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“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” Viago asked for the hundredth time that morning. They were already there anyway.
“Viago, you used to quite happily send me across Thedas to kill people. My legs might not work anymore, but I think I can handle finding a poisonous plant.”
Viago scowled but said nothing. They didn’t need to have this argument again. He handed her the notes. “I've arranged everything with the clan local to the area. You’ll stay with them and they’ll be able to help you find and bring back the plant. I’ll meet you in three days.”
The Dalish clan did not look happy as Viago rode away. What he’d said to the Keeper in harsh whispers, Amelia had no idea. Probably demanding things she didn't need.
Amelia wondered if it was possible to feel more self-conscious. A group of armed elves were still staring. She didn't think she'd ever felt so out of place in her life. Still, that was what a Crow did. Find a way to complete the job, no matter what. “Tuelanen i'na”
The keeper raised her eyebrows. "You speak Elvhen?”
“Only a little. It just felt rude not to say ma serannas”
“You're looking for a particular plant?”
Amelia blushed and followed the keeper. “I am, but I'm afraid I don't know it's name in your language. I only know it's scientific name. I have a detailed description and drawings though.”
“You'll need someone good with botany,” She looked around the camp, but stopped when she spotted a tall elf unloading an aravel. “Mina, you can help our… guest.”
She was blonde, with green eyes and an intricate vallaslin. She took one look at Amelia in her brand-new all-terrain wheelchair and very obviously tried not to frown.
Amelia sighed quietly. Another challenge.
“Your notes sound like the tutu. But unless you're very careful with it that’s highly poisonous.”
Of course, Viago wouldn't have told anyone that they needed that. “I know. The neurotoxin it holds is quite impressive. I think it will make an excellent addition to the poison garden”
“I thought this trip was for research? Not for restocking your murder equipment!”
Amelia took deep breath. "My role is research. We need to understand exactly how it works and what it does.”
Mina wrinkled her nose. “Is everything you Antivan Crows do about killing?”
“Not everything,” Amelia shrugged. ”Just most things.”
“I suppose it was too ambitious to find it on the first day.”
“If you’d left the horse back at camp we might have.”
Amelia sighed. That had been a source of bickering all day. Mina didn't like Tuono and the feeling was mutual.
“He spotted the nettles first though.”
Mina snorted. “He nearly ate them. And then I don't know what we would have done. There is a reason the Dalish don't have horses.”
“Tuono's here to help me. He wouldn't have eaten them. Maybe he could tell the really painful nettles you described, would be good to research.”
“I did not expect Halla cheese to taste like that.” It was sweeter and nuttier than then she would have thought cheese could be. Nice though. Especially in the macaroni cheese one of the elves had presented to her with a cheeky grin.
“Have you ever tried it before?”
“No. Viago’s tried, but we've never been able to find anyone willing to trade it. Or even to share how to make it," The elves grinned at each other. "I shall just try not to feel too smug when he comes back."
Mina smiled. “We don't share it with just anyone.”
“Wait! Is that it?” Between the trees, Amelia thought she could see a small clearing and some disturbingly large shrubs.
The tutu was at least 15 feet tall with repeating. twin glossy leaves either side of a thin main stem. Amelia was incredibly grateful that there were no black berries on the shrub yet, just the wine-coloured flowers that she knew were the only safe thing you could touch on the plant.
"I still find it really strange that you've deliberately searched for a plant that everyone else would avoid.”
“House De Riva specialises in things most sensible people avoid”
Amelia pulled the full face mask off Tuono’s back with a frown. Wearing the complete kit was always awkward, but it was the safest way to get the cuttings she needed. Just one wouldn't be enough. No, this needed a slow and careful plan.
The plan had been working until it started to rain. She‘d managed to collect multiple cuttings, but as she and Mina rushed to load them into glass boxes on Tuono something in her back gave an audible crunch and she froze.
"Amelia? Are you okay?”
She didn't answer straight away, but eventually managed a quiet "Ow”
Not ready after all.
That thought had haunted her as the three of them had struggled back to the camp.
Mina squatted down in front of her. ‘There is something we could try. Something that would have more of an effect than the medicine that obviously didn't work.”
Not ready
Amelia took a shaky breath and watched the elf curiously.
“We smoke it. It makes it stronger. Quicker too. Have you ever tried it before?”
No. She’d read about it but Viago had shut the idea down instantly. Amelia flinched. “I’ll try anything if it’ll stop the pain’’
Not ready?
Her only concern as Mina’d handed her the joint was that Viago would be able to tell. As soon as he climbed off the horse and looked at her, she knew that he knew. “What the fuck have you done?”
Amelia sighed. “Elfroot”
His frown darkened. “And what else? Elfroot doesn't raise your heartbeat so much that I can almost hear it.”
“Drinking it doesn't but smoking it causes different symptoms. Makes it a stronger painkiller too. It was the best nights sleep I've had in years.”
Viago winced but waited for her to speak.
"I won't do it again”