CHAPTER 19 “So, what happened?” Rory all but pounced on him as he returned. “It’s just as I expected, he took the skin from the sailor’s forehead and used it to re-create the poison. It’s difficult but possible. It would take a very skilled alchemist. Coincidentally, that’s what the victim at the bath was.” “Really? Who was he?” “Dr Corian. He was a good alchemist.” Rory thought of the jar he had given her. “No patch on me, of course,” continued Longinus. “No one is — but good enough to do it. He probably got killed as a way to test the poison. An efficient way for his employer to tie up a loose end. Quite elegant, really.” “So what now?” “Just as expected, I couldn’t see the body, but with his name, you can pass yourself off as his niece.” “Won’t they know I’m not related to him?

