Nine for the Devil by Mary Reed, Eric Mayer Read Free Book Online

for herself had overcome her caution, for otherwise she would not have dared to speak to an official in such a fashion.
    John decided to abandon his search for Hypatia. Perhaps fate was prodding him to begin the task he had been delaying. In which case, Kuria might well know something useful.
    The late empress’ attendant followed him obediently to a marble seat positioned to give a good view of the poppy garden.
    Kuria confirmed she had attended the empress during her final days. He asked her about Theodora’s visitors at that time. Had anyone been to the sickroom frequently?
    Kuria’s face bunched in concentration. “There was the fat physician, and an old churchman. They both visited every day. The emperor only left the room when they were there. Oh, excellency…” Her voice cracked and tears flowed afresh. “He was devoted to her. He insisted on feeding her himself, though she ate so little and rarely kept it down.”
    The comment suggested a possibility. “Who brought the empress her meals?”
    “Her personal cook. When she took to her room he brought them to the door. One of us attendants took them in and Justinian would feed her, like I said.” Kuria dried her wet cheeks with the bright green sleeve of her tunic.
    “You say she ate little?”
    “Mostly broth.”
    Poison and soup went well together, John thought. A natural pairing from a demon’s kitchen, as many knew to their cost. On the other hand, the imperial couple’s personal cooks answered with their lives if there was the slightest suggestion of tampering with their food. He remembered one occasion when Theodora had become ill after eating fish. The unhappy cook was roasted on his own brazier as a lesson to all.
    Fish had not been served at the imperial table for some weeks afterwards.
    The memory unsettled his stomach. He found himself tasting the swordfish he had consumed earlier. He swallowed hard.
    Kuria continued to snuffle. Somewhere in the twilight a bird called but received no answer. As night fell the creatures sculpted from shrubbery solidified into dark menacing forms. Did the wings of the gryphon stir with life or was it only the effect of wind off the sea?
    John wondered if the murderer could have paid Theodora’s cook enough to risk his life. It was highly unlikely. An imperial cook already lived a life of privilege and luxury in the inner sanctum of the empire. If caught, the consequences would be terrible to contemplate.
    “Who else was permitted to visit the empress?” John asked.
    “Nobody, really. The empress even refused to see Antonina, her closest friend. She didn’t want people to see how she was. All shrunken, her poor face like a skull. And she had times when the pains would grip her and she’d cry out. She didn’t want anyone seeing. I think it hurt the emperor even more than it hurt her. His face would turn a ghastly white. Not that I was there all the time, excellency.” The girl looked up at him. Her wide frightened eyes gleamed in the dying light.
    “You couldn’t have been always on duty. But, as far as you know, only the physician and the clergyman—a spiritual advisor, I assume—were regularly admitted. You mentioned attendants. Who were the others?”
    “You mean during the last days? Just myself and Vesta. She is lady-in-waiting to Joannina, Lady Antonina’s daughter. After Theodora moved Joannina and Anastasius into rooms in her personal quarters Vesta began visiting the empress, reporting on them. Especially when Theodora became too sick to visit the young couple herself. The empress wanted to be assured they were getting on well.”
    “I understand the empress took a great interest in their betrothal.”
    “Yes. Toward the end, Vesta spent as much time serving Theodora as serving Joannina. She always brought fruit but the empress could never eat it. We ate it instead. We took turns sitting outside Theodora’s door in case something had to be fetched or our mistress needed assistance of an