Welcome to Stories from Among the Stars.

You're listening to Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorn.

Narrated by Jessica Threat.

Chapter 1. Raina

Rana stalked the edges of the gilded crowd, watching the assassin creep ever closer to Queen

Tulane.

The party was lively, the Royal Orchestra working hard to fill the cavernous ballroom with their sovereign's favorite scores.

Even with the open windows, the brisk evening air smelled of sweat and perfume.

Court folk-clad in colorful silk attire danced with nobility from every corner of the

kingdom. Servers with golden trays and matching smiles flitted between them, offering shrimp,

chocolates, champagne, all imported from Shapara for the Arcandor, their absent guest of honor.

It was a bold place to attempt an assassination. Rana hadn't faced one this foolish in,

oh, seven months. The Midwinter celebration. An assassin tried to behead Queen Tulane while she made her yearly address.

Raina would never forget his gurgling gasps, or the queen's impassive starris's spattered blood

stained her silk shoes. Raina certainly wouldn't forget how her excellency nudged the body off the high balcony, then continued

her address as if a corpse hadn't crunched to the ground ten meters below.

Kianth called Queen Tulane a sociopath. Rana was finding that easier and easier to believe.

I specifically ordered faster dancing.

Queen Tulane's voice was melodious, but with a venomous bite.

Everyone knew why she was irate.

Kianth, the Arcandor, the Mage of Ages, their foreign guest of honor, who also happened to be Raina's

very secret girlfriend, hadn't shown. Although the Queen's cheery expression never faltered,

...