you, child.” The Queen glided away without another word, walking back through the kitchen. ­After a moment, Kayla felt strong enough to follow her. In the throne room, the Queen, calm and ­expressionless, seated herself without a word. The gathered courtiers watched her nervously.
“It is true, what the human child said,” the Queen said at last. “I was poisoned.”
The Queen's eyes traveled through the crowd, glancing at one elven lord and then another, ­until they fixed upon an elderly, gray‑haired elven man garbed in black velvet, who was watching her with a composed face but terror in his eyes. His lips twitched once, and before he could smooth his features into another mask of impassiveness, the Queen pointed at him.
“He is responsible!” the Queen said, gesturing with a pale finger at the elderly elf. “Take him outside and make him pay for his treachery!”
How . . . how did she know?
The silent swordsman and the Redcap moved to the old elf. They had