Poison by Megan Derr Read Free Book Online

demanded. "I am coming down." Noire barely got out of the way in time as Yann leapt down to join him. "Where is she?"
    Above them, Freddie snorted in exasperation. Noire felt the brush of magic, and then a light flared above them, revealing a pale, wrinkled woman hunched unconscious in the corner.
    "Mother!" Yann cried out and ran toward her. His voice held a tremble when he said, "She's alive, but barely, I think." Carefully scooping her up, he carried her to the trapdoor and stared helplessly up at it.
    "There's a ladder here," Noire said, spying it in another corner. He set it up and after a great of fumbling, shifting, and swearing, they finally managed to get Lady Elianne up out of the secret room.
    Freddie laid her out on the temple floor, eyes shimmering while she examined Elianne. She frowned as she finished and drew back. "We will need Gael to confirm it, but ... I think she was poisoned. Whatever happened here, she did not get away in time. We need to get her back to the palace. Yann, can you fly?"
    "Yes, highness."
    "Noire, you will ride with me to ensure she does not fall."
    Noire did not bother to reply, just lifted Elianne up in his arms and settled her over Freddie's back after Freddie shifted. He mounted behind her, focusing on the crisis and not the fact that he was on the Pegasus' back.
    Sometimes, he found it hard to believe his life.
    Freddie left the temple and, after giving Noire a brief warning, launched herself into the air and flew away at unbelievable speed back to the palace.
    They arrived in less than an hour, landing in the private courtyard. Gael immediately rushed toward them and helped Noire get Elianne down. Dismounting, Noire said, "Lord Yann will be behind us. He is frantic with worry."
    "As he should be," Gael said, then turned and carried Elianne into the palace. Noire followed after him, but drew to a halt when he saw where they were headed:  through the golden doors into the Sanctuary, the glass-domed room that contained the Sacred Oak. Only the Triad was permitted into the Sanctuary unless they bid others join them.
    Freddie looked back over her shoulder when she realized Noire had fallen back. "Come on, Voice. If this is as dire as we fear, then you will be needed. It is best you stay well-apprised."
    "Yes, highness," Noire said and raced to keep up with them.
    They paused as they reached the doors, and Gael spoke to one of the guards. "Lord Yann will be arriving in the private courtyard. When he arrives, take him to the queen's solar and bid him speak to no one. Stay with him to ensure it."
    "Yes, highness," the guard said, and he swept a deep bow before striding off to carry out the orders.
    Freddie stepped up to the golden doors and said a handful of soft words in Ancient. Something clicked, and the door parted. Pulling them open, Freddie led the way inside.
    Noire could not help, but gasp as he stepped into the Sanctuary. He could feel the power, feel its age. The grass beneath his feet was bright green and lush, and the walls were covered with climbing roses all the way up to the very edge of the enormous glass dome. Moonlight poured down on the great tree in the very center of the Sanctuary, the Great Oak that had seen so much tragedy.
    It looked petrified, Noire realized—except toward the base, where he could see a bit of real color and health.
    "Beautiful, isn't it?" Gael said softly, making him jump. "As the ceremony approaches, the tree will regain its life, though its branches will remain bare until the ceremony succeeds. Every one hundred years, it starts to come back to life, only to be turned once more into stone. Let us hope that this time, we'll succeed." Gael smiled tightly, then resumed walking, Freddie and Noire trailing behind him.
    He stopped directly behind the tree and laid Elianne down in the grass. Noire jumped, crying out when vines abruptly sprang from the ground to wrap around her ankles, wrists, and stomach, lilies blooming in the grass above her head.