The cold winds of winter blew fiercely through the Unicorn Kingdom, chilling Bronze to the bone even as he wrapped his cloak tighter around him. It was a full moon tonight, he noticed, already adding to the sense of unease that had nagged him all day. He had always been tense to begin with, a symptom of his line of work. Serving as a spy tended to make one’s nerves raw, and what he had discovered only served put him even more on edge than usual.
Over the past year, he had managed to infiltrate the inner circle of Princess Silver, the younger sister of the vastly more popular Princess Platinum. Her cunning was matched only by her ambition. Everyone knew she was responsible for the political ruination or death of her opponents. Everyone knew she had thwarted all efforts of peace between the other tribes, favoring war and expansion. And everyone knew she coveted the throne her older sister was soon to inherit, doing everything in her power to undermine Platinum. Everyone knew, but no one could prove it.
Gaining her trust had been a grueling process, but he had managed to work his way up, and despite his inability to obtain anything substantial as of yet, he was confident he could expose her if given just a little more time.
Of course, his time may soon be up. While on reconnaissance early this morning, searching outside Silver’s private manor, he observed an apothecary come in through the back entrance, as if his arrival and departure was required to go unseen. Years of working in the trade had trained Bronze’s senses to their peak, and he noticed the smells coming from the apothecary, sickly sweet smells that pointed to only one thing: poison.
It was only hours later that Bronze received a summons to join with his fellow advisers for a feast at Silver’s manor. It didn’t take a genius to reach the conclusion he did.
Regardless, he couldn’t refuse for fear of exposure. Besides, he was a professional. He knew of ways to avoid poisoned food without arousing suspicion. Even still, the uneasy feeling would not leave him as he entered the manor. At least the warmth of the large fire dispelled the cold from his body, enough that he was willing to hand his cloak to the servant waiting inside the door.
The servant led him into the dining hall, where his three fellow advisers were already seated and talking among themselves. He presented them the friendly, diplomatic smile he had forged over years of espionage, but beneath was only contempt. Greedy, corrupt fools, the lot of them. He could only imagine what idiotic blunder one or all of them had committed to bring about the poisoning that was surely coming. Whatever it was, he couldn’t say he would miss any of them.
The sound of large wooden doors being swung open drew their attention to the front of the room, Princess Silver herself walking down the stone steps toward her guests, her billowing cape of royal blue trailing behind her on the cobbled stone floor.
“My lords,” she said with the same practiced smile that Bronze wore, “thank you for joining me. Tonight is a celebration in your honor, my loyal advisers. I do hope you enjoy the feast I have prepared for you.” Bronze couldn’t help but detect the smallest hint of irony in her voice. He knew what she was up to.
She took her seat at the head of the table and talked quite amicably with her advisers until the first course was brought out. Each of the five unicorns seated at the table received their own plate stacked high with exotic, heavily seasoned and spiced delicacies. Bronze shifted slightly in his chair. This much seasoning would make it nearly impossible to detect the smell or taste of any poisons.
Relax, he thought to himself, you’ve done this before. Making sure he wasn’t seen, he cast a quick, simple spell, one that created a small, almost invisible portal to a pocket dimension. With every quick movement of his fork, he scooped the food into the portal while making sure to put the fork into his mouth and pretend to chew. Similarly, he put the cup to his lips while letting the wine spill into the same portal.
This went on for hours, over five courses and constant conversation between all those at the table. Princess Silver herself was relatively silent, speaking only when necessary and giving as short a response as possible. Bronze was still nervous. She seemed far too pleased with herself.
Finally, the fifth and final course was finished. Bronze made a point to pat his empty stomach in the same manner as the other advisers who had stuffed their faces. There was no way of knowing whose food had been poisoned. It could have been one or all of them. He wouldn’t put it past Silver to kill her entire council if she suspected treason of one. Better he had been cautious.
Silver waved her hoof and a servant brought in a bowl of steaming broth and set it in the middle of the table.
“Please my lady, we can’t stand another bite,” said one of the advisers. Bronze voiced his agreement, even as his stomach threatened to give him away with a growl.
“This final dish is only for one of you,” spoke Silver. “You see, I have discovered that one of you has betrayed me.” The room was deathly silent as the advisers began to sweat, knowing full well what their mistress was likely to do to anyone she suspected of being against her. “An apothecary visited me at my behest earlier today, and prepared for me a toxin of the highest quality. He assured me the pain would prove quite entertaining.”
The other advisers were shaking, but Bronze was relatively calm. He had known the plot, and acted accordingly.
As if reading his mind, Silver continued. “That one among you may be thinking you could outsmart me. But you should know that I don’t underestimate my enemies. I know that spies can often pretend to eat in order to avoid poisoning, but you still must put the fork in your mouth and put the cup to your lips to sell the illusion.” Silver’s eyes flashed with self-satisfaction as Bronze began to turn pale. “You see, the silverware and cups of the traitor were coated with the poison I spoke of, so you were still poisoned and only succeeded in missing out on an exquisite feast.” Silver’s smile sent shivers up Bronze’s spine.
“The broth in this bowl contains the one and only cure. You must drink it, or suffer a most painful death. Considering that you have information I want, I would very much like to keep you alive. Now choose: drink and live, or die. According to the apothecary, you have around 60 seconds to decide.”
Bronze was in a panic. Was she lying? His stomach hurt, but he reminded himself that could well be because he hadn’t eaten. He felt faint and nauseous, short of breath. It couldn’t be him, he covered his tracks too well. He couldn’t have slipped up. Could he? He saw the other advisers were in no better shape, sweating and eyeing the bowl of broth.
“30 seconds,” said Silver.
Bronze’s chest heaved. He looked to Silver. Was she looking at him? He couldn’t tell. Her back was to the fire, her face hidden by the shadows. She could be looking at anyone. What should he do? Take the broth and expose himself, subject himself to torture and likely death? Or potentially let the poison take him, likely an equally if not more painful death? He still didn’t know if he was poisoned. Take the risk? Live? Die? Live? Die?
“5 seconds.”
Bronze broke. He lunged for the bowl and downed the broth in two gulps before slamming it back down on the table. Silver looked at him with that same spine-chilling smile.
“Bronze. Working for Commander Hurricane?”
“No,” he answered. “I’ve been your sister’s spy for years. You poisoned me because you thought I was working for the blasted pegasi?!”
That smile grew wider. “Wrong on all accounts Bronze. I didn’t know who you were working for. I merely guessed just now. In fact, I didn’t even know who here was the spy. And I didn’t poison you. You poisoned yourself when you drank that broth.”
As Bronze’s screams filled the manor, as he writhed and convulsed on the ground, Princess Silver merely smiled. Hours later, she casually walked back to her chambers, her royal blue cape dragging across the recently expired Bronze.