“It is time,” she whispered in reply, “the forces are gathering. One more wave like that and they are done for. Our only chance of saving that ship from being sunk before its time is to stop them and we have to act.” She looked up to see the Duke uncorking the bottle of poisoned wine. Had he listened to her after all?
Pouring two goblets of wine, the Duke set them before his wife and their guest. “Please, do not wait on me on a night like this.”
The Duchess looked warily at her goblet. “Will you not be joining us?”
“Oh for certain, but since I have already got a full goblet of wine, there is no point me overfilling my cup is there?” The Duke raised his goblet to the crowd that watched them. “I charge you all to raise a toast to the springtime!”
“THE SPRINGTIME!” Yelled back the crowd,
