Lion Head Mesa perterreo

backdated to may 18, evening

the roman left the architect. he searched for the woman tavina.

physicians were not excluded from questioning. 

quietly he walked along the corridors, searching for the bitter scent of herbs.

tavina had known the soldiers were present. she had not expected to be summoned the same day. 

but dutifully she came. "you're germanicus." the purple eyes were intrigued. he was a fine-looking man. she could see how someone might be interested.

"you are tavina. you are the palace's physician and you attended the queen's birth."

he did not say where he had gotten the information.

"how long have you lived in akashingo?"

"that's correct."

"i have been here five months, imperator."

"during that time did you observe anything untoward or strange around akashingo? perhaps behaviors in others or gossip that seemed more than malicious?"

"nothing out of the ordinary that i can remember. akashingo has not entertained many guests."

"how many have joined the palace since you have been here?"

"gucci, maegi, sokha, charles, akhtar, lilitu, maegi, and treva."

"prince crowfeather left us."

"crowfeather arrived in mereo not so long ago. were any of these persons close to the queen after her delivery that you can recall?"

"none. only the fellahin and i ever entered the bedchamber, even after her delivery and during her healing."

"how did she seem in her final days?"

the question jarred her.

"queen satsu was devoted to her children. she hardly left their side."

"where was she found?"

he was relentless. he was cold.

"in the throne room at the front of the palace."

"in your professional opinion, what was the nature of the poison used to kill her?"

"it was at least a spasmodic. she had foamed at the mouth, and for who knows how long."

"thank you, tavina. you may go."

"am i a suspect, imperator?"

"everyone is a suspect when it comes to the murder of a queen."