Change of Darkness (The Change Series Book 3) by Jacinta Jade (best new books to read txt) 📕

servants again. And learned something interesting.’ Renhed paused a moment for effect. ‘The tray that was used to carry the food and drink to your room was different to the one the cook had originally placed the meal on.’

Siraay stared at the spymaster, unsure how that fact helped.

Renhed grinned once more. ‘It was like an unravelling a knot of vines, really. Once I had one end, it was simply a matter of following it through all the loops and turns.’

Siraay arched an eyebrow. ‘I assume you’re getting to a point soon?’

The spymaster seemed unfazed by Siraay’s blunt tone as she smiled again. ‘The cook remembered that the tray she had used for you had a distinct knot in the wood, just off-centre of its middle. A favourite of hers, it seems. But when I had her take me through the steps used to prepare your food, apart from vehemently denying any of the food she had prepared had been rotten, she remarked upon the difference when I placed the tray of leftovers before her.’ The female archon moved forwards to stand at the balcony with Siraay. ‘It seems someone switched your tray after it left the kitchens with another. And that same someone used rotten food.’

Siraay’s brows narrowed. ‘Someone?’

Renhed glanced at her. ‘I tracked down the movements of other meals that had been prepared in the kitchens that morning. Two people ordered a tray just like yours, one a bit earlier than you, and one just after, but only one of them returned a tray to the kitchens with the markings the cook described.’

Siraay swivelled her whole body to look at the spymaster, breathing faster. ‘Who?’

Renhed continued to gaze at the view. ‘I went down to the study where that tray was delivered. And found the poison they put in your drink hidden within a storage box there. The room is only used by the attendants of archons and captains in the inner circle, but only one person’s attendant used the room that particular morning.’

Siraay stepped closer to Renhed, and her voice almost sounded foreign to her ears as she asked again, ‘Who, Renhed?’

The spymaster returned her gaze steadily. ‘Kecein.’

Siraay’s mind blanked. Kecein? Who was that?

Her expression must have communicated her ignorance, because the spymaster said, ‘She’s one of Atalia’s personal attendants.’

Icy cold flooded through Siraay, followed by the heat of adrenaline as her enemy was confirmed. She glanced away from Renhed and out to the edges of the city again.

‘Thank you,’ she said flatly.

‘What will you do?’ The archon’s voice was calm and nonchalant, as if they were merely discussing a training session or the movements of troops.

But now Siraay had somewhere to direct her anger, which burnt with a fierce intensity deep within her.

Before, Atalia had merely been a rival. Someone she’d had to keep an eye on, like the other female’s here who were driven to seek power. She had always thought she might need to do something about the head tactician, but it would have been subtle. An accident, maybe, to put her out of commission. But not murder—too risky.

But now, Atalia had made a direct attack upon Siraay. And made the error of not killing her outright.

Siraay would not make the same mistake.

The spymaster, of course, already knew what Siraay would do, if not how she would do it. It was why the female hadn’t come to tell Siraay immediately once she had learned who was behind the attack—she risked much in telling Siraay before reporting to her lord.

And Siraay knew that the spymaster, who played all sides, had also lost an ally by telling Siraay. But it had been time to force her hand—to make her choose.

So Renhed really was asking about the how. How would Siraay deal with this betrayer, this lesser female, who had directly challenged her and attempted to remove her from the game completely?

Siraay smiled out at the world, the coldness of her expression matching the cool kiss of air against her scarred cheek.

‘I’ll take her head-on. Tonight. Where she will least expect it.’ And at a moment that Siraay could turn to her advantage.

Her smile grew wider as a plan built in her mind. Yes. Tonight, all the pieces of her plan would come together.

She spoke once more as the spymaster made to leave. ‘Don’t mention anything you’ve learned. To anyone.’

Renhed’s steps halted a moment, then she said quietly, ‘Of course.’

Siraay gave a discrete nod, and she heard the balcony doors open and close as the spymaster was permitted to leave.

‘Lady?’ Melora’s voice came to her, the one word full of questions.

Siraay turned around. ‘Pull out the blue dress and see that it’s in a suitable condition.’

She looked back over her shoulder once more at Xarcon City, and the edges of her mouth curled up in a terrible smile.

‘I need to make sure I look my best tonight.’

***

The rest of the day was spent in rest and preparation. Without a female servant to assist, Siraay called on Genlie and Melora to help her get ready for the evening, also calling in Wexner and Zale so she didn’t have to repeat her plan twice.

She paid no mind to their watching eyes as she undressed before them—Zale looking amorous and Wexner seeming stunned—and then settled herself into her bath, detailing the points of her plan and giving them orders all at the same time.

She made sure the males knew their roles for the evening by the time she was done with her bathing, then sent them back out to guard the hallway, letting Genlie and Melora help prepare her in silence.

Luckily, Melora knew how to style hair quite well, so Siraay had the female dress her hair in an elaborate updo that swept her long fringe up and backwards and then twisted and layered it into the other lengthy sections of her hair.

Then Genlie brought out the dress.

It was made from a shimmery blue fabric and had been pieced together from different cuts of the same material, so that