Sabine moved closer, stroking the hair off her face, fanning it across the pillow like the feathers of their great peacocks.
“What is it, dear? What about poison?”
“Topaz…she poisoned me…because I…went to see the king…” she mumbled through parched lips.
“Oh, no, no…” Sabine's soothing breath feathered over Amethyst's face as she rocked her gently. “She would not dare.”
“She did, she did…”
The next day she could barely lift her head and still couldn't keep anything down. Sabine called for their physician, Dr. Stokes. He bustled into the chamber and pulled the drapes aside. A stream of sunlight flooded the musty room.
“No, please, shut out the light!” Amethyst groaned, her voice a cracked wail of pain. She doubled up as another stab of agony cut through her stomach.
The doctor jabbed
