They returned the same way they came— through dark hallways and labyrinthine corridors, through the vibrant room of ancient pictures that emitted toxic paint.
The smell lingered, as anything ancient does, but Adina was relieved to find it barely affected her now. She was only slightly lightheaded and out of breath, and though her legs felt soft, they were not immobile. All good signs that she's gaining immunity.
As they lugged the apronful of berries inside the room, they were immediately pounced on by the caturis. It pawed at Adina's arms and put its powerful front limbs around her neck, mewing with a light growl that indicated it was pleased to have her back.
"I think it's gotten attached to you," Leala remarked.
"I know." Adina laughed as she pat the creature's back. It nuzzled into their hand, then jolted as if it remembered something. It leapt off of her, spinning around once before it sat down a few feet away with a huff. For a feline, it had a rather human-like expression. It turned its head away from her, as if it just remembered it was supposed to be mad.
"It's offended we left it behind," Leala whispered. "Try giving it a berry."
Adina smiled sheepishly and extended a hand full of berries to the caturis. "I should have taken you with us," she said in a soft voice. "Won't you forgive me?"
The creature sniffed her hand and accepted her peace offering. It cocked its head at her, then slowly crept to her side and laid its head on her lap.
"It's interesting that it took a liking to you." Leala's voice was barely above a whisper, careful not to disturb the resting feline. "It's hard to earn their loyalty, you know. They're elusive creatures, a bit tricky and playful too. Usually, only rank 3 poisoners have the opportunity to have any."
"Rank 3, huh." Adina stared at a wall, deep in thought. "Does Arsenia, Viperia, and Morgana have one? Do you think he belongs to them?"
"That's a she," Leala pointed out. "And no, I don't think that one's been claimed."
Leala put the berries in a tray and sat next to the feline. It opened its eyes at her approach, but then shut it back again. It made no move as Leala pet it, purring even as Leala's hands smoothed its fur.
"Lady Viperia is the only rank 3 we know of that has a caturis, but hers is purple. A grumpy one, too, that's for sure. This one's very docile."
Adina laughed. "I'm not surprised. Pets usually take the after the personalities of their owners, and Viperia is rather intimidating.
"Adina!" Leala's hand covered her mouth. Her friend looked shocked, mortified even.
"What?" Adina asked when her mouth was free from restraint again.
"You can't say that!" Leala all but screamed, her arms flailing. "You always address the Rank 3 poisoners and up politely. They're called Lady + their poisoner name. Rank 4 to 9 are addressed as Miss + their poisoner name. NEVER call anyone by just their name or god forbid, their personal name."
"Personal name?"
Leala sighed. "Goddess, how clueless could you be?"
Leala went over to her bed and rummaged under the mattress for something. Having found what she's looking for, she went back to Adina's side with a triumphant smile, and showed her the book.
It was a thick large tome wrapped in authentic brown leather, its smell fresh like that of pine cones. There were no words or engravings in the front and back, but the rope that held it closed was a shiny vermillion color— a cord made of expensive poisonous bark, the name of which Adina still doesn't know.
"It's a manual of sorts," Leala explained. "All the etiquettes and the rules of the palace are here. Everything from what you shouldn't do to what you should do instead." She handed the book to Adina.
Leala flipped the pages open to the part about names.
It turns out that poisoners have two names in their life time. Your personal name, or the name that was given to you when you were born. The second name is your poisoner name, which is the name everyone calls you once you become a full-fledged poisoner of the king's court.
From the moment a poisoner takes their oath, they shed their old life to begin the new one they must lead. They take roles as public healers and healers of the royal family, but also as executioners who dispose of those who displease the king.
"Some of the poisoners... they work directly for the king. They spy on us— on what we do here, and how well-behaved we are. If you speak anything against the king or court, you could be kicked out of here."
Adina looked down in careful thought. "You told me earlier that if you went past the dead line, the king's guard will shoot you."
"They will." Leala's brow furrowed as her eyes took on a faraway look.
"But if one wanted to leave," Adina hedged, "then all you have to do is insult the king, right? Then they'll kick you out of here themselves."
Leala's eyes widened as she understood what Adina is trying to say. "No! At no cost must you do such a thing! Even if they were the one who kicked out, they'll kill you still."
"In what world does that make sense?"
"The palace is the only safe place for us, Adina." Leala emphasized, taking Adina by the shoulders and shaking her. Their eyes locked, and Adina saw the genuine fear in Leala's eyes.
"You step out of here without permission, you die. You get kicked out, you die. If not in the hands of the king's guard, then in the hands of rebels. Do you understand Adina?"
"Rebels?"
Leala clamped a hand to her own mouth, looking like a deer caught in the traps. "Never mind," she hurriedly said. "Just... behave please? Keep your head down and just do as you are told."
She sighed and embraced Adina without warning. "I just got my first room mate, I can't lose you now."
Adina returned the embrace. "I'll do my best to act right, I promise."
They spent the latter part of the day perusing Leala's manual. The first part of the book contained all the customs and rules and rituals, but the second part was more interesting.
"They're my notes," Leala explained. "Basic poisons and antidotes. First aid procedure and the like."
The girls hunched down, their faces almost pressed to the pages. The berries they had picked was all but forgotten (the caturis gladly devoured them), but there was a twinkle in both of their eyes. Almost as if they were watching a strange and rare phenomenon unfold for the first time.
"You did this all by yourself?" Adina marveled at the penmanship and the details.
"Yep! I don't have as much intuition as the others, so I rely on just using what I already know. So I really have to study hard."
"Amazing, really," Adina exclaimed. "How long did it take you to learn all of this?"
"I started here three months ago, but I already have some experience thanks to my sister."
"Your sister is also a poisoner?"
"Not exactly. She's also a healer and she does know poisons. She can't consume them, though."
"Oh. I see."
"You can have the book," Leala said, getting up.
"Are you sure?" Adina asked, her eyes wide. "I mean, I would love to. But what about you?"
Leala grinned. "Please, I read those so much they're practically ingrained in my mind now. Plus, you need it way more than I do."
"Thank you," Adina replied, her eyes glued to the book as she caressed it with the lightest touch.
"You're not out of the woods yet," Leala replied, shaking her head. "You can thank me by getting your poisoner name."
She grinned and Adina smiled back.