The County Paris took a tentative bite. It was a little bitter, and perhaps too salty, but it was otherwise agreeable. The mushrooms here in the deeper, damper part of the wood were plumper than others, giving off a pleasant smell. He had not eaten in a day (at least - perhaps longer) and was, he had to admit even to himself, growing somewhat concerned. One might say alarmed, if one were given to hyperbole. Surely father would have sent someone by now? And wasn’t there some servant somewhere? It was quite off-putting. He was ready for a hot bath and a clean set of linens. And he suddenly missed mother very much.
Someone was going to hear about this. That was certain.
But then something caught in his throat. It started as a bit of a tickle, and became a cough. But, the cough seemed to stifle itself. He tried to inhale, but found that was difficult as well. Was he choking? No… he had just swallowed a piece of mushroom. He felt a spasm of pain in his belly. Fear was followed by panic, followed by a desperate realization. He looked down at the half-eaten fungus in his hand.
Dammit. Poisonous mushrooms.
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