Part the One-Hundred Ninety-Fifth
In which: something is not right.
Something is not right.
Lira says as much to Reyu, who agrees. Reyu also brings up a disturbing point. “Can you… verify… that the healing potions we were given are truly that?”
Lira shakes her head, keeping her voice low so as not to be overheard. “Annika could, if she were here. But I don’t know how, given that Lady Testy over there barely gives us privacy to piss off the side of the boat.”
Reyu looks vaguely shocked. “How much privacy do you require?” she asks.
Lira decides this isn’t a conversation she wants to pursue further. “Yeah… let me see what I can figure out about those potions.
Detect magic will tell us something, at least. See if you can keep our minders distracted for a few seconds.”
Reyu watches Lira as she walks over to the other side of the boat.
Humans.
Lira looks at one of the healing potions the Count gave them before setting off. It
looks like a healing potion. She unstoppers it and takes a sniff. It
smells like a healing potion. She risks a glance over her shoulder. Lady Tempeste and her guards are safely distracted at the other end of the boat. Just to be on the safe side, Lira turns her back and casts a stilled
detect magic.
She looks at the potions, then checks a few of her own magic items just to be sure they are reading as they should.
Well, she thinks,
that’s not a good sign.
###
Lira finds Lady Tempeste standing with one of her guards by the barge’s small mast. Lira smiles at them. They do not smile back.
“I’m sorry to bother you,” Lira begins, “but the potions we were given, they’re just healing potions, correct?”
“That is what you were told, is it not?”
“Well, technically, we were told, ‘If you are injured consume these.’ I was just wondering if they were
cure light wounds… something slightly more potent? You know, just in case.”
Lady Tempeste lets Lira’s question dangle. “I do not know the specifics. You should have asked Lord Marmion.”
“Of course,” Lira agrees. “But they are something in that… genre?”
“Yes.”
Lira nods respectfully to Lady Tempeste and the silent guard before she withdraws. “Thank you. I won’t trouble you further.”
###
“That is… troubling.”
Lira shakes her head. “I don’t like this, Reyu. We’re being played.” With some difficulty, she and Reyu have managed to steal a few seconds to speak privately.
“I suppose we will find out in the morning.”
Lira looks over to where the sun is just dipping below the horizon. “Ehkt, if we’re in trouble, give me a sign.” She adds under her breath, “Well Devon, I hope you’re
happy.”
###
The next morning, after concluding morning prayers, Reyu surreptitiously casts another spell in hopes of determining the nature of the “healing potions” the party has been given. She whispers her findings to Lira as they finish breakfast.
“They are not poisoned. That is… something.”
Lira shakes her head. “Not much though.” On the one hand, she’s not willing to completely rule-out the possibility that there is a legitimate explanation. On the other, she’s really getting tired of being nice to people who keep lying to her. She’d also like to know the lay of the land before they find themselves marooned on one of the Count’s islands. And so, without another word to Reyu, Lira gets up and walks over to the other side of the deck where their “observer” is waiting.
“Lady Tempeste, do you have a moment?” The expression on the other woman’s face says clearly that she wishes she didn’t, but Lira merely smiles pleasantly and presses on. “I certainly understand that you have knowledge of this island that you cannot share with us, in order for this to be a fair test. However, I was wondering about one thing that I was hoping you could illuminate.”
As she speaks, Lira’s voice has grown noticeably less concillatory. Lady Temepste glares back. “Yes?”
“The healing potions we were given,” and by this time all trace of a smile has left Lira’s tone, “why aren’t they magical?”
Which is when Lady Tempeste attacks her.