Suspicious Luxuries

Writers: Eimi, Estelle
Date Posted: 5th August 2005

Characters: Penryn, Edevor
Description: Penryn pays an unexpected (an unwelcome) visit to Edevor to ask some questions about herbs
Location: Garnet Valley Hold
Date: month 7, day 7 of Turn 3

Penryn walked up the small path to the cot door. The smell of herbs and earth waffed up to greet him. It was a pleasant smell. He wished the circumstances warranted a pleasant visit as well, but he needed the gardener's expert opinion. And there were a few questions in his own mind the assistant steward - now acting steward - needed answered.

The door opened only a crack to his knock, after the unmistakeable sound of a bolt shooting back and a key turning in the lock. The elderly gardener peered out, blocking any view Penryn might have had of the interior of the cot. "Yes?"

Penryn realized that he had never actually _spoken_ to the gardener. That was a task that seemed to be left to the Head Woman. He wondered if he had always been so cautious of strangers at his door, or if the news of the Hold caused him to take such precautions. "Good morning. I was wondering if I might have a word with you."

Edevor hesitated, frowning. "Very well. But I'm boiling some herbs in my cot at the moment, and the fumes are unpleasant. Stand back and I'll come outside to speak with you."

Penryn obeyed as he took a few steps back. "What are you making with the herbs?" he asked curiously.

The old man shrugged as he stepped outside, closing the door firmly behind him. "The healers want them boiled," he replied shortly, discouraging further questions. The contents of his cot were of far greater value than any simple gardener should have been able to afford, and he didn't intend to let this nosy understeward get a look at them. "How can I help you?"

"Well, I was wondering if you have in your garden an herb called aconite." The acting steward looked around at the beds around him. In the spring he was sure it would be green and lush, but now it looked a bit bare. "It is a dangerous plant to harvest, but one that the Healers often require I am told."

"I do have some growing in my garden," Edevor replied carefully, wondering what his daughter had done with the packet of powder he'd sent her. "However, I never give it out to anyone but a trained healer. It's a dangerous poison." He eyed the man warily. "Why do you ask?"

"The healer believes that is the poison that was used to murder the Lord Holder and the Steward." Penryn replied matter of factly. "I am trying to determine how the perpetrator acquired it. Do you keep any of the herb around at all? Would I be right to assume that, it being winter, you have some stored up somewhere?"

"So Lord Aswic was poisoned, was he?" Having kept to his cot, Edevor had heard the hue and cry over the death of the Lord Holder, but knew no more details. Could his daughter actually have been stupid enough to poison the very man she'd wanted as her husband? And if so, had she left a trail that could lead back to him?

"I usually give all that I have to the healers as soon as it is dried and powdered." Which was true - apart from the little pouch he'd given to Verora some days ago now. "What use would I have for it? Besides, I keep my cot securely locked up when I'm not here." He frowned. "Do you know who did it, yet? Can't see why anyone would want to kill Lord Aswic, or the Steward. They always treated _me_ fairly enough."

"At first we believed it was done by a guard named Meijah, but there seems to be some evidence that points to the Headwoman as well." Penryn was still angry about how wrong they had been about Verora's apparent kidnapping. Turned out she was more criminal than victim. "Did either of them ever approach you about a poison of any kind?"

"Certainly not. If they had, I would have refused and reported the incident to the guards." Edevor's heart sank, though this had not been entirely unexpected. The question was - would Verora be able to wriggle out of this unscathed, or would she reveal his part in it? If she did, and his little cot was searched, he could not hope to escape taking part of the blame. His collection of luxuries would seem highly suspicious...

"Well, I will ask the healers to check their stock. Perhaps some has gone missing. If you remember anything that might be helpful, please don't hesitate to tell me."

"Of course," Edevor said, hiding his relief. As soon as the man was gone, he'd make haste to hide his gathered valuables out of sight of searchers. "And I hope you catch them and bring them to justice. Anyone who attacks the Lord Holder deserves no mercy."

Penryn nodded. "Thank you. We can be sure we will." He gave a final nod and turned to walk back down the path he had come.

~*~

Estelle (estelle@triadweyrs.org)
Edevor, hold resident, GVH

Eimi (sea_spray_singer@fastmail.fm)
Penryn, Acting Steward, GVH

Last updated on the August 16th 2005

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Suspicious Luxuries