Eighty One

POISON

When Ayla thought about the time she would have to serve King Rhobart’s dinner, she imagined that he would be eating alone. But now she saw how wrong she had been. At a long, big table King Rhobart sat together with his paladins. The food was already on the table, but no one was eating.

There was no servant in the room ready to serve the food. Ayla frowned. Surely she won’t be serving all of them.

She fisted her hands to hide how nervous she felt while she studied the King and the Paladins. The men were dressed in simple tunics and were chatting among themselves. To her relief, they haven’t observed her. Yet.

King Rhobart wasn’t seated at the head of the table. He was seated at the middle of the table and talking to a Paladin that was to his right. The seat next to his left was unoccupied.

She was unsure of what she was supposed to do. Should she let the King and the Paladins know that she arrived. Or should she go directly to the table and start serving the food. On the few o