Chapter 11: Poisonous Advantages

Catherine and Nostrodamous huddle together in a corner in the throne room. "And you are sure Kenna did not murder the girl?" Nostradamus asks. Catherine looks around at the full courtroom, watching for any eavesdroppers. "Her fingers are too small. This was a man's hand. I know." Catherine says. She looks away, trying to forget the demons of her own past. "Have you found anything yourself?" she asks.

"No poison. Over the last three days, I have checked his food, wine, and water, and nothing. If there is a poison, it's none I recognize." he says. Catherine knows him well, there isn't a poison he doesn't know. Same as her. And she has checked herself for any poison and found nothing. "So he really is mad," she says, watching Henry walk around the court ladies. "If our enemies find out, we are ruined. We are already very fragile with Mary and Bash's wedding." Nostradamus holds up a vole of blue liquid. Catherine takes it secretly and looks at it. "What is this?" she asks.

"A sedative that induces a coma. A deep sleep that I can interrupt with a potion of my own design," he says. Catherine hides the vile in her sleeve. "This is impossible to do. He has seven tasters. We need to find a way to get it past them and not be implicated." Catherine says.

Catherine spots Kenna and gets an idea. Nostradamus follows her gaze. "Catherine, she will be Queen soon. She is determined. Why would she give that up?" he says. Catherine knows he is right and searches around more. He notices the concern on Greer's face and Lola's. "These girls can be quite tricky when they want to be," she says.

Catherine walks up to the girls, asking Kenna to give her a moment alone with them. "Have you noticed anything off about Kenna?" she asks. Both Greer and Lola look at each other, wondering if they should speak. "What's it to you?" Greer asks. Lola quietly excuses herself as she feels sick, Catherine taking note of Lola clutching her chest and stomach. "Poor girl, is she unwell?"

"She ate something foul earlier, she has not felt well since," Greer says, trying her best to cover for Lola. "I heard you are being courted by Lord Julien. What a fine man he is." Catherine says. Greer smiles, trying to hide what happened earlier. When Julian walked in on her kissing Leith. But she knows Catherine is no foul. "I know you know. So go ahead, poke fun."

"I am not here to poke fun, my dear. I have a job for you. If you do it, ill ensure no one gossips about you and Julien. And you can save Kenna and possibly her life." Catherine says. Greer is intrigued and allows Catherine to go on. She pulls out the vile and hands it to Greer. "Find a way to sneak past the guards and slip this into Henry's drink. Tonight. He will fall into a deep sleep, a coma."

"How can I get inside? Henry and I don't talk." Greer says. Henry walks up to the ladies. Catherine quickly covers Greer so she can hide the vile. "Ah, Greer. I heard about you and the kitchen boy. Oh my, that is the first interesting thing I have heard about you. Your family must be so proud." He says, Catherine gets closer to Henry. "Careful Henry or you may anger your soon-to-be bride," Catherine says. Kenna walks up to the group. "Henry, don't be cruel," she says.

"Do not tell me what to do. You are to be my wife, you do not own me. Catherine knows better than anyone." he snarls. He quickly walks away, and Kenna hugs Greer. "Are you alright?" she asks. Greer nods and looks at Catherine. Both girls start to leave, but Greer hangs back.

"I will do my best. But I can't make any promises. But I want to protect Kenna. So I will try."