Gruffly Banek said, “I was sorry to hear of the illness that stole her strength. If not for that, no doubt she would have destroyed him when she realized what he was.” A bitter smile twisted her mouth. “It was not an illness.” Maddek frowned. “That is what has been said.” “Zhalen said many things. He said that he loved her even as he poisoned her wine with a full measure of fellroot.” The same poison that had withered the minister Nayil’s limbs—though it had been delivered by a blade, not ingested. Drinking fellroot should have killed her. But perhaps a strong, goddess-favored queen could
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