“Nanamo!”
I leapt from my chair and immediately knelt on the floor beside her. I checked her pulse and thought I felt a flutter…was she still breathing? She was so small, and I was afraid I would injure her more if I tried any sort of life saving actions.
Yet, there was a smell…a faint scent from her lips. Something I’d inhaled before. It wasn’t unpleasant, but it was biting, as if chewing on some sort of metal. Where had I smelled that before?
The door of her chamber burst open. To my not so surprise, Teledji Adeledji appeared. He made an overly grand motion with his arms as he cried out Nanamo’s name. I stood as he and four Brass Blades crowded in the small space. And lingering behind them all, in the doorway, was the Lady in Waiting.
I couldn’t help but stare at her. She had poured the wine. I’d watched her, just before Nanamo dismissed her. Had she poisoned the wine? Was she innocent in this? Had my wine been poisoned? Or was Nanamo targeted…possibly for what she had just told me?
I felt my heart fall in my chest. That had to be it. Why else would Teledji Adeledji be right here in Nanamo’s chambers in the middle of a Royal Banquet? Waiting outside, with a squad of Brass Blades? Did he know I would be here? How? I was sure Nanamo hadn't told anyone she wanted to see me--the request had been sudden. Last minute. Or...had it?
“Teledji–” I said, wanting him to call in a healer or a Chirurgeon.
But one of the Blades stepped toward me, his sword menacingly pulled from its sheath.
The Lalafell knelt beside Nanamo. Surely if he checked her, he’d feel the same flutter I had? But he didn’t even touch her. Just looked at the goblet and the wine staining the carpet and tile.
“The Sultana…is dead.” He said this so dramatically, and I took note of the reactions of the Blades–they were glaring at me. “Poison…in her wine?”
He turned his head even more dramatically and shouted, “You! You did this!”
What? I stepped forward, aware the Blades were watching me. “Don’t be ridiculous. I didn’t poison her wine. The Sultana requested to see me when I got here. She wanted to talk to me. I would never harm her or endanger Ul’dah in any way.” I looked at the Lady in Waiting. “But I know who poured the wine.”
She did not meet my gaze.
“Spare us your denials!” Teledji was on his feet and pointing up at me. “I see no other suspects and the room has but one entrance!”
I balled my hands into fists. “I just said I was invited in to talk to the Sultana. Stop accusing me and get a healer or a Chirurgeon–or are you making sure she dies?”
I was a little surprised that the Blades hesitated and looked at Teledji. One of them said, “Sir, should we call–”
“Enough!” Teledji shouted, though he continued to look up at me. “Why would the Sultana ever invite you into her private quarters? You probably bullied your way in here and forced her to drink! I hereby accuse you of regicide! Men, arrest this viper!”
“Listen to me!” I shouted. “I didn't do anything! But you need to get her a healer! She was breathing when I–”
“Silence him!” Teledji screamed, as if I was going to say something he didn’t want me to say–
Wait…was that it? Was he focusing on me to buy time for Nanamo to die?
None of the Blades moved forward. I kept my fists visible, ready to fight. I had no weapon and no means of communicating with anyone. But I was very certain I wasn’t going to let anyone stop me from declaring my innocence in this, even if it did look pretty bad.
“Why are you hesitating?” the Lalafell demanded, looking from side to side at the Brass Blades.
The Blade next to him pointed at me with his drawn weapon. “That’s the Warrior of Light. We try to fight him; he’ll kill all of us.”
“Nonsense! He’s weaponless.”
Another hesitation, then, “I don’t think that matters, sir.”
“So,
these are the fearless Brass Blades?” Teledji was beside himself. “He’s unarmed. Just a male Viera. Defenseless. Are you all afraid of an oversized rabbit? Just take him down and bind him!”
“All we got is rope. I'm sure he can break that."
I was focused on Nanamo, and the only door in and out. It was obvious Teledji was going to die on his sword (or piles of gil) to make sure I pay for the Sultana's death. I’d also realized the smell on her lips was the same smell from the vial I had in my back pocket. A vial that was conveniently at my feet at a meeting that never took place.
I was painfully aware I’d been set up.
That’s when the spell hit me. I didn't see who cast it, but I suspected it wasn't any of the Brass Blades, but someone outside the door.
I’d been hit with a sleep spell before–over a year ago when I was kidnapped by a crooked merchant and the Amalj'aa, right before I fought Ifrit. I recognized the feeling, the smell, the dizziness. I fell to my knees, trying hard not to succumb to the magic–but something struck the back of my head and that took my concentration from me. My knees gave out and I collapsed forward, beside the spilled wine and golden goblet. I could still hear and feel them as they searched my pockets and pulled my arms behind my back. I just couldn’t…move as the spell relaxed my muscles… but I could hear, before the world went dark.
"The vial should be in one of those pouches…there it is…”
They knew...I had it...
“Inform Ilberd we have him,” Teledji said.