The sparse woodlands along the Salieu River were famous for being full of fantastic fungi for poisons come late spring. Victoria and Klen had left the Labelle manor well before dawn to get to the river while the fungus was still fresh with morning dew. Their early morning hike had paid off thus far. She'd already filled half her basket with a variety of mushrooms screaming their lethal doses in a rainbow of colors.

"Remind me what else I'm looking for?" Klen called to her from the opposite bank of ...