To Serve You Tea

Ekliptik was sitting backwards on a chair in the corner, keeping out of everybody's way. They all either gathered or got carried to the office of the nice Doctor, who was busy treating everyone along with Teo. The Alchemist was mostly conscious despite being unable to walk, giving instructions on his medicinal brews for them, and Prony and Cinda were helping out the best they could.

Nita was bleeding quite a lot. Ice picks were no joke as a weapon, turns out. Ekliptik stored this knowledge away for later use. Despite her wounds and the poison she had, she woke up and was able to sit on her own while Doctor was treating her. Lord Secretary also regained his consciousness a few minutes after Ekliptik returned to the manor, so of the three poisoned men, the only one left was Rosamund.

He was the last to get the antidote, and it seemed he either may have gotten the largest dose, or simply had the weakest constitution of them all. Nita only passed out for a few minutes. Those other two looked violently ill and pale in the face, although far from dying. And Rosamund was still asleep. Even after they went after the assassin, then took the time to run to the city and make sure everything was in order, and then ran back here. It must've taken an hour at least. They were exhausted, and they wanted to sleep, but they still had so much work to do. Teo handed them a cup of tea, at least.

This will be a long night.

Nobody asked them anything, and they had nothing to say. These people all needed to recover first. They just kept quiet in their corner. They watched Rosamund from a distance, not to disturb the healers. Doctor was worried he may throw up from the poison, or otherwise require urgent care, so she had him sat on a chair. This way, she explained, she won't need to move him suddenly if anything happens. Every few moments, Prony checked whether he was breathing with a mirror, and every few minutes, Teo checked the pulse on his neck. Nobody looked panicked, so this was probably alright. Teo even took the time to reassure them that the poison wasn't lethal in most cases. This was fine.

When Rosamund finally stirred, they immediately straightened out and tightly grabbed the back of the chair. He left out a heartbreaking sob, clearly lost in space and time. His face was even paler than that of the other victims of the poison. He was either temporarily blind, or simply didn't recognize the people around him. Teo stopped him from falling over and made him drink the tea he made. Rosamund seemed like he wanted to struggle, but he could hardly move. His mind was lost elsewhere and he was clearly in a lot of pain. He couldn't even grimace, he was just crying. He looked like he had lost all his will to live. They could recognize the look of a man begging to just die, and they hated to see it on his face. The tea helped him and he finally started to look like he was recognizing his surroundings. Prony gave him a blanket.

Nita's face was strange, they noticed. She seemed both relieved, pained, and hiding her pain as much as she could. She was putting on a smile for him, despite the injuries she had. They knew they couldn't do that, so they just hid their face away with the hat.

"Report," Rosamund demanded. Lord Secretary answered before they could.
"One assassin disguised herself as a maid. Poisoned the tea for the six of us, Officers Teodolit and Ekliptik did not drink it. According to Soxhlet, it's not deadly in most cases. Everybody is stable for now. Captain Vervain sustained injuries while keeping the assassin away from you. Ekliptik-"
"I stabbed 'er in the wrist," they said. They needed Rosamund to know this. "Wi' m'dagger," they added more quietly. They wanted him to know that they also fought for him. Somehow, it was important.
"Ah... good job, Ekliptik," he said. It seemed this hurt him. Why did this hurt him? Next time, they will aim for the throat! "Thank you. Thank you both so much. How- how are you feeling, Captain?"
"Never better," Nita brightly said. "She stabbed me with an ice pick. I am bleeding." Her grin faded from her face when she saw the way he was looking at her. "This is nothing," she quickly added. "It's just some blood. I had it worse, this is nothing. I'll live."

Rosamund was silent for a bit. Just a few moments. They wondered if he was about to cry again. "Thank you for coming to my rescue. Is this the fourth time?" he quietly asked.
Nita was taken aback. "Lord Governor, I am not keeping a score."
"If you were, you'd be winning by a mile."
"Hah! You owe me nothing, Lord Governor. Nothing at all."
"I know... I know."

Another pause in the conversation. Lord Secretary cleared his throat. "As I was saying, Ekliptik chased after her."
Oh. Oh no, no no no! They all turned to them, eight pairs of eyes stared them down expecting answers they didn't want to give. They were around Rosamund for long enough to know how he would react. They couldn't allow him to get up and go to work, he was barely able to sit! In sheer panic, they pulled their hat down even more. What do they do?!

They sneaked a glance towards Teo and Nita. Teo looked encouraging, and Nita... gave them a nod to reassure them, and patted her leg with her left index finger thrice.

Lie.

To.

Him.

So, she figured them out.

"I- I lost- I lost her," they said, hiding under the hat. "I'm sorry. It was - dark." Will this even work? Rosamund could read liars. They were sure he would catch them, so they hid their face even more, looking away. They were just trying to do what was best! When Rosamund sees them lying, he will get angry at them. They didn't want him to! But they needed to do this!

"It is quite alright," he said reassuringly. "I have seen her face, and I will have the guards look for her. How is the situation in the city?"

They... weren't caught? Rosamund makes mistakes?

"Nobody knows," they answered. Their voice was calmer and clearer now. They could feel their heartbeat slowing down, too. "I- I went to check if anyone else was poisoned. It was just us. Everyone's safe."

"I see... I see. Very good. Thank you, Ekliptik. You did well."

This... was all? They were in the clear? Everyone's attention turned away from them, and they relaxed their grip on the chair. Their fingers were beginning to hurt. The disappointment in the room was immeasurable, but that was fine. They lied. This was what they wanted. Doctor finally managed to completely stop Nita's bleeding, Teo got them another cup of tea, and the Alchemist fell asleep. This was fine. They needed to leave soon, but they wanted to stay behind just for a few moments longer. Just to be sure. Who else could keep these people safe if they leave? The guards posted in front of the door of the doctor's office weren't enough. And they didn't trust them. They just wanted to be sure everyone was fine.

"It was Khamil," Rosamund suddenly said.
"Proof, Rosamund," Lord Secretary answered.
Rosamund replied with a curse. They wondered if he was right, and what made him so certain.

Well, they would find out soon enough.

They were determined to hang around until the Doctor put everyone to sleep. Everybody was fine and resting. They gave one dagger to her, Cinda, and Zaum. If anyone came past the guards, Cinda will surely be able to dispose of them with the help of these two. They'll also leave someone here with them to protect them. This will be fine.

They left as silently as they arrived, making sure they didn't wake anyone up.



They sneaked out into the garden, avoiding the guards that were looking for the trail of the assassin. Rosamund's room will need to have its balcony door repaired tomorrow. And it's actual door, too. For now, it just had guards posted everywhere, since Doctor and Lilac ordered Hexkey be informed of what happened.

Unfortunately, they didn't trust Hexkey.

And Rosamund needed his rest. They saw him strain himself beyond any reasonable limits, and then beyond unreasonable ones too. He was too nice, and he felt like everything was his responsibility. They were adamant to make his job easier at least a little bit. They'll make it so he doesn't need to interrogate the assassin. They'll make it so he's always safe, too. They just liked him. The way he spoke to them was nice. He was showing them respect they felt they deserved as a person. He was kind with his words, he understood when they didn't know something or needed his help, and he didn't look down on them. Despite being a nobleman, despite being older, and smarter, and better in every way. He was nice, and they wanted to earn his respect as a spymaster, too. He gave them a job. They will do it, no matter what.

Under the cover of darkness, they sneaked out of the garden, unnoticed by the guards. Their usual outfit made them nearly invisible on a cloudy night, even with the hat. Their man was waiting for them just a bit away, hiding in the bushes.

"I'm here," they quietly said. "You oughta go to Hexkey. Tell 'im I sent you. Demand Teo confirms your face. Go with Teo. Protect Nita an' everyone."
"Yes, Master. We took the assassin to our hideout."
"Aight. Good work. Go."

They had five people with them in total. Their resources were ridiculously limited, but they were making do with what they had. A few more should've made their way to the city disguised as fishermen and whatnot, but those were supposed to be ordinary citizens, so they couldn't be used for missions. Only information. Two of their active men were currently guarding the assassin they caught, and two were otherwise engaged and could also not be used for missions.

But this was enough. More than enough for just one assassin.

The house they had picked for their hideout had been a small cabin a bit out of the way of the city. Previous tenants died, and no one else moved in for a few years, so this was perfect. It was remote, not many people came by, and it wasn't that far from the manor. Well, it was, but they could run.


They reached the house completely out of breath, and took a few moments before coming in.
"Hey," they greeted.
Their men got up immediately. They ignored the third person in the room for now.

"Lord Governor's fine. Nita's fine. Everyone survived the night," they said. "Nita got some injuries. Ain't fatal."
"O, those are good news. We carried the lass 'ere after you got 'er. Once she woke up, she was 'ollerin' like a banshee, so we gagged 'er."
"No attempts to run off?"
"Nay."
"Aight. From now on, if either I or Nita ain't around Lord Governor, one of you needs to be. Constantly watched. I won't let this happen twice. Capisci?"
"Aye, Master."
"So, what's this?" they asked, finally looking at the assassin.
"We thinkin' local talent."

Well, she clearly wasn't Mercantessa. This was too amateurish for them. For one, she wouldn't have gotten caught by them if she was one. So that was a fair assumption.

"You gonna talk?" they asked.

Judging by how very terrified she was, that nod wasn't surprising at all. But they didn't have Rosamund with them, so how does one confirm the truth? Trust just wasn't good enough...

It suddenly occurred to them that the man trusted them to the point he couldn't notice them lying.

The amount of power they had was terrifying. No, even worse. If they enjoyed his total trust, they needed to live up to it. It demanded proof they were worthy of it every day.

And they broke it already. In multiple ways.

They sat on the table, unbothered by their legs hanging off of it. They took a small glass vial of vibrantly orange liquid out of their pocket and played with it while thinking.

They got it from the Alchemist's workshop the first day they dressed up as a servant. It was labeled as a "truth serum", with the word "experimental" written next to it in large, frightening letters. If the Alchemist didn't notice it was missing yet, then its effect was questionable. Who knows how long ago this thing was even made? And Rosamund didn't even use any of this while handling his men in the guard. Not that he needed it.

It could be poison. They didn't mind using this woman as a test subject, she brought Rosamund to such a state it was taking immense self-control not to slit her throat right now. She made him want for death. They didn't care what happened to her, and they wished her all the ill will of the world.

However, this anger was misplaced. The real enemy wasn't her, it was whoever hired her. Khamil, probably.

But if it's not effective, it will be... well, useless. And if it actually does kill her, or damages her beyond repair, then damn it all. They'd have killed their only witness. They could go to the city and find the local cutthroats, and ask them about more information which they couldn't verify. But they didn't yet see the need to do so. No need to make unnecessary enemies, right? This was how Rosamund went through his life.

Another possibility for this thing was that it could work, but only at specific doses. They didn't know anything about magic. It went back to their willingness to experiment on the only witness.

And they were in a rush. The clock in their head ticked in the rhythm of the vial changing hands. Left, right, tick, tock.

Risk it all? They'd risk it either way...

Their predecessor would be cutting off her fingers by now. Inefficient, loud, just as easy to lie as without the screaming. She was frightening, and competent, and not someone they ever tried to live up to. That just wasn't something they wanted to do. They had other options. What would Nita do in their place?

What would... Rosamund do?

"Get that thing off her," they ordered. "Lady, y' get one chance. I've got an untested truth serum. You tell the truth without it, y' don't get turned into an experiment. Capisci?"