Crevan decided a bit of an extra walk would do good after the table. He found himself in a sculpted Alcove in the hedge. He knew it well enough, he and Ciri had sat there. He sat now, letting the cold marble sink past his clothing. It took him a few moments to realize he was not alone. He rose to leave.

"...Don't, I don't mind the company."

Torch Light showed him An Aen Elle, eyes as cyan as his own and hair the color of cooled ash. They sat in silence for a short while.

"Cannot sleep?"

"No, was meeting with a few friends and thought a walk after would be good," Crevan said. "I was stopping to enjoy the stars..."

"...I've seen you about, with Lady DeRosin."

Crevan turned, only nobles called Pen by DeRosin, most of the manse and freehold used lady Thorn or simply Lady Pen. He frowned, he wasn't going to talk of her to this Aen Elle.

"I see you do know her."

He felt something sharp but had thought it just the cold.

"Yes." He rose. "And I do not discuss her with strangers..."

The Aen Elle snarled, his face twisted in an unnatural way.

"A human whore...that is all she is, she got lucky."

Crevan began a gesture to transport himself away, then burning sharp sang along his nerves.

"...you should have inspected the bench when you sat down..." The Aen Elle said, holding up a slender needle. "...I wonder what the Venom will do to one of our kind, already damaged."

The kick to the ribs felled him to his knees, the pain intensified.

"It will only take a few more moments, and all you'll be able to do is breathe...and I'll-"

Fog surrounded the Aen Elle and blood spurted from his throat.

"I told you sage, we go nowhere alone..." Regis' voice came from the mists. "...help is coming."

Regis drank, then threw the body to the ground.

All Crevan could feel was pain, even the slight movement of the litter that carried him back to the manse was like being set on fire. His fingers were twitching, and the tick in his face had gone rapid, both adding to the burning pain. He could not scream, as his assailant had said, all he could do was breathe.

"...Some kind of paralytic." Came the healer's voice. "We'll get a look at the needle and tell you in a few hours."

Pen had come out from somewhere during the long trek back, the healer was talking to her. Her hand lay over one of his own, but he would endure that pain.

"...Whoever did this."

"...We are trying to track how the assailant got in. and he didn't taste like an elf."

He somehow found that funny, but it was Regis. The vampire would know the difference. He turned his eyes, Pen was in night-clothes. No gown, but soft trousers and tunic. The realization that she wore sleeping gowns for him touched someplace long-lost.

"...polymorph?"

"A good question, We'll find your answers..."

He faded out, the healer had given something to dull the constant burn.

When he woke, Pen was still sitting at his side, but Nuada was there as well. The king was not happy.

"...Rose venom," He said. "I thought no one could get close to that rose."

"Someone did, and we were lucky that Aethen was able to bargain the antidote."

He turned his head, but everything felt stiff but did not burn.

"...How long..." He managed.

"...A day and a few hours," Pen answered. "...you got a good dose of the venom from the Rosa Carnivora. Whoever thought of using that..."

"Will not see daylight for a century," Nuada said. "I might even consider execution, no one calls my wife a whore..."

Regis must have followed him, to make sure it had just been a walk and a bit of stargazing.

"You'll feel stiff for a few days." Pen said.

"For one who has never experience it, you are using an understatement," Nuada said. "But yes, you'll feel like you've been encased in stone."

He tried to lever himself up, strong hands helped him to sit. Pillows propped behind him to keep him in that position.

"...You'll be tired for a few days as well." Pen said. "...It means you won't be able to attend the Grand Council."

~a blessing and a Curse~ He thought.

"...It also means Dain has to come back to the freehold. He won't like that."

"No, I know he won't." She said. "but I need a second for the council."

"You going to enter one of the contests, it is always impressive when you do," Nuada asked.

"I've thought about it, to remind them that my blades are still sharp." She said. "...I"m needed elsewhere, you two should talk."

She was gone before either could protest.

Crevan wanted to hang his head on his hands, but that thought was much too tiring. Nuada moved to look out the window. They shared silence for a short time.

"...It isn't a good idea to anger her, is it." Crevan said.

"No, not when it is someone she cares for," Nuada said. "...and She places you firmly in that category. Has for a while now."

He watched the king as more silence followed.

"We should talk about...our arrangements," Crevan said. "Draw the lines that cannot be crossed..."

"...That is the rub isn't it." Nuada turned around. "Bound twice over. She cares, and will break everything she's built for us."

"Ge'els will know that...that is the danger, he is righteous." Crevan frowned. "...It is why he has gone after her court, and now me. He doesn't think her scary enough to fear her..."

"Also the freehold is the largest tract of land not controlled by the Crown. I was generous with my queen." He smirked. "and it is a reminder of the cities that fell." He said. "And she is also a marchioness and a Duchess, though most forget about that little detail including her."

"Another thing that will stick in..." He yawned. "the Aen Elle court's craw."

"You will need your strength, I will leave you to your watchers..." Nuada said.

Crevan dozed off soon after Nuada left.