Willow looked inside. "Dark."
"That's where Niffy's invaluable," Laurel said.
"Good luck, dear," Willow said as the cat, tail tip idly moving, made her way into the hidden passage. "And don't get hurt!" she added. She did not quite close the panel. "Just in case we don't hear her when she returns. That's a thick panel."
"Didn't you think to store up any provisions for yourself?" Sollie asked Salinah, who was slumped in the corner of the one couch still available to be used for its original function.
"Of course, but they're all gone."
"Surely she's not starving all the people…" the countess began.
"I can't trust anyone," Salinah said sullenly, finding a stray crumb in her lap. She wet a fingertip and transferred it to her mouth.
"She can't have poisoned the water…" The countess indicated Salinah's gown which looked as if the girl had not changed it in days.
"I wouldn't put it past her," came from Salinah.
"Isn't it fortunate I came prepared, then," the countess said and, reaching into her own travel pouch, drew out several items.
"More food?"
"No. Antidotes, and litmus papers which will detect the acid of poison."
"A lot of good that does when I have nothing left to test it on."
"Surely you can ring for service…"
"And have them discover you all here?" Salinah widened her eyes in contempt for that suggestion.
"When guards escorted us up?" the countess demanded.
"Ohhhhh," and Salinah actually wailed like a frightened child.
"Well, I am not going any longer without some refreshment," the countess said and, before Salinah could stop her, went to the bellpull and gave it several yanks.
"They'll never answer," Salinah moaned.
A moment later the pneumatic speaking tube whistled a response.
Countess Solesne went to it, opening the cover, and in the clear loud voice needed for orders to reach the subterranean pantries, she announced that the Baroness Salinah required hot water for tea and refreshments for four. "Generous portions," she added.
"They'll never come."
They did, for the dumbwaiter bell rang not five minutes later and, when Willow opened the hatch, they could all hear the squeaking of the platform being hoisted to their level.
"Well, I hope the cook could spare it," the countess said as she looked at what had been laid out for their consumption. "She is carrying mourning a trifle too far. Especially since she contrived to have so many funerals."
Salinah hauled the countess away from the hatch as if the words would have carried through the thick wood and down to the pantry.
"Nonsense, Salinah. Get a hold of yourself. You're the courageous young woman who hunted barguas and boar. What's happened to you? And thank heavens, the water is hot enough to make a respectable cup."
"But you don't dare…"
The countess snorted but took several of her papers out of the packet and tested them against the bread and butter-and not much butter-against the dry Madeira slices, and everything on the tray.
"It's all safe enough to eat." And she proceeded to do so, making the tea as well and passing the plates round.
Willow and Laurel ate sparingly to allow Salinah to make up for lost meals, but the countess ate what was a fair share. Only when Salinah reached for the milk pitcher to pour the remainder in her cup did the countess stay her hand.
"Niffy will be thirsty when she returns from those dusty passageways."
Salinah paused, her face reflecting skepticism as well as indignation. "What makes you so sure the cat will come back? Or get back."
"As you saw at Vial Woods, she's a self-reliant personage and a formidable hunter," Willow said. Then, making a bed of discarded cushions and pillows, she settled herself down for a rest. "I suggest you all follow my example. We might need to be rested for whatever else we have to do today."
Salinah gave a contemptuous sniff, but the meal had obviously restored her spirits. "Could I have one of those papers of yours, Sollie? I really would like to have a quick bath… if the water's safe."
"Of course, my dear," and Sollie handed one over. Then she followed Willow's example, as did Laurel, while Salinah indulged herself.
WILLOW DID NOT sleep although she closed her eyes. She kept wondering what Jamas was doing and if he'd heard about Mavron. She could almost imagine the scene in Egdril's bedchamber, with Mavron in filial attendance and doubtless, that woman, exuding solicitousness for her dying husband, just waiting until he had been pronounced dead before she entrapped the true heir to the throne. And what was Niffy doing now? Even a long-legged clever cat person would require a long time to reach the royal apartments and penetrate rooms which were most assuredly well guarded. And what did Niffy plan to do once she had entered that woman's rooms? Or, more to the point, what did Mangan hope to achieve by such a surreptitious entry?
In spite of her worrisome thoughts, Willow did fall asleep. So did the other three women.
What awakened her was something delicately nibbling her ear.
"Niffy?" Willow hugged the cat to her in an excess of relief. Another noise made her sit bolt upright, for through the wide-open panel came the dark shadows of large figures.
"Ssst, Willow, it's me!" Jamas' unmistakable whisper reassured her. Though what she could have done to prevent deadly intruders, Willow didn't know.
"How did you find Niffy?"
"Oh, she found us," Jamas said, hunkering down by his wife and running a loving finger along her face. "You're all right?"
"Jamas, you must save Mavron. She's going to behead him tomorrow."
"Said and done," Jamas said with a low laugh.
That was enough to waken Salinah, who sat up, saw all the dark figures, and opened her mouth to scream. The man nearest her clapped a hand across her mouth and nearly lost his grip when she bit him and kicked out savagely. But he had the advantage of position.
"Easy, Salinah," Jamas said, "it's one of Moxtell's lads. He won't harm you, but we really don't need to broadcast our arrival, now do we? Mavron, reassure the duchess."
"I'll light some candles, shall I?" Laurel said, rising and doing so. "Phewww, what is that smell?" she asked, sniffing.
"I suspect it is me," Mavron said.
"Oh, your poor hands," Salinah said, reaching for them so that all saw the cruel marks manacles had gouged in his wrists. "You come with me. She hasn't poisoned the water, and I've some salve that will ease these immediately."
The others watched as Salinah led Mavron off to minister to him.
"How did Niffy find you? Where did she find you?"
Jamas chuckled as he settled down on the couch, pulling Willow beside him. "Rather a long story, and the night is not over yet. I'm happy to say that there are many Mauritians who are not pleased with the recent events. And were delighted to find someone who might adjust matters.
"We found the postern gate and also some interesting comings and goings." He chuckled. "So we joined forces with those determined to restore the throne to its rightful claimant. They knew all the back ways and, since we had a superior force, we overwhelmed the dungeon guards and released Mavron. We got as far as the kitchens-here we also discovered more like minded folk-when who bursts upon the scene but Niffy here."
"What was she doing in the kitchens?" Willow said, bending an accusatory stare on the cat, who was vigorously washing her dirty paws.
"Hungry, I imagine. We were," Jamas said, flipping open his cape on the floor and displaying a variety of foods, including a whole roasted fowl, breads, fruits, cheeses, and a flagon of wine.
"All we got was dry bread and cake," Willow said, reaching first for the flagon to wet her throat while Jamas neatly severed a leg from the fowl and handed it to her. "Oh, this is good," she muttered around the drumstick. She offered a sliver to Niffy. The cat was prowling back and forth from Jamas to the still-open panel.