The King is poisoned

Iskrin stood in the kitchen of the Crescent Moon inn, the cook cowering before him. The poor goblin had soiled himself at the mere sight of the chief AmranKai and his dignity had gone downhill from there. He was currently backed up against the wall, a spatula clutched protectively in one hand, his nose running. 

All Iskrin had said so far was "Tell me what happened in your own words." The cook's response was unexpected, but probably understandable given the King had been poisoned in his restaurant. "I'm not going to punish you," Iskrin said softly. "The only reason you have this position in the Crescent Moon is because your loyalty to the crown is unimpeachable. The Gods know it's not because of your cooking."

The chef bridled at this, his pride finally overcoming his fear. "I'll have you know..." he began, but Iskrin cut him off with a raised hand. 

"Shut up, Nevron," he said impatiently. "I don't care about your credentials. I want to know what you saw this day as the King dined."

Iskrin stepped out of the Crescent Moon in an irritable mood. This whole affair had caught him off-guard. It didn't help that his sister was in town and that he had been distracted by family news - sitting with her at the dock market all morning eating bread and wine. When a runner had finally found him to let him know of the King, he'd determined to head immediately to the palace, but had thought to call in at the inn on his way past. That had now proven to be a waste of time, so he headed on up the steps by the baths to the palace level.

At his arrival, Hove, his assistant, had found him immediately and let him know the lay of the land. The Lady Ysorrowen had visited the palace claiming that her own husband - who had escaped the palace prison - had kidnapped her and now fled. She had then been permitted access to the King's chamber - something Iskrin would take up with the palace guard captain shortly - to check on the sleeping monarch. She had returned to her own home briefly and was now with the King again.

Iskrin sat at his desk for a moment in thought, his eyes unfocused. Hove waited patiently, having seen this look of intense concentration on her employer's face many a time. At length Iskrin spoke. "Summon Tensa and Venish from the barracks. They will take up the watch," he said. 

"The King and Captain Osrell won't like that, my Lord," Hove replied.

"Captain Osrell will be talking to me shortly - and the King can take it up with me when he wakes up."

Hove nodded and turned to leave.

"One more thing, Hove: dispatch a bird to Ezran. I may need his services."

A sour look crossed the assistant's face, but she nodded her understanding and then left.

On their arrival, Tensa and Venish made their way directly to Iskrin's room as instructed. The palace guard eyed them suspiciously, but they had their orders not to interfere directly from Osrell, who Iskrin had torn a few strips off earlier. As the two new guards sat on the sofa in front of him, Iskrin spent some time briefing them on who was and wasn't permitted to attend the King now. At the same time, he kept an eye out for any sign of Lady Ysorrowen. She had spent some hours at the King's side - guilt over her husband's role in this, Iskrin supposed. Either an excellent act, or genuine concern. Time would tell which.

At length, Ysorrowen finally left the King's chamber, and at that moment Iskrin took the two guards out onto the terrace through the outer door of his room and back in through the side entrance. He placed Tensa inside the palace and Venish at the outside door of the King's chamber.

He then stalked his way back into the palace...