Hi! Thanks for visiting my blog :) This is part two of a little story I'm writing. For anyone who is new here, I would recommend you start at part one and work your way through. Happy reading!
"Kim? Are you alright?"
"Fine," I say, quickly tuning back in to the conversation.
"What do you think?" Nick asks.
"Um... I think the poison was meant for the queen," I say.
"We've already discussed that," Sophie moans, frustrated by our lack of progress. "If someone was aiming for the queen, they'd have gotten her drink, not confused her with her servant. There's no way they got your drink by mistake."
"They did get the queen's drink," I say softly.
"What?"
I quickly decide what lie to tell. It needs to be convincing, but I can never tell them the truth - that will just put them in more danger. "Lene was being nice. She let me have a sip of her wine. When I collapsed, they obviously realised it was poisoned, and she didn't drink it."
"Maybe she was trying to poison you," Nick suggests. "I mean, it's a bit of a strange coincidence that the one time the wine is poisoned, you are the one to drink it."
"Lene would never do that," I say firmly. "She's the queen. She protects her subjects, not murders them. Besides, she has no reason to want to kill me."
Sophie and Nick keep discussing it, but I retreat back to my own silent world. How did they find out? My secret is one of the most closely guarded in court, one that only a couple of people know. That can mean only one thing: we have a traitor in our midst. I look sadly at my sister and the man I love. How can I get them to drop this? If they don't, they will become targets at once.
"I need to go," I say abruptly. "Lene will be worried. I need to tell her I'm ok."
"Come right back," Nick says.
"Really, I'm feeling fine now. I can work for the rest of the day."
"Kim, you need to rest," Nick says gently. "Lene can manage for one day without you."
I turn away and murmur so quietly that Nick can't hear me. "No. No, she can't."
I walk through the palace as though I am invisible. No one notices servants - one of the reasons we chose a servant as my cover. The guards at Lene's door let me in without a second glance. She is sitting by the window, doing her embroidery.
"Kim! Oh, thank goodness you're ok," she bursts out, rushing to hug me. "I don't know what we would have done if you had died."
"I'm ok," I say. "Nick and Sophie are in trouble, though. They are determined to find out who did this, and they're going to paint great big targets on their backs if they keep on like this."
"We'll have to stop them, then," Lene says. "Come on, Kim, you've solved worse problems than this."
Away from Nick and Sophie, I find my mind is clearer, not watching them, worrying about what trouble they are going to get themselves into.
"Yes... yes, we could find the poisoner," I say slowly. "One of the guards could play the part. We could make sure they're there for a public capture."
"And the reason he would want to kill you?" Lene prompts.
"He... he wanted to kill you, but he knew he needed to get me out of the way first. I'm at your side almost all the time. He didn't want any witnesses."
"Good," Lene says. "I'll arrange it."
I smile, feeling slightly calmer. Lene and I have been working as a team for so many years, solving what seem like the insurmountable problems of rule, that we work seamlessly, without any strain or effort.
"Have you thought about what I said?" Lene asks hesitantly.
"You know I can't tell him," I say heavily. "The fewer people who know, the safer everyone would be. This proves it - we obviously have a traitor. We'll have to start an investigation, but quietly."
Lene nods. "How?"
I think about it, and spend a few minutes describing the best strategy to her. When she gets it, of course, she has to get back to the issue. "You've been with Nick for a year, now," she says. "Don't you think it's time to tell him? You can't live your whole lives based on a lie..."
"Don't," I say. "Don't pretend. Nick and I can never have lives together - not in the way you're thinking. It would be way too dangerous for him."
"Not if you told him," Lene says.
"No, Lene. I will not put him in danger like that. I love him too much to see him die."
"But -"
"I don't want to discuss the matter any further," I say firmly.
She bows her head. "Of course. Forgive me."
"It's ok, Lene," I say. "You're my friend and you're just looking out for me."
She nods, still looking embarrassed.
"I'd like some time alone," I say.
Lene retreats to the adjoining room while I go to stare out of the window.
I have been living with my secret for my whole life, but ever since I met Nick, it has been harder and harder to keep. Of course, I don't remember when my parents did the swap, when Lene was taken to the palace as a young baby and I was given to her parents to foster. Sophie is my sister in every way that matters... but she shares her parents with Lene, not me.
From a young age, I was trained in the ways of a servant... and other ways, by the king himself. I was assigned to Lene, so that I may be close to her and learn the ways of court for when I had need of that knowledge. Lene and I have shared in the deception so long, it is not surprising we've become good friends.
When the king died, Lene officially took his place. I was always there, though. With my training, and the good instincts I inherited from my real parents, I have been able to guide her in making the right decisions, all the while she protected me.
Now, someone has found out about my secret, and is trying to kill me.
I close my eyes, and imagine telling Nick. Of course, I never can, but for a minute, I go through the scene in my head, as though imagining it vividly enough will make it possible.
"Nick, My parents aren't the same as Sophie's parents. I was hidden at a young age for my own protection. My father was the late king, and his wife my mother.
"Lene isn't the queen. I am."
To be continued
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