With the arrival of spring, the kingdom of Ithyria entered its nine hundred and ninety-ninth winter. Ithyrians began to prepare excitedly for the celebration that would occur in just twelve new moons, when the millennium would mark Ithyria's thousandth winter of freedom from cursed Ulrike.

At the dawn of the Firstmoon the Daughters of the Goddess felt an alarming shift in the lingering darkness that hovered over the lands. Where the threat had once been sinister and patient, it now seethed with rage. Ulrike no longer seemed content to wait, and we knew he was going to strike soon-very soon. In my heart I knew it was the royal family that Ulrike hated most, and I feared for the safety of our King.

The Princess's nineteenth birthday was fast approaching. The twelve Honored Mothers of Ithyria always received invitations to the celebration, though few of us were ever able to attend. I wanted very much to be there, but the refugees filling our halls were still in dire need of our help and I could not leave Verdred Temple.

I felt the Goddess urging me to write to the high priestess of the temple in Ardrenn. Obediently, I set pen to paper and detailed my concerns, offering sanctuary in Verdred to any member of the royal house who might ever have need of it. At the time, I had little idea that Ithyris, in Her infinite wisdom, was already preparing a defense against Her brother's wicked plans.

Talon was shocked to hear the Princess's voice shouting through the conference room door. Her first instinct was to interrupt the meeting and she put a hand on the latch, but common sense told her that Shasta was probably not in danger. The King himself was at the Princess's side and would have called for the guard if they were needed. Her sharp ears picked out Shasta's voice quite clearly. The Princess sounded incensed.

"No, I will not calm down, Father. How dare any of you speak to your King that way!"

"Your Majesty, as elder of the house of Rane I really must insist that you control your daughter." Talon recognized Archduke Fickett's voice. She felt guilty for listening in and stepped back into a position of formal attention, but it was impossible not to overhear the Princess's earsplitting reply. Talon would have been surprised if her voice hadn't carried all the way to the kitchens.

"I'm tired of the way you use my family name to throw your weight around this room! As heiress to the house of Rane, the blood of Rane, the throne of Rane, and the crown of Rane, it is I who must insist that you control yourself, Uncle."

Talon could almost picture the look of fury on the aged Monderan viceroy's face, and she snickered when she heard him exclaim, "Insolent girl! You do not wear the crown yet!"

"And you never will!" Shasta thundered.

A tense silence followed, and Talon resisted the temptation to press her ear to the door. A moment later she was very glad for her self-control, because the door flew open unexpectedly and Shasta stalked out. Talon caught a glimpse of the table of viceroys, a few of them on their feet, all with mouths hanging open.

Shasta slammed the door behind her. "Argh! I've had it." She stormed down the corridor to the turret stairs, and Talon followed meekly behind.

The Princess did not say another word as they ascended the stairs to the third level of the palace and entered her chambers. She marched straight to her wardrobe and violently threw open the doors.

Nurse was arranging packages in the sitting room and turned quizzical eyes on Talon, who just shrugged. The Princess was in a fit of temper again.

"I'm going riding for the afternoon." Shasta pulled a hat from the top shelf of the wardrobe. "I can't stand these egotistical, bullheaded, imbecilic men for even one more minute." She plopped the hat on her head and turned around, tying the ribbons beneath her chin. "Oh, would you just look at that?" she exclaimed, waving a hand toward her sitting room.

The low couch, every table, and nearly every other usable bit of space had been filled with gaily wrapped packages, baskets of fruit and candies, enormous flower bouquets, velvet boxes containing extravagant jewels, even a large gilt birdcage containing a rather loud and opinionated yellow parrot-birthday presents from well-wishers across the kingdom.

The lavish display grew bigger every day and usually the Princess delighted in such attention, but today Talon was startled to hear Shasta complain, "Can't you do something about all this clutter, Nurse?"

"Not until after the celebration tomorrow, Highness," the old woman replied, though she, too, seemed a little surprised at the Princess's annoyance. "We wouldn't want to offend any of your guests by giving their gifts away."

"There's enough food and candy here to feed the entire palace for a moon," Shasta declared. "As soon as all of this is over, I want you to take it into Ardrenn and have it distributed to people who really need it. And please, can we at least find another place to put that bird? It keeps waking me up at night with obscure poetry quotations. It's not a very pleasant experience to be jarred out of a nice sleep with a parrot squawking, 'Hark! My love has breasts like pomegranates.'" Her bad mood seemed momentarily forgotten as she giggled. "For a minute last night I thought Talon was going to decapitate the poor thing."

Nurse grumbled, "I'll see what I can do, Highness." Straightening the bonnet ties beneath Shasta's chin, she said, "Don't forget the dinner tonight."

King Soltran had arranged a welcoming banquet for the Princess before the real celebration began. Many of the most powerful nobles in the country would be in attendance, including every one of the viceroys his daughter had just turned her back upon. As the subject of the coming festivities, Shasta could not possibly decline to attend.

With a loud groan, she said, "Oh, Goddess. All right, I'll make sure I'm back in time."

"See that you do," the old woman responded pointedly.

Hours later the lower corridor rang with the sound of footsteps as Shasta flew breathlessly toward the stairs, Talon jogging along behind with exasperation. She'd been trying to get Shasta to return to the palace for the past half an hour, but since she was not supposed to speak unless spoken to, it had been difficult. When Shasta reluctantly agreed to head back, it was already getting dark. Now there was scarcely a quarter of an hour before the banquet was supposed to begin, and the Princess hadn't even started to dress.

"You're late," Nurse scolded as they dashed past her in the hall.

"I know, I know!"

They raced up the tower stairs and toward the Princess's chambers. Talon stopped short when she saw Kumire in the hall outside Shasta's door with a large box in his hands. The chancellor jumped nervously as they approached.

"What are you doing here?" Talon growled, but Shasta shoved the chamber door open.

"No time for that, have to dress..."

She entered the chamber and nearly ran over Bria, who was on her way out. Talon stood in the corridor glaring darkly at her new brother-in-law. Kumire put his arm around Bria's waist.

"There you are, my dear. I was wondering what was keeping you." He looked up at Talon and offered a toothy smile. "My wife was just recovering some of her belongings from the Princess's chamber, since we will be returning to Mondera in a few days."

He nudged Bria, who held up a gold bracelet and pair of small earrings without meeting Talon's eyes. Bria had put on some weight in the past moon, and there was now a noticeable swell to her belly. Kumire inclined his head. "We will retire to our rooms now. Have a pleasant evening, Lieutenant."

Talon tracked them with her eyes as they walked away, and when she entered the chambers she looked around in confusion. "Highness?"

"We're in here." Erinda's voice came from the privy chamber, and the door opened. "I was just helping her dress."

"What do you think?" Shasta asked, sweeping over to the tall looking glass by the wardrobe to examine herself more critically. With time being so limited, Erinda had swept the Princess's waist-length hair up into a simple chignon, using several jeweled pins to hold it in place, and had powdered over her perspiring face, neck, and shoulders. Shasta's blue feather necklace rested at her throat. She always wore it on her birthday, and the brilliant color matched almost exactly with the blue silk of the gown.

Talon eyed the gown curiously. She did not remember the Princess ever being fitted for such a dress. "You look lovely," she finally replied with a small bow.

"Isn't it just a beautiful color?" Shasta enthused, turning back to the mirror. "I don't know who sent it, but it's absolutely perfect."

Talon frowned. "Sent it?"

"Yes, one of the gifts, I suppose. It was waiting for me on the bed when we got back and it's just perfect to wear tonight. I'm glad, I was thinking there was no way I'd be able to get dressed in time."

"A gift..." Talon's instincts were triggered and she drew closer to inspect the dress. The smell was the first thing she noticed. It was so faint that even her unusually sharp nose could barely pick it up-a musty, virulent odor that blended with Shasta's own sweet raspberry scent. Talon grabbed the Princess's arm, pulling it up and sniffing at the fabric of the long, close-fitting sleeve.

She gasped, "Take it off. Now."

"What?" Shasta scowled. "No. I'm late for dinner as it is." She turned for the door, but Talon pulled her back, almost roughly. She seized the fabric of the sleeve and yanked, tearing it right off the dress. Shasta shrieked. "What are you doing?"

Talon reached for her other arm. "You have to take it off, Highness."

"Stop it! Stop, you pervert, I mean it! Help, someone help me!" But Talon had already ripped the other sleeve away, and as Shasta drew back her arm to slap her, she caught a glimpse of her skin and her face blanched. "What is that?"

A scarlet rash had formed across her arm, an ugly red pattern of lines that looked almost like spiderwebs. They seemed to be moving, undulating slowly through her skin. Shasta's eyes flew to her guardian. "I don't understand. What's happening?"

"The dress is poisoned," Talon replied tersely. "Hold still." She took the fabric of the bodice in her hands, and in one powerful motion tore it from top to bottom.

"Get it off, get it off me!" Shasta wiggled out of the dress and stood in her shift, scratching at her arms. "Ugh, it itches."

Talon took hold of Shasta's hands. "No, Princess, you mustn't scratch or it will spread faster."

Shasta stared at her guardian, eyes suddenly wide with terror. "The shift...it came with the dress," she whispered hoarsely.

Talon spun to Erinda, who had been watching this entire exchange with an open mouth. "Erinda, go for the healer. As fast as you can."

The chambermaid ran from the room, and Talon seized Shasta by the hand, rushing her into the privy chamber. "We have to get the shift off. I'm sorry, Princess, but..."

She didn't get the chance to finish because Shasta had already pulled the offending fabric from her body and dropped it in a pile on the floor. Talon inhaled sharply and averted her eyes as Shasta began to wiggle out of her undergarments as well.

"I couldn't believe how convenient it was," the Princess gasped. "The shift and undergarments and gown and stockings all laid out, ready for me. Oh, it's burning!"

Shasta sank naked to the privy floor, tugging the stockings from her legs, and Talon took a deep breath. She couldn't help the Princess and worry about modesty at the same time. The thin, threadlike red lines crossing Shasta's skin had begun to bleed outward, turning her body a very unnatural shade of pink.

Talon went to the rack on the wall that held an array of perfumed oils and toiletries, shuffling quickly through the small glass vials until she found what she was looking for.

Shasta bent forward dizzily, supporting herself with her hands. "Talon, I feel strange."

"Princess, do you trust me?"

Shasta stared at her guardian through bleary eyes. "What?"

Talon moved forward, holding out the bottle of ivory-colored powder. "Yellow mint. It has a natural compound that I think will slow the spread of the poison, but," she pressed her lips together, "the rash is leaving your skin raw. This is going to hurt. A lot."

Shasta looked fearfully at the bottle, then at the rash covering her body. The little lines were almost invisible now, and her skin had turned bright pink everywhere the poisoned fabric had touched it. In a few places she was bleeding from lacerations as small as pinpricks. She met Talon's eyes. "Just do it. Do it."

Talon examined the glass vial in her hand. The mint was potent, but it would take far too long to apply the powder directly and still cover the entire rash. As she looked around the privy for a better idea, her eyes fell on the bathing tub. It had not yet been drained. Erinda had probably filled it hours ago in anticipation of Shasta's return from her afternoon ride.

Quickly Talon emptied the entire contents of the bottle into the tub. She kneeled to swirl the water, which was cold by this time, with her hand. Then she rushed to Shasta's side and put the Princess's arms around her neck. She carried her to the tub, stepping down into the water herself without bothering to remove her boots.

She sank down into the tub slowly. The moment the medicated water touched her skin, Shasta screamed.

"It hurts! Oh, Goddess, it hurts!"

"I know. I know, Princess. I'm so sorry."

Talon splashed the water up onto Shasta's arms, then carefully unwound them from her neck to immerse them in the tub. The Princess kept crying, her head thrown back against Talon's shoulder. Talon forced herself to block out the sound. She couldn't risk losing her focus or Shasta's suffering would only get worse. Rubbing her hands along Shasta's skin in small, vigorous circles, Talon tried not to think about what parts of the Princess's body she was touching. She had to get the powdered herb as deeply into Shasta's skin as possible. The more of the mint extract that was absorbed, the better chance it would have of slowing the spread of the poison.

As more and more bleeding spots opened across the scarlet rash, wisps of blood curled through the water like smoke.

The door of the privy chamber burst open, and Erinda ran in with the healer. King Soltran was following close behind.

"Shasta!" he bellowed. One look at his naked, screaming daughter in the tub and he swore heavily. "What in the name of the Goddess are you doing to her? You're killing her! Get her out of there, now!" He shoved Talon aside and pulled Shasta from her arms, laying the Princess out tenderly on the stone floor.

Talon climbed out of the tub, mindless of her dripping uniform. Fear clenched her heart as she realized that Shasta was no longer screaming. The Princess lay motionless, her eyes closed, and Talon couldn't tell if she was even breathing. The old healer dropped to her side and pressed fingers to Shasta's pulse.

Talon gulped. "Healer, is she...?"

King Soltran whirled and fixed her with a deadly glare. "Wait outside. I will deal with you later."

The healer seemed to read the terror in Talon's eyes and rifled through his bag of medicines as he spoke. "She's alive, but she's fainted from the pain. There's not much time." He produced several vials and began carefully measuring various substances into a clean glass tube.

Reluctantly Talon left the privy chamber and closed the door behind her. She collapsed into a chair beneath the window, burying her head in her hands. What if she'd made a mistake? She had only begun to study the most rudimentary concepts of the healing arts a few moons before. What if she'd made the wrong diagnosis? Her throat constricted and she gave a small moan. Her eyes fell on the torn blue gown lying on the floor. When I find the bastard who did this to her...

The sleeping chamber door opened, and to Talon's great surprise the high priestess of the palace temple entered, accompanied by Lyris in her veils. Talon jumped to her feet as her sister ran forward.

"Talon, the Princess. She's in great danger." Lyris frantically swept her eyes around the chamber. "Where is she?"

"In the privy. The healer and the King are with her."

The high priestess laid a calming hand on Lyris's shoulder. "Our new Ostryn came to me saying she'd had a vision and that the Princess's life was in peril." She scanned the room. "I was skeptical, but there is a strong aura of death in this chamber. What happened here?"

Talon shook her head. "It happened so fast, Your Grace. Someone left poisoned garments for Princess Shasta to wear to the banquet tonight, and she put them on before I recognized them for what they were."

Lyris clapped a hand to her mouth. "Is she all right?"

"I don't know," Talon admitted miserably.

"Come, Ostryn. We will pray to the Goddess for the Princess's life. Ithyris may see fit to provide her with divine protection." The high priestess took Lyris's hands, and they knelt together over the poisoned dress, chanting.

Talon watched them with a flash of envy. The priestesses, at least, had something to contribute. She was left with nothing to do but wait helplessly to find out if Shasta was going to live or die. She paced the room, ignoring the cold seeping through her soaked uniform.

When the privy door finally burst open, King Soltran emerged first, and the rage on his face was unmatched as he lunged at Talon, wrapping his hands around her neck and lifting her until her feet almost left the floor. Her eyes bulged as his choke hold cut off her flow of air. "She'll live, no thanks to you. What did you think you were doing? I'll kill you with my own hands!"

Talon tried to choke an explanation past the viselike clamp at her throat, but the King did not seem to hear her. Just as Talon felt herself growing dizzy, the healer shuffled from the privy and whacked the King sharply on the shoulder with his wooden cane.

"Before you go strangling the lieutenant to death, Majesty, you might want to know that he just saved your daughter's life. Again."

The King instantly relinquished his grip and Talon put a hand to her throat, wheezing. The old healer held up Shasta's shift, pinching it gingerly between a gloved thumb and forefinger. "These clothes have been infested with a rare, deadly fungal toxin that we healers refer to as 'Miner's Bane,'" he informed the King. "The spores burrow through the skin and into the blood, where they are carried to the brain and cause paralysis and eventually death. Miner's Bane is one of the fastest-moving poisons in existence. Even a very small area of infection, left untreated, will kill in a matter of days." He dropped the shift into a clean pillowcase that Erinda held out for him. "Thank you, dear girl. Take a pair of gloves from my bag and gather up the rest, please. Be careful not to touch the fabric directly." Erinda bobbed a curtsy, and the healer turned back to the King.

"As I was saying, Majesty, this poison works quickly and fatally with minimal exposure. The Princess was covered with the spores over nearly every inch of her skin. At that level of infection, death should have followed in minutes. If Lieutenant Talon hadn't immersed her in the mint bath, the Princess would have been dead by the time I got here." Both the healer and the King turned to stare at Talon.

"What I don't understand," the old man continued curiously, "is how you knew that yellow mint would slow the progression of the toxin."

Talon swallowed. "I...I've been studying books of medicine for several moons. I thought some healing knowledge might one day be useful." She watched Erinda carefully stuff the remnants of the gown into the pillowcase. "Something about the dress seemed strange, but it didn't hit me until I noticed the smell: like mold, but with a warm sweetness. And I remembered reading of a skin poison that was said to smell like rotting carrots." She looked from one man to the other. "That's exactly what it smelled like."

"So you removed her garments in the hopes of preventing this poison from spreading." The King sounded contrite.

"Yes, but she'd already begun to break out in a rash. I recalled the book saying that the poison was sensitive to the leaves of the yellow mint plant, and that the antidote was"-she concentrated, trying to remember-"a blend of egg white, belladonna, and...arsenic." She caught the healer's impressed nod.

"That's correct. Belladonna and arsenic are themselves deadly poisons, but in this case they act to kill the Miner's Bane spores before they reach the brain. Yellow mint against the raw, infected skin causes terrible stinging pain, but it retards the spread of the toxin and buys precious time for treatment."

Erinda and the high priestess carried Shasta from the privy chamber and laid her on the bed. The Princess was wrapped in a white dressing robe. Erinda had already discarded the contaminated sheets and blankets and prepared clean ones, and she tucked Shasta into the fresh linens, fluffing her pillows while the veiled priestess rested a hand on the Princess's forehead and prayed softly.

Lyris left Talon's side to join the prayer, and Talon found she could not tear her gaze from her charge's face. Shasta looked exhausted and disoriented, but she had regained consciousness.

The King regarded Talon with emotion darkening his eyes. "I owe you a humble apology. This is the fourth time you've saved my daughter's life." He removed a golden military pin from his own collar and fastened it to Talon's. "Second Lieutenant Talon of Ithyria, you are hereby promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant in His Majesty's royal guard." Stepping back, the King saluted with suspicious brightness in his eyes that he blinked away. "And, Talon," he added, "if I ever doubt your devotion to the Princess again, you have the King's permission to knock some sense into his royal head."

Talon was rendered speechless, too stunned to even return the salute. The healer nudged her and handed her a small glass tube containing the poison antidote.

"Drink this, now," he ordered, eyeing the rash that had developed over Talon's hands from contact with the contaminated fabric. "We can't have the hero of the day dying on us, can we?"

"She needs some as well," Talon said, nodding at Erinda. "She helped the Princess get dressed earlier."