Resin of Petrona

Astra felt as if something had changed, but she could not quite define it. She was wondering if the spirits in the pear brandy were making her drunk. Yes, she felt. But, really, no. First, she did not feel sleepy. In fact, she was wide awake, and even strangely excited. She performed a test of her reflexes. She took a skipping stone, and skimmed it across the little pond. One - two - three - four - five - and to the other side. Her dinner companions clapped their hands to honour her effort. She went back to the picnic table. So her reflexes were good. So why did she feel different?

It was a pleasant feeling. It was a feeling that, after the hard week that she had had, a stranger in strange land, that she finally was in the company of people that she could trust. After a week of trying to entertain and escape Gilder by the use of stories, and of narrowly escaping being caught by the authorities at Polabi Courthouse for some unknown crime, she felt here that she was safe. There would be no more need for lying. She would tell them everything, and they would understand. That is why she had the feeling of intoxication. She was finally free of the fear that she had felt for the last week.

Mary had her doubts about what she was doing. Spiking a guest's drink with Resin of Petrona was not the way that things were done in Golabi. The Resin was said to be a concoction of the alchemists. The resin would remove the inhibitions of anyone who drank it. So if Black Zari were lying about anything, it would be very likely that she would change her story tonight. The problem with using the resin were that Black Zari might also reveal her most private and unconsidered opinions and experiences. For example, Astra might make an unguarded comment on Bella's weight. Although Astra was a large person herself, and might not make exactly that comment, that was the sort of thing that Mary was worried about. If this woman were just a traveler in need of help, she should not be left embarassed the next morning. Still, Granny had her reasons for doing this.

1. Astra led the conversation, asking Baktar if he were a native of Golabi.
2. Fari led the convesation, asking Astra if she had ever played the skipping game before.

Add New Option

Go Back

View Forward Story Tree
View Back Story Tree