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[tearurheartout.livejournal.com]

For once in her life, Judith is outside. Alone. Not in her office with her kid, training with Robert or what have you. But sitting on a tree branch, pondering about her life.

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[heartsthespades.livejournal.com]

As a general rule, he and Judith didn't speak much. He didn't really seek her out, and today wasn't much different - he did just come across her - but this time he hesitated before nodding and moving past. He and Hadyn had agreed he'd talk to Wren, because of the Faces Wren was the most likely to believe him about Ceiro being poisoned. Judith, on the other hand, was the most likely not to, in his opinion, with the distrust she seemed to have for him.

But Ceiro was her husband.

"Your Majesty," he finally says, "I wondered if I might have a word in private."

[tearurheartout.livejournal.com]

Some circumstances can make the strangest of allies, even if Judith herself would think otherwise. Still, she would listen and that was made clear by the fact of her climbing down the tree and facing him with an expression that was a very civil one.

"Of course"

[heartsthespades.livejournal.com]

And perhaps this was the only thing that might convince Judith that not all Novaks were exactly the same, especially the two that had been half-raised in her Suit. He doesn't speak again, though, not until they're behind closed doors again.

And even then, it takes a moment, because with this, Jordan's betraying his mother, and his family. He's always been raised to believe there's nothing more important. But there is.

"I believe," he says, finally, after the silence lingers too long, "that His Majesty is being poisoned."

[tearurheartout.livejournal.com]

It hits her like a brick. It was not usual among the hearts, but this weren't usual times and anything could happen. anything.

"What makes you think that?"

[heartsthespades.livejournal.com]

"The doctor he's been seeing, Dr. Cataldo? He went off-Deck some time ago to run His Majesty's tests personally." Jordan extracts the flash drive he's been carrying with him since Hadyn gave it to him. "He died in what the Swiss police are calling a drunk driving accident, but he wasn't drunk. And the tests he had run don't indicate that His Majesty has any kind of natural illness.

"It's lead poisoning, and if he doesn't get treatment soon, his kidneys will begin to fail, milady."

[tearurheartout.livejournal.com]

"Occam's razor, then." She rubs her temples while the computer in her office. She wants to cry, but a Queen doesn't cry.
The computer starts and she plugs the flash drive to check the archives.
After a moment in silence, mulling over the information, she speaks:
"My husband will get treated for this starting today. And no matter how much he complains, it will be done. I also want all plates, cups, glasses analysed. But keep everything as secret as possible. If the one who's poisoning Ceiro doesn't know we know that will give us more opportunities to catch him."
Or her, who knows.
"Do we have a doctor we can trust?" With Itchy and Cataldo gone, the choices were scarce, if not non-existant. It was also a risky position, with all things considered.

[heartsthespades.livejournal.com]

"Not in the Hearts," Jordan says, after a moment. "But your brother-in-law joined the Diamonds a few months ago." And surely if anyone could be trusted, it was Ceiro's twin brother.

"We don't have a doctor in the castle, but Miss Benson just recently arrived, and she's a nurse practitioner."

[tearurheartout.livejournal.com]

"I want you to talk with them both and send them to me for further instructions."

Luis was Ceiro's brother, he had even more of a right than her to know. And she needs to see how this Miss Benson works.

[heartsthespades.livejournal.com]

"Of course, Your Majesty." He would probably always chafe at taking orders from Judith, just as he would have chafed taking orders from David, because doing the bidding of someone who doesn't respect you in the least is never pleasant. But none of that shows on his impassive face.

"Is there anything else?"

[tearurheartout.livejournal.com]

"Nothing." she said, and even though she isa proud woman and in another situation she wouldn't have said this, but she will and she means it. "Except my thanks. We wouldn't have known this if it weren't for you."

[heartsthespades.livejournal.com]

Jordan nodded, and then paused. Considering what they know but don't have proof of, this next thing was necessary. "I only ask that you remember that, milady," he said, and then walked out of the office.