must have some though, to have imported such a specific poison."

"Yes, the Rôthbalak." Ar-Zimraphel said. "She should still be at harbor in Azûlada. I will arrange passage."

"For three. Abrazîr, Elrond, and myself."

"It will be done," Ar-Zimraphel said solemnly, taking Teti and me by the hand. "Thank you for all you are doing. Is there anything else I can do to aid you?"

"Yes actually," Teti answered, "there is one more thing I need."

"Of course, what?"

"I need you to call Rabêz in."

Ar-Zimraphel rang for her, and within a few minutes the familiar flower-scented figure was at the door.

"Do you need something, my queen?" she asked.

Teti answered her. "Go and fetch your master. We need to speak with him."

Her eyes widened in shock, quickly replaced with a feigned confusion. "I don't know what you mean."

"You do know," Teti insisted. "One should not wear so much perfume to a clandestine meeting. His whole office reeks of lilac."

Rabêz turned to Ar-Zimraphel, hoping desperately to find some support.

"We will discuss this later," Ar-Zimraphel told her. There was a cold edge to her voice. "Go and fetch him."

Rabêz threw up her hands. "Fine, I will get him! I do not fear you. Zigûr is more powerful than you; he will protect me." She turned and left.

Ar-Zimraphel shook her head in disbelief. "Oh Rabêz! She was in the kitchen as I was leaving the wine cellar after I planted the poison. She claimed she was discussing arrangements for an upcoming lunch with some lords from the north lands. I see now her presence was no mere coincidence."

Teti spoke to her with a soft urgency. "Regardless of what we discuss with Sauron or what happens after, take no action, save to arrange the passage on the Rôthbalak."

Zigûr arrived shortly, fully dressed and put together despite the late hour. "What has happened to upset that poor girl so?" he asked with a forced cordiality.

"I fear I am in a rather upsetting line of work," Teti replied with a shrug. "We were discussing the poisoning. It looks as if you are the culprit."

Shock passed over his face. "Teti, I thought better of you than this."

Teti cut him off, "I did not say you are the culprit, only that it looks as if you are. Certainly enough that if the queen and I say you are, many people will believe us."

He looked over us coldly. "That would not go well," Zigûr said, "for any of you."

"That is why we have an alternate proposal. However much I might personally wish to strike against you for all the things you did to Harad, to my home," Teti's fist clenched around the blue stone pendent he wore, "my priority at this time is to my client. Here are my demands. From this point on, you are not to harm Elrond in any way. Additionally, Abrazîr and I are to have unescorted access to the palace grounds. Finally, tomorrow night, just after sunset, you will see to it that the prison is unguarded. Create a distraction, order them somewhere else, I do not care, but if there are any guards there when we arrive, we will not hesitate to accuse you."

In response, Zigûr grabbed the collar of Teti's tunic in a fist, and I suddenly became deeply aware of the way he towered over my friend. The moon seemed to darken, and the light from the candles seemed to burn in his eyes as he turned the full depth of his fury to the small figure before him. I steeled myself to step between them, but before I could do so Zigûr smiled, his grip loosened, and the air seemed to lighten. "I agree to the terms," he said, and without another word he strode out of the room.