Despite the disappearance of one Heroine of Justice, the celebration continued on. People came out to the patio to enjoy the cool breeze, and delicate string music drifting down into the garden from the ballroom.

  It was almost time for Lavender the Lizard Wizard to come out and make magical concoctions for everyone. I’d never met the lizard before, but Madame Potts promised her appearance and Duchess Callisto happily solicited.

  “Do you want to join the search?” I asked Bastian, who looked as unhappy as Sir Rebecca. The woman was scowling.

  I was suddenly self conscious about sitting on Bastian’s lap. Not that I could move– it would only draw attention to the fact that I was draped across his knees.. They were very nice knees.

  Bastian considered.

  “I am tempted,” he turned to Sir Rebecca, “What has Their Highness ordered?”

  “Our illustrious leader is being themselves and providing a shiny distraction while Duchess Callisto organizes the search party.” Sir Rebecca reported.

  Bastian sighed, “Then no. I'll stay close–but keep me informed of any updates.”

  Sir Rebecca nodded, excusing herself and returning to the party.

  “Are you sure?” I asked, shifting on his lap. His arms tightened in reflex then loosened to let me go. I stood between his legs and he kept hold of one of my hands.

  “There's only been one poisoning tonight, so I should stay close.” He replied, rubbing a thumb over my knuckles. “How do you feel?”

  I wouldn't say I was completely recovered, but the numbing was gone and my organs didn’t feel on fire anymore. I’d suffered worse in dungeons, and my health points were deceptively high. The poison hadn’t managed to drop my health anywhere close to a system warning.

  Not that I should mention any of that aloud. If Bastian had a picture of me in the dungeons, that meant he probably knew more than he should already. That didn't mean I had to reveal all on the first ball.

  “Recovered." I decided.

  "Do you know how it happened?"

  "No... but I would hazard a guess that it was when he'd touched my shoulder. Or maybe my drink was already compromised earlier in the evening - or at lunch. But I think it was the elbow." I frowned down at the offending appendage. I'd been so focused on making sure my glass didn't get poisoned that I hadn't considered other forms of poisoning. Powder on the sleeve that reacted to a [Skill], or a dark magic poison that clung to dress and hid in the shadows of the fabric - or even a [Shadow Poison] that hit my shadow or attacked from someone else's... "If I tried to count every way an [Assassin] could poison me then I'd be here all evening - and we'd both miss Lavender's enchanted drinks. Which it sounds like they are starting the show right now."

  “As you say.” Bastian stood and slipped my hand back onto his arm. I was beginning to wonder if he was always this close while escorting. I couldn't remember if he'd let go of me once all evening… not that I was complaining. "Depending on how the evening plays out, we could ask Marquess Chadwick - or whatever's left of him."

  "I'd like that."

  When we re-entered the ballroom, we were greeting with billowing plumes of pink, yellow and red smoke that drifted across the floor. In the center of the dance floor, someone had summoned a tall circular bar.

  A purple lizard stood on the counter, tiny drink shakers in both hands.

  “Wow.” The word slipped out before I could stop it.

  “She’s a delight no?” The voice belonged to Their Royal Highness, who stood beside us holding a glowing pink concoction in a glass jar.

  The drink had a literal rainbow falling over the edge of the glass, dispersing into particles of glitter at the open end.

  “Your Highness.” Bastian said. Addressing Rowen and then scanning the room like any guard would.

  I dipped a short curtsy to the royal, and then asked, “What did you get?”

  Rowen was in the guise of a long black haired, middle aged male fox, with a crown of petunia flowers and wearing violent-pink silk robes. Their slit eyes crinkled in mirth, “A huckleberry lemon spritz with crushed magical ice. The rainbow was a nice surprise.”

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  “It’s beautiful.”

  Their Highness nodded, “It is. Are you thinking of getting a drink after your poisoning?”

  “It’s not the drink I’m wary of.” I confided, “it’s the line.”

  Their Highness chuckled, “I will admit, that’s not something I usually need to consider.”

  “Where is Nelson?” Bastian asked, suddenly changing the subject.

  “I sent him off to help with the search.” Rowen took a sip of their drink, non-plussed. “They could use a [Healer] when they find the princess– for her captors, of course.”

  “Of course.” Bastian spoke calmly, but I could tell he wasn’t pleased.

  “I would have sent you, but you're distracted.” Their Highness pointed out. To me they added, “You are a lovely distraction by the way. I hope my Knight Commander is proving a worthy escort?”

  Despite the flattery, Their Highness showed their canines in a subtle threatening smile. Testing me.

  “He has been a considerate partner.” I said, smiling sweetly in return. I wasn’t married into Peldeep yet, so I added, “If we don’t count the part where I was poisoned under his watch, Commander Bastian has been a perfect escort.”

  Bastian let out a slight choking sound. Their Highness laughed outright.

  “That is good to hear.” Rowen said, then tilted their glass, silently acknowledging my point. “And maybe I will have more good news to hear soon?”

  “You will be the first to know,” Bastian cut in. “But for this evening, I owe the countess an unpoisoned drink– if we may?”

  Their Highness waved at us to go enjoy ourselves, and Bastian steered us towards the drinks line. I didn’t relax, still feeling the royal’s eyes on us as we left.

  “Don’t mind them.” Bastian whispered, probably knowing full well that Rowen could hear him.

  “I won’t.” I lied. As much as Their Royal Highness Rowen of Peldeep was a flippant and fun ruler who delighted in putting on a playful air… they were also dangerous and known to hold a grudge. Peldeep had the oldest guild for hired killers on the continent, and the Assassin Assembly wasn’t the only thing to be wary of.

  This was the fox who gave Bastian my dungeon portrait after all.

  “Here is your order, Shadowweaver Jason,” Lavender the Lizard Wizard called out, placing a tall black glass with trailing stars on the counter. Beside it, she placed a drink that rapidly changed colours and gave off literal sparks. “And a smoothie for Carl.”

  After an hour or so, it was our turn to place an order with the energetic lizard.

  “One each?” Lavender asked, eying us up and down. She didn’t have to look far because her bar was about the height of my chin. The closer we’d gotten to the bar, the more magical fog we had to wade through.

  “Yes please.” I said, excited to see what she would create.

  The lizard nodded and then pulled out two thin cylindrical glasses almost as tall as she was, placing them next to each other.

  I leaned in closer, excited. With practiced grace Lavender scooped ice into each glass, the ice letting off silver steam and fogging the clear glass. Next, she brought out moondew fruit. Peeled, the flesh of the fruit was shockinging white, and she divided it equally between our two drinks, layering ice and more fruit until it reached just below the rim of each glass.

  She put a tiny drink shaker beside each.

  For Bastian’s shaker, the lizard grabbed a bottle of harbour rum, splashing in an unknown amount. There was no measuring to be seen.

  For myself, she chose elderberry juice.

  She ducked under the bar and came up with citron juice, adding some to each. Two lids appeared out of nowhere, and she shook the concoctions with vigor.

  Clear liquid poured into Bastian’s glass, more so than the small shaker had any right to contain. Mine ran pink against the ice. By magic, swirling fog came off the ice, rising through the drinks and giving off a continued mist over the rim.

  That wasn’t the end though. For mine, she pulled out white peach syrup and drizzled it down a spoon, creating a swirl of white throughout the pink liquid. For Bastian’s, she pulled out Gren’s Keep peach syrup, and drizzled the striking pink into Bastian’s white beverage.

  They both looked spectacular on their own, but perfect together. A matching set that combined our hair colours.

  “Order up!” The lizard gave us a wink as she pushed our drinks across the bar.

  “Thank you,” I told the lizard with heartfelt sincerity while Bastian grabbed both drinks– he was taller, and the bar was high. For some reason, seeing her drinks made me feel even better about my decision to marry Bastian.

  We set off and found an empty patch of wall conveniently in sight of Their Royal Highness.

  "Shall I?" He asked, still holding my drink.

  "I think this should be fine." I said, taking the drink away before he took a sip. "At least for now. Maybe I'll change my mind after we've been here a while or if any Servalt nobles come over to chat."

  “Cheers,” Bastian said, raising his glass. I smiled and tapped his glass with mine.

  It tasted as magical as it looked. The tart juice blending smooth with the light sweet peaches. I let out a contented, “Ah.”

  We stood in silence for a minute, enjoying our drinks and each other's company, before Sir Rebecca joined us.

  “Princess Henrietta has rescued herself.” The knight informed us.

  Bastian nodded as if that were a given. Unfortunately that wasn’t all.

  “And the Dark Lord is now missing.”