Who is Magpie?
Chapter 20- Side Effects

Ezekiel walked upstairs feeling torn about this whole event. He closed the doors at the top and bottom of the stairs, commanding two of his guards stand at the top and not allow anyone but him down into the cells. He first went off to replace Bronx, replaceing him apologizing to the kitchen staff for the delay.

“I don’t understand why you need to check it all again.” The Chef Anise was complaining. “None of my locks had been touched !”

“The one who broke in left no trace anywhere else on any other locks either.” Ezekiel announced, coming up behind them. “We are only being thorough as there is a possibility they had a substance on them that could gravely affect any wolven who consume it.”

“Yes Alpha.” Anise bowed, making Bronx feel even more frustrated in her easy acceptance of Ezekiel’s answer, when she had been arguing him him for the last ten minutes.

“Bronx, a word.” Ezekiel called, and Bronx followed him a short distance away. “We need to replace our doctor now.”

“Not this again.” Ezekiel ignored him, leading him down the halls to their medical bay.

“Doctor Pon?” He called.

“Here!” He called in return from behind a shelf, wheeling out on a desk chair to be seen. “How can I help you Alpha.”

“It was you that analyzed this satchel earlier, correct?” Ezekiel asked, and the doctor nodded as he replied in the affirmative. “Are you certain about all the ingredients you identified?”

“Yes Alpha.” He said again, and then again when he was asked if he was sure he missed nothing.

“Tell me doctor, what are the long term affects of someone who was consuming this blend?” Ezekiel asked, and Bronx looked immediately concerned, wondering if his Alpha was at risk.

The Doctor flushed for a moment, as he couldn’t remember each one off hand, and rolled over to the book and notes he had made earlier. “Each one had slightly different effects, and when combined we cannot be one hundred percent sure… but of the individual ingredients… the Mensdilllia flower would lead to an increase in ones ability to be deceived or convinced of something. There are several herbs that cause fatigue and weakness, and one that inhibits healing.” He flipped the page as he continued. “Two have been known to dull some sensory inputs…Why?”

Ezekiel sighed deeply. “The girl who broke in, when I showed her the satchel she immediately recognized it as a tea blend she drank daily. She was certain, and after every other answer she gave me, I don’t know what she would have to gain by lying unless she honestly didn’t know what it was.”

Doctor Pon thought for a moment. “I see… Well, again, these are all singular side effects, and we don’t know what it would do in a Fae.”

“She’s not a Fae.” Ezekiel said again. “She seems like a human, but if you’re right and this tea had more than one herb for weakness.. her fighting skills just wouldn’t make sense.”

“Or you’re getting soft!” Bronx laughed, clapping him on the back. “Tell him how you padded the floor for her.”

Doctor Pon looked understandably confused but didn’t ask. He took the satchel from Ezekiel again, pouring it into the same white paper dish he had made earlier to examine it. “You said she drank it daily? For how long?”

Ezekiel sighed, sitting down beside the Doctor. “Years apparently, for as long as she could remember.”

The Doctor tsked his tongue. “Nothing is okay about that.” He said finally. “Her strength returning might help her, but there is no telling how much the Mensdillia flower and the Sinsen weed were used to control her… Bronx said you denied her an honourable death?”

“Yea.” Ezekiel muttered, staring at the poured out herbs like they would move and spell out the answer he sought.

“You should have granted it to her.” The Doctor spoke so firmly Ezekiel had to meet his gaze, honestly shocked that the physician had said such a thing. “She may not even make it to trial, and with the withdrawals, she will not leave this world peacefully.”