“Three.”
“And how long is the fastest you recall her dressing?”
“I am not certain.”
“Make a guess; the court will not hold you to the exact time.”
“Perhaps twenty minutes.”
“Twenty minutes with three servants. That is actually quite fast, considering all the ties and toggles that require lacing for most ladies’ clothing. Now how long would you say it was between the discovery of the king’s body and the time the princess came out of her room?”
Hilfred hesitated.
“How long?” the lawyer persisted.
“Perhaps ten minutes.”
“Ten minutes, you say? And when she came out of her room, how many servants were with her?”
“None that I saw.”
“Amazing! The princess woke up unexpectedly in the dark and managed to dress herself fully in a lavish gown in ten minutes without the help of a single servant!”
The lawyer paced the floor, his head down in thought, a finger tapping his lips. He paused with his back to Hilfred. Then, as if a sudden thought occurred to him, he spun abruptly.
“Tell us, how did she take the news of the king’s death?”
“She was shocked.”
“Did she weep?”
“I am sure she did.”
“But did you see her?”
“No.”
“Then what happened?”
“She went to Prince Alric’s chambers to find him and was surprised he was not there. She then—”
“Please stop there just a minute. She went to Alric’s chambers? She learns her father is murdered and her first inclination is to go to her brother’s room? Did you not find it odd she did not immediately rush to her father’s side? After all, no one had suggested any harm had come to Alric, had they?”
“No.”
“What happened next?”
“She went to view her father’s body, and Alric arrived.”
“After the prince sentenced the prisoners to death, what did the princess do?”
“I do not understand what you mean,” Hilfred replied.
“Is it true she went to visit them?” the lawyer questioned.
“Yes, she did.”
“And were you with her?”
“I was asked to wait outside the cell.”
“Why?”
“I do not know.”
“Has she often asked you to wait outside when she is speaking with people?”
“Sometimes.”
“Often?”
“Not often.”
“Then what happened?”
“She called for monks to give last rites to the murderers.”
“She called for monks?” the lawyer repeated with a clear note of skepticism in his voice. “Her father is murdered and she is concerned about the murderers’ souls? Why did she call for two monks? Was one not sufficient to do the job for both? For that matter, why not call the castle priest?”
“I do not know.”
“And did she also order the murderers unchained?”
“Yes, to be able to kneel.”
“And when the monks entered the cell, did you go with them?”
“No, again she asked me to remain outside.”
“So the monks could enter but not her trusted bodyguard? Not even when the known killers of her father were unchained and free? Then what?”
“She came out of the cell. She wanted me to stay behind and escort the monks to the kitchens after they were done giving last rites.”
“Why?”
“She did not say.”
“Did you ask?”
“No, sir. As a man-at-arms, it is not my place to question the orders from a member of the royal family.”
“I see, but were you pleased with these orders?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“I was fearful more assassins might be in the castle, and I did not wish the princess to be out of my sight.”
“In point of fact, wasn’t Captain Wylin in the process of searching the castle for additional threats, and didn’t he make everyone aware he felt the castle was unsafe?”
“He did.”
“Did the princess explain to you where she was going so you could find her after performing your duty to the monks?”
“No.”
“I see. And how do you know the two you escorted to the kitchens were the monks? Did you see their faces?”
“Their hoods were up.”
“Did they have their hoods up when they entered the cell?” Hilfred thought a moment and then shook his head. “I do not think so.”
“So, on a night when her father is killed, she orders her personal bodyguard to leave her unprotected and to escort two monks down to the empty kitchens—two monks who decided suddenly to pull their hoods up inside the castle, hiding their faces? And what about the murderers’ possessions? Where were they?”
“They were in the custody of the cell warden.”
“And what did she say to the warden concerning them?”
“She told him she was going to have the monks take them for the poor.”
“And did they take them?”
“Yes.”