It was the cry of the Princess and the sudden clash of her glass against the surface of the table that stopped Ozragad from sipping from the goblet. At first he thought she was having some kind of outburst of defiance against the tentative agreement that they had only just realised, throwing down her cup in disgust rather than drink to his toast. [i][color=f7941d]You are a fool for thinking it would be so simple, she means to vex you once more. She is your enemy, do not forget that. [/color][/i] His brow darkened and his eyes narrowed in anger, before widening in surprise as she threw herself at him. 

Unconsciously, his hand went to the sword at his side and began to bare the steel blade. It seemed to him she was trying to attack him in some way [color=f7941d][i]What is she doing? Has she gone mad?[/i][/color] But she was not attacking him. It was not at him her ire and agitation were directed, but rather he saw, what he held in his other hand. The crystal goblet filled with wine. 

She pulled the glass from his hand, as Ozragad let his sword slide back into its scabbard. He was at a loss, trying to comprehend what had just happened. The Princess set the glass down on the table and then spoke a single word, suddenly all the pieces fell into place.

[b][color=00aeef]"Poison."[/color][/b]

He repeated the word back to her.

[b][color=f7941d]"Poison."[/color][/b]

Poison? Poison! Someone had just tried to poison him! Someone had just tried to kill him! Here in his own council chambers! In his own palace! And she... she had saved him?! His mind reeled. 

[b][color=f7941d]"How did you... why did-"[/color][/b] Ozragad began to speak to her, uncomprehending, almost as if he were a sleep walker, before he shook his head and stopped himself. As his incomprehension faded, another emotion began to take its place. Rage, pure, unadulterated, rage. He bellowed for the guards who stood outside his door. The pair of them burst through the doors, swords in hand. 

[b][color=f7941d]"Seal the Palace! No one leaves unless I say so! And find me that wretch of servant who was just in here!"[/color][/b] The King barked out his orders and his men scurried off to do as he commanded. 

[b]"Your Majesty-"[/b] Manawyndan spoke, still sat at the table. Ozragad's head snapped to him and affixed him with his molten eyes. 

[b][color=f7941d]"What?!"[/color][/b] 

[b]"If I could beg a private word."[/b] The old Formori's eyes were pleading. But Ozragad's blood was boiling in his veins. Manawyndan was more than just a general and his deputy, Ozragad trusted him with the secret matters of the state too, the intricacies of spy craft and subterfuge. Suddenly the King found a valid target to unleash what was building inside of him.

[b][color=f7941d]"You can beg I do not throw you off of my council! How was this allowed to happen?! How was this Eorzian child a more competent spymaster than y-"[/color][/b] The King slammed one fist on the table, the other wildly gesticulated to where the Princess still stood.

[b]"Sire! Please! All might not be as it seems."[/b] The Lord Steward's eyes flicked in the direction of the Princess, wary and suspicious. But Ozragad was past subtlety. The weeks of tension building since the betrothal, the forced niceties of his return to court, the shadows of those who were once friends that now lurked knives in hand, and no where to release it. No killing or fighting to be done. It all came out, in blinding, blistering fury.

[b][color=f7941d]"Oh spit it out! You bloody old fool!"[/color][/b] Even calm and unflappable Manawyndan looked taken aback. He began to speak in his low gravelly tones, quickly and quietly.

[b]"Your Majesty, though I hate to besmirch the word of your betrothed, it is thus far only her word and her word alone that there has been any attempt on your life. We should not act rashly. Though I sincerely hope it is not so, this could be some form of Eorzian ploy designed to lower your guard and sow distrust against those loyal to you. Send for the kennel master for a dog, or better yet, the rat catcher, in order to test the wine on some pest or vermin and see if it is truly poison, rather than jumping to conclusions."[/b]

At that moment the doors of the chamber swung inwards and a pair of soldiers appeared, hauling between them the Formori servant who had brought the wine in not minutes before. They dropped him to the stone floor in a heap at the foot of the King. 

[b][color=f7941d]"Test the wine on vermin you say?"[/color][/b] There was a savage gleam in Ozragad's eyes. [b][color=f7941d]"Finally you say something useful."[/color][/b]

The King picked up the still full glass from the table and advanced on the servant who began to crawl away from him. With a kick to his ribs he flipped the man onto his back and pinned him there to the floor with one knee. The man cried out in pain, eyes wide with abject terror and weakly tried to fight the King off. The two guards stepped in and restrained the man's arms. With one hand, Ozragad pinched the servant's nose shut, and with the other he began to force the wine between the man's lips.