“Usually about noon,” Margosha said as she sat back in a chair and stretched her legs.
Annika peered into the barrel of mead. “There’s hardly any left. We’ll need another barrel.”
Gwennore nodded. They had used only a spoonful of mead for each bottle, but they’d filled more than five hundred bottles, so they were running low on all their supplies.
“Do you think the tonic will actually work?” Margosha asked. “I’d hate to think we did all this labor in vain.”
Gwennore took a seat and massaged her sore shoulders. “In theory it should work. We included several ingredients that are known to kill disease. If the infertility problems are caused by a small amount of plague still lingering in each person, and the tonic kills that plague, then their infertility should fade away.”
Annika sighed. “If it doesn’t work, our country could eventually die.”
Margosha winced. “Don’t say that.”
Annika sat at the table across from Gwennore. “I suppose the few fertile women like you and me will have to have a dozen children.”
“What?” Gwennore gave her an incredulous look.
Annika grinned. “It will be our patriotic duty.”
Gwennore picked up a clove of garlic off the table and threw it at her.
“The tonic will work.” Margosha nodded, as if trying to convince herself. “It has to work.”
Aleksi entered with half a dozen soldiers. “Is the tonic ready?”
“Yes.” Gwennore showed him the three cases. “Be careful transporting them. Oh, and tell the people in Vorushka that they mustn’t drink the entire bottle at once. They should take only a sip every day, so it should last them about a week. In that time, we hope to have more ready.”
“All right.” Aleksi ordered two men to pick up each case.
Gwennore followed them out the door. “And can you ask the people to return the empty bottles? We’re going to run out soon.”
“I’ll arrange something with the town mayor,” Aleksi said as his men carried the cases down the stairs. “Don’t worry. We can handle this. You should get some rest. Silas thinks you’ve been working too hard.”
“Where is he?”
“Up on the roof with Dimitri, watching over everything.” Aleksi waved as he started down the steps. “See you later!”
“Thank you!” Gwennore called after him. As Aleksi charged down the stairs, he passed by Brody on his way up.
“Brody.” Gwennore smiled at him. It wasn’t often she saw him in human form. “What have you been up to?”
“I was going through the crowd, seeing if I could catch the scent of the Chameleon, but he doesn’t seem to be here.” He walked with Gwennore back into the workroom and greeted Annika and Margosha.
Annika passed him what was left over from their breakfast. “Has the Summoning begun yet? It’s almost noon.”
Brody shook his head with his mouth full of bread. “The king and queen haven’t shown up yet.”
“Really?” Margosha frowned. “I hope the queen is all right. She seemed a bit tired this morning when I saw her.”
“She stayed up late last night at the feast,” Annika said.
“Let’s make some verna tea in case she needs it.” Gwennore added more wood to the fireplace so they could heat the kettle of water.
Just as the water started to boil, Olenka dashed into the room. “Do you have any more of that tea?”
“We’re making some,” Gwennore told her. “Is the queen not well?”
“She’s a little weak, but she’s insisting on going to the Summoning. The king thought some of this tea would help.” Olenka winced. “They’re both intending to wear their crowns.”
“Oh, no,” Gwennore groaned.
“Here, let me have the tea.” Margosha set the teapot on a wooden tray. “I’ll take this to her and try to convince her not to wear the crown.”
“Good luck,” Annika told her as she and Olenka hurried from the room.
“Let’s go to the courtyard,” Annika suggested. “I want to see what happens.”
Gwennore nodded. “I’m curious, too.”
“I’ll take you,” Brody offered. He gulped down a cup of water. “But stay right next to me. Silas is worried about someone trying to kidnap you.”
Annika snorted and rested her hand on the dagger at her belt. “They’ll have to get through me first.”
* * *
Several hours passed, and Gwennore was soon bored as she waited on a wooden bench in the courtyard. Brody had run out of his allotted time to remain human, so he’d gone to Karlan’s office to shift back into a dog. He was now curled up at her feet, napping.
She glanced up at the roof. Dimitri and Silas were up there, making the rounds. Every now and then, she caught a glimpse of him and waved. He always waved back.
The crowd grew restless, and some ventured into the Great Hall for a bite to eat, while others wandered out the gate to see the garden. Some lay down on the benches to take a nap. Most of the nobles retired to their rooms.
Late in the afternoon, Margosha and Olenka found Gwennore and told her that the queen had recovered enough to get dressed. The Summoning would begin soon.
Horns blared, and the crowd rushed to find their places on the benches. Nobles hurried into the courtyard to take their seats close to the dais.
After a few minutes, the horns blared again, and the king and queen exited through the double doors of the southern wing and stepped into the courtyard. They paused as the crowd gave them a cheer.
Gwennore groaned as she noted the crowns on their heads. King Petras strode down the aisle toward the dais, but the queen was stopped by numerous commoners who wanted to give her bouquets of flowers. Soon, she had more flowers than she could hold, so Margosha and Olenka took them from her.
Gwennore stepped closer as she noticed the glazed look in the queen’s eyes. Was she about to faint? “Your Majesty, you should lie down.”
Freya glanced at her with unfocused eyes. “Who—who are you to tell me what to do?”
“I’m a healer, remember? I’ve been making the tea that’s been helping you.”
Freya frowned at her. “You’re the elfin witch who took
