The warden turned to Baueaz. “You are not to accept anything that Rajki Ludec has touched, not so much as a glass of water. You are not to touch her, or touch anything that you have seen her touch, other than the floor and the chair that we will bring in for you.”

“Madame Ludec is in prison, and a strongly held prison at that,” Baueaz said, “to say nothing of my standing as a member of the Magic Guild. Surely there is nothing she can do to harm me.”

Warden Z’bari snorted. “There is nothing magical about Madame Ludec,” he said. “She is simply a powerful alchemist and inveterate poisoner. She has killed seven of our guards since being admitted, though of course she denies it.”

“Seven?”

“She somehow synthesized cyanide from peach pits and slipped it into a water jug. Killed the guard and a man he shared it with. Before we put her on restricted rations, she got ricin out of her dinner beans and managed to contaminate Boll d’Efort when he was filling in as cook. He and three others shat themselves to death. Last one was my predecessor as warden, who made the mistake of accepting some needlework as a gift. It was contaminated with thallium, and we are still not sure how that was obtained. Trace amounts in some metals, perhaps.”

“Why is she still alive, then?” Conjurer Baueaz followed the warden through the heavy cellblock door, watching as it was locked behind him.

“Well, for one, she is related by blood to the Landgrave,” Z’bari said. “And for another…well, you will see.”

The final key turned, and the cell door opened to reveal Rajki Ludec. She was an old woman, at least seventy, finely dressed in the manner of a grandmother. She rose, politely, to greet the men as they entered with an extended hand. “Good day you you, my lords,” she said. Clutched in her hands was what looked like needlework, and the specious cell was decorated with completed stitchwork of a high quality and detail.

“You know the rules, Madame Ludec,” said Z’bari. “Keep your distance.”

“Oh, of course.” Ludec lowered her hand. “Forgive me, warden. An old woman’s memory is not the sharpest of traps, eh?”

“Hmph.” Z’bari jerked his thumb at his guest. “This is Conjurer Baueaz from the Magician’s Guild. He wants you to consult on a poisoning.”

“Oh, but I wouldn’t know where to begin with a poisoning, Conjurer Baueaz,” said Madame Ludec. “You see, I am quite innocent of the crimes levied against me, blamed through no fault of my own for circumstantial reasons. Not that I blame dear Warden Z’bari for this, mind, as he is merely honorably discharging the duty given him.”

“Indulge me, please,” said Baueaz.

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