Chapter 91

 Alys and Brahm lived in a small villa, a stone's throw from the Vinolian Embassy. Once their work-day was over, the young couple would return home and eat a light meal that the woman they employed as a cook had prepared for them. Afterwards, unless they had been invited to some social gathering, they'd stay at home. Every once in a while, however, they would have guests over for dinner. This evening happened to be one such occasion.

 

 "Welcome, Risha " said Alys, as she kissed the lynx on the cheeks. "We're so glad that you decided to accept our invitation."
 

"The Pleasure is all mine" Risha said, returning the kisses and greeting Brahm with words alone. "By the way" she continued, "I brought you this bottle of wine as a housewarming gift. No idea if its good or not."
 

"We shall have it with the dinner". Alys took the bottle Risha offered her and handed it to her husband. "Now, come, let me show you around before we eat."
 

A quick guided tour of the villa later, the three of them entered the dining room, where the food had been set out on the table. 
 

The Ferrets and the lynx sat down. Brahm opened the bottle and filled their glasses, first  Risha's, then Alys' and finally his own. His wife proceeded to remove the covers from the dishes.
 

"Help yourself" she said to their guest. "Incidentally, I hope you haven't forgotten the promise you made when we met at the palace?"
 

Risha had not forgotten, and as the dinner went on, and the wine-bottle's contents gradually dwindled, she regaled hosts with tales of her exploits. Embellishing very little, but leaving out certain parts, that she felt they did not need to know about. 
 

"My, you do lead an eventful life" Alys said, after a while. "Doesn't she, Brahm?"
"Indeed" her husband agreed. "One can't help but be a bit jealous."
 

He refilled his glass and was about to do the same to their guest, who politely refused.
 

"And now you're even working for our Queen's sister", his better half went on. "By the way, why you didn't tell me the identity of the employer when we first met?"
 

"Simple" Risha said, as she helped herself to a piece of cheese. "You did not ask."
 

"Can't argue with that, I suppose. So, what's the Princess like?"
 

Risha, having finished her piece of cheese, wiped the corners of her mouth with a napkin.
 

"She's alright, I suppose" she said, making a non-committal gesture. 
 

Alys was disappointed by the answer, which was much less revealing than she had hoped. 
 

"Any idea of why she decided to come to Ginarcia?"
 

"Can't a woman visit her relatives?"
 

Figuring that the question was rhetorical, Alys did not answer it. Risha's attention was soon taken up by Brahm, who turned to her and struck up a conversation.
 

I had thought that getting information out of Jeraddin's daughter would be child's play, Alys thought, as she re-arranged the food on her plate. Clearly, I was mistaken. Either I've underestimated her, or her employer really has kept her in the dark. Well, there's one way to find out for sure. 

 

Using the call of nature as an excuse, Alys left the table and went into hers and Brahm's bedchamber. There, she pulled out the top-drawer to her nightstand and took out a tiny black box, inside of which were three pills. Dissolve one such pill in any beverage and you had a truth-serum. Alys knew that they worked, for she had already tested one on an acquaintance. 
 

With a smirk, the Junior-Diplomat hid the box in her cleavage and made her way back to the dining-room.
 

"Of all the nerve! How dare you?!"
 

Risha's voice cut through the air like a blade, startling Alys. Upon returning to the dining-room, she saw Brahm and their guest standing up, glaring at each other with daggers in their eyes.
 

Bewildered, Alys was about to ask what was going on, when Risha turned to her:
 

"Alys" she said, and her voice was trembling with anger. "I'm afraid I can no longer remain in this house. I shall leave before I do something that we will all regret. Thank you for the dinner."
 

Before Alys could stop her, the lynx had stormed out of the dining room, retrieved her cloak from the hallway and was out of the house, slamming the front door behind her.
 

"Ha! Good riddanche!"
 

Alys could tell from the way he slurred his words that Brahm was drunk. This surprised her, ever since an embarrassing incident  a year earlier, he had been careful around alcohol. 
It did not take long, however, for the initial surprise to fade and give way to frustration. Of all the evenings he could have picked to relax his discipline, it had to have been this one!
 

"Alysh, I'm thirshty."
 

On the table stood a pitcher with water. Alys picked it up. 
 

"Then drink this!" She exclaimed, and turned the pitcher upside-down above Brahm's head.
 

Brahm sat there stunned, with his fur drenched and water dripping down his collar. Alys, meanwhile, went out into the kitchen and returned with a towel, which she tossed to her husband.
 

"Sorry, hon" Brahm apologized, while he dried himself off. "Risha's gift must have been stronger than it seemed." 
 

He smiled sheepishly at his spouse, who watched him with one eyebrow raised.
 

"Anyway", he continued. "Her reaction does not change that what I said is true: Princess Merees is a traitor to her country."
 

"That's what made Risha storm out like that?"
 

Brahm nodded. 
 

Strange, Alys thought. Risha's feelings towards the Princess seemed pretty lukewarm. I wonder...
 

An idea began to take form in Alys' brain. Suddenly, she turned to Brahm with eyes that glittered.
"Sweetie, get your coat. We're going out."

 "Out? Where?"
 

"To the Embassy. We're going to see His Excellency."