Ninety-five

Jasper

I left Celia in the hands of the two sisters as I stepped out of the door. I had ensured that the two women kept her busy for hours while I left for my next mission.

Reaching for my coat pocket, I pulled out the small purse in which I had plucked a few small ropes of the nightshade plant.

After ensuring that it was still safe, I looked around once before entering the forest. It had been a rather long cut and was not my usual route but I did not want to take any chances.

I looked up at the sky. There was no moon today.

It was perfect and I did not wish to risk going inside the forest from the palace grounds. The last time Borivin had almost been just a short distance away from figuring out what I was doing.

And I did not wish to tempt my fate.

Thus slowly but carefully, I made my way through the forest, my heightened senses allowing me to navigate easily in the darkness. As I drew closer to an abandoned cave, I could feel a sense of unease building within me.

I pulled out the pa