Roche had never been to her mother's country. She didn't speak their tongue, nor did she remember much from her few childhood years there. Even so, it was hard to keep her face a still mask during all the talks of war. She was surprised to see Finn and the princess' support for leniency. There was, of course, an impressive display of Tigris' political maneuvering. Roche grudgingly admired how the princess took control of the room, twisting Sir Harris' blatant disrespect into her moment to command. It unnerved Roche to realise how much power the princess actually had. 

How close had she been to being tossed out of the Faultless Kingdom? What would Tigris do if she realised Roche had inkblood running through her veins. She shuddered at the thoughts.

"It's incredible, isn't it?" Kai whispered. Roche shrugged.

"A bit scary, actually." she replied, "I've never seen this kingdom in a war as great as one with Irulia would be."

Kai tilted his head contemplatively. "That's true." he noted quietly, "This must also be hard for you."

Roche stared straight ahead, Verita's warnings ringing in her ears. "Not really. I haven't been to Irulia before. It's just another kingdom to me."

There was a beat of silence. Kai lowered his voice. "During my third year as Finn's servant, the Faultless Kingdom was having a dispute with northern Shulta, where my father hails from."

Roche watched him curiously.

"All I'm saying," Kai said, his eyes gleaming with meaning, "Is that I understand how difficult this must be for you. I know everyone in the Faultless Kingdom will not be kind to you in the coming days, but there are those of us that will be."

Roche recognized his words for what they were. They were a reminder of the trust they shared as two individuals who so clearly looked different in this room of war hungry advisors. Roche's heart softened a little bit.

"Thank you, Kai." she murmured, giving his hand a small squeeze. He nodded.

"I wouldn't worry too much," he added, "Tigris doesn't seem too fond of her father's plans, from what Finn tells me."

Even Roche could tell that much. She glanced at Kai. "I don't know how much sway she has. Besides, you can't trust that arrogant girl."

Kai stared at the princess, his eyes glittering.

"She has a good heart," he whispered, "if she's the only one in this room, apart from Finn, who will speak for us."

Roche was rendered speechless. He was right. The rest of the advisors were nodding along with the King's plans. Only Tigris and Finn looked passive. Roche wouldn't know that the princess was bothered if she wasn't watching so closely. The heir's hand kept twitching towards her sword, like she wanted to hack away at the advisors as much as Roche wanted to. Her inkblood pulsed. Roche wasn't sure why, but she had to stop herself from jolting towards the princess.

"I suppose so." she muttered, her eyes wandering back towards the king. Tigris gazed at him with nothing but admiration. Her mind drifted back to the conversation she'd overheard last night. None of it made sense. But it had sounded like the king was in trouble. Roche's heart squeezed as she thought of the possibility of the princess without her father at the head of the table.

-------

"How old is the library?" Roche asked over her bland lunch. She sat in Verita's quarters again. This meal was better, with some gentle herbs seasoning the chicken and some overcooked mush that was considered rice. It was better than the sludgy breakfast, but still terrible. Verita swallowed her bite, looking up from the book she was flipping through.

"Centuries old." Verita answered, "Though it nearly was burned down by Romulus during the inkblood purge. Why do you ask?"

Roche moistened her cracked lips. She didn't want to get in trouble for snooping in the library late at night.

"Are there any other ways in or out?" she asked instead. Verita's eyes narrowed.

"Apart from the main entrance? No. Romulus sealed the other entrances in an attempt to restrict access to the books." Verita answered. Roche leaned forward, her meal forgotten.

"Who might want access to the library?"

Verita cocked her head thoughtfully. "It's usually nobles. But in the past, inkbloods were known to try entering the library. It is a holy site for them."

Roche chewed her lip. Verita studied her face.

"Is there something you're not telling me?"

Roche fidgeted with her spoon, avoiding Verita's gaze. She wasn't a good liar, and she feared the conversation she'd overheard greatly.

"Last night, I thought I heard someone in the library after the doors had been locked." she admitted quietly. Verita's eyes widened.

"Did you leave the doors unlocked?" she asked urgently. Roche shook her head.

"No, I even went to check. My inkblood woke me up." Roche sucked in a steadying breath, "They were talking about the King and some Councilman."

Verita suddenly went very still. She stood up from the table and began to pace.

"Tell me exactly what they said."

She continued to pace the room as Roche dutifully recounted the conversation. The old librarian's eyebrows furrowed with concentration, her trademark frown deeper than usual.

"Datura," she murmured, "I believe that is a poisonous plant. Of the nightshade family."

"You're certain?" Roche asked. Verita scowled at her.

"My ex-husband is the royal physician. He used a type of it once as an anesthetic." Verita shivered, "The patient hallucinated vividly. I still remember the screams."

Roche tucked away those revelations. "But... the king has taste testers."

"I know," Verita mused, "I didn't think anyone would be so foolish, let alone two individuals who had managed to evade my security systems."

"Security systems?"

Verita smiled wryly. "You didn't think all this precious knowledge just sat here protected by a crotchety old woman, did you? There are many cameras and alarms in place, all monitored by me."

Roche fidgeted. "So it could see me using inkblood?" she asked fearfully. Verita shook her head.

"The cameras only turn on when someone who is not approved access into the library enters. You and I are approved. I just can't figure out why it didn't alert me to these intruders."

Roche grabbed Verita's abandoned, empty bowl and moved to the sink.

"I think they might have something to do with inkblood." she suggested. Verita's face grew serious.

"You mustn't say that."

"Why not?" Roche asked, "My inkblood woke me up, it warned me. Don't you think that's even a little bit strange? Shouldn't the king be alerted?"

Verita shook her head so vigorously that her bun came undone. She didn't bother fixing it.

"Did you see how enraged the King was at Irulia today?" the librarian hissed, "It's because Irulia was one of the last nations to outlaw inkblood. He despises nothing more than inkblood. If either of us suggests that there are inkblood users meaning harm to the royal family running around the Faultless City, the king would never believe us."

"So we're just going to let him get poisoned?" Roche countered, throwing the dishes into the rack with a clang. The idea was becoming more tempting with each word. The burned woman's cries haunted her mind. Verita sighed.

"Datura isn't poisonous in small quantities and it has a very distinct taste. The king will hallucinate for a few days at worst, and will be fine afterwards. He has taste testers as well, and I am sure they know how to detect datura." Verita assured Roche, pinning her hair back into its bun. Roche bit her lip hard enough to draw blood. She didn't care much for the king. But if her inkblood was warning her about these people...

"I don't know," she muttered, "What if they do have inkblood?"

Verita stared at the table. "Neither of us have the authority to suggest to the king that inkblood flows in this city. Not unless we want our heads lopped off."

Roche scowled. "Isn't he your friend? Won't he listen to you?"

Verita's gaze was very far away as she murmured. "That was a very long time ago. He will never listen to me so freely again." There was a soft wistfulness in the librarian's voice that made Roche pity her slightly. Verita looked up at her again.

"Don't pursue this, Roche," she warned softly, "The worst thing someone with inkblood can do is get tangled up with royalty."

A/N: Whoops, looks like a checked off a box in the fantasy book bingo and added a war into the plot LOL. But on a real note, what are your thoughts on the war and the datura flower? 

This book isn't the best (mostly because I write it at 3 AM) so lmk if there's any criticism, I'd love to make this story better :) Enjoy, everyone!