Symantha was gone.
Once it was generally known that the Matriarch was caught plotting the deaths of Ladies, the status of Matrons generally and the Matriarchy specifically was ruined. There had always been carefully quashed rumors of murder in high places in the Convocation, but the Queen's revelation, through her prophet-consort, put dames and Matrons in their places, firmly in servitude to the Ladies they were trained to deftly manipulate.
Coryn, always ready for any eventuality, was able to hold onto her position as the Matron over the High Princess' affairs and was now responsible for the whole of royal palace management, with Evette and Michiana supervising her hard.
Michiana came into a side room in her apartments and looked down on her beloved Mullicynda groaning with every breath on a small bed. The High Princess looked up into the face of her household matron. "How is she?"
"She is responding to the medicines, though they don't seem to help much." Coryn was sitting in a chair by the bed and put her hand on Mulls forehead. "She is still hot."
The Lady pursed her lips and frowned. "Stay with her."
"As you wish, your Highness." Coryn puckered at the words that tasted sour. As Mich left the room, Coryn spat on the floor and cursed under her breath. "May you die a thousand deaths, little missy..."
The Matron gave a great sigh. Two weeks ago, she was a ruler over the island, second only to Symantha who deferred to her more and more. Michiana had looked to her as a trusted advisor in everything, even in her most private matters. Now, the High Princess was ordering Coryn about and even meddling in household affairs as if she were the Matriarch herself. There was a seething anger at the sudden loss of prestige that she had connived and scrapped for years to achieve. The fall had come in mere days, as murder and fraud had burst out like a boil, implicating all Matrons as convicted accomplices.
Symantha was gone, but Coryn was caught up in her deceptive care of Mullicynda and her own vengeance trapped her in this situation.
Mullicynda's coming death needed to look like the regular progression of an illness, placing Coryn above the suspicion that plagued her Matronly sisters. Surely she is not complicit in all those murders, they would say, look at how dutiful she is to her Lady and to her school-girl friend. Maybe Coryn's deceptions will regain their effect and she will trick the Ladies into giving her the Matriarch's seat and the old trust.
The Lady on the bed groans. Coryn frowns, as the potion she is slowly administering should have rendered her unconsciousness by now. The false nurse looks about and produces a syringe that is plunged into Mulls neck, just like Sym had taught her. The groans are quieting again and Coryn breathes out a sign of relief.
Symantha, the mastermind behind the murderous breeding program, has disappeared. Coryn has taken the knowledge of her teacher and will use it to murder at her own behest, no longer as a pawn.
Mulls' chest rattles as her breathing slowed. Coryn looks down at her school-girl rival, the one who had taken the investment party and glittering pageant future that should have hers. At least, in her mind. She is sure she can take her misguided revenge and come out smelling like a rose with all the power she 'deserves'. Following the example of her predecessors, she will murder to get what she wants, but somehow do it in a way that distances herself from the fate of her sisters.
Mullicynda's eyes inexplicably flutter open. "What is happening?" she whispered.
Coryn smiled in what seemed like a genuine way. "You are sick, my Lady. I am taking care of you."
The double-meaning of the nursing words were lost on Mulls air-starved mind. "Thank you," was what little she could manage to say. "The book..."
"Weslyn has it safe." Coryn tried to make the words sound sincere, but she could care less about Kiyami's words and stories. She was already planning to eliminate Mullicynda's unnatural man-child later on, just as a sideline of revenge. She might also involve herself in the murder of Michiana and her unborn 'deliverer'. That could buy her much gratitude from the Covocation. "The work goes on."
The poisoned woman relaxed with ill-bourne satisfaction, closing her eyes.
For all of Coryn's plans and intrigues, she could stand patience no longer. It was time to take her place and take her first life as the ruler of her own destiny. She chose the darkness freely, not as a hench-woman, beyond ready to seal her evil un-Godly fate.
Coryn loaded up the syringe again and plunged the last of the poison into Mullicynda's neck. Her patient flinched slightly and went terribly still. The nurse checked breathing and was more than satisfied that her charge was dead. Cleaning up any evidence of her vengeance, the Matron left the room to inform her lady that Mulls was gone.