“I thought they were to be questioned before they died,” Carys continued as she stepped into the hall.
Elder Cestrum turned toward Carys and bowed. “They were, Your Highness. The Council was set to interrogate them this morning. But when we went to their cells to retrieve them, we found all five of them on the floors of their cells—dead. It appears they were poisoned.”
7
“Poisoned?” Carys tried to focus on her words instead of the pounding of her heart and her head. The man she talked to in the cell last night knew something more about how her father and brother had died. And now he had taken that information to his grave. “Were any of the other prisoners in the North Tower found dead?”
“No, Princess,” Captain Monteros answered. “It was only the five members of the King’s Guard.”
“So they weren’t poisoned by spoiled food or tainted water. Someone deliberately murdered these men before the King’s justice could be delivered.” Or before she could bargain with them to learn the truth.
Her stomach rolled. Her skin felt tight and her head throbbed. She should have taken more than just a sip of the Tears of Midnight on waking, but she would be paying the price for last night’s weakness for days to come. The price would be much higher if she gave in to the desperate need for more. A little would take the edge off and keep her functioning. There was too much at stake to give in to the gnawing desire for the warmth and calm the drug provided.
“Someone must have wanted revenge for the death of King Ulron and Prince Micah and thought the crown was moving too slowly,” Captain Monteros said.
“Either way,” Elder Cestrum said, turning back to face the throne, “justice has been delivered. The Council will send out a proclamation letting everyone know the oath-breakers are dead. And once you are officially installed as monarch, my queen, we will want to discuss how best to retaliate against Adderton. The people will want them to pay for their crimes.”
Everyone turned and looked at the Queen, who was running her fingers down the throne as if stroking a lover.
“Mother . . . ,” Carys said, stepping away from the pillar she’d been using for support and across the white polished stone of the throne room. “Did you hear Elder Cestrum? The five Guardsmen have been murdered. We can’t question them.”
The Queen turned and locked eyes with Carys. Then, without a word, she walked down the steps of the dais and out of the hall.
“The Queen is clearly tired,” Andreus said as his mother disappeared around the corner. “This has been a difficult day. I’m sure she’ll deal with any other issues after the funeral is over.”
“If you and your sister have no objection, Your Highness,” the Chief Elder said, adjusting his tunic with his iron claw, “the Council of Elders will make arrangements to have your mother crowned as monarch immediately after tomorrow’s funeral. With the war to the south and Adderton’s ambush within our borders, it would be better not to wait.”
“Do what you must.”
“Very well, Your Highness.”
The Chief Elder and Captain Monteros turned and filed past Carys, who waited for the space to clear before walking the length of the vaulted gold-and-white hall toward her brother. Each footstep echoed in the huge room decorated with murals representing the seven virtues. Above and behind the throne that Andreus stood next to was a smaller version of the orb that until last night had never been allowed to go dark.
Carys stopped in front of the dais stairs and stood watching her brother. Willing him to speak. To explain where he was last night and why he chose to abandon her when she needed him most.
When the silence continued, she asked, “How are you today?”
“Fine,” he said, looking around the hall before coming down the steps, holding out his hands to her. “I’m completely fine. How are you?”
Carys looked at his hands, but did not take them. The hurt between them was too fresh, but there was no time to dwell on that. “The King’s Guardsmen were not telling the truth about what happened to Father and Micah. That’s why they were murdered.”
Andreus dropped his hands to his side. “What are you talking about?”
“I spoke to one of them briefly last night before . . . ” No. Under the calm of the drug, she could feel the pulse of the pain. She couldn’t think about that now. “Father and Micah were in the center of their men when the attack happened, but both of them were killed before they had a chance to defend themselves. I was going to question him today, only now he and the others are dead.”
“What are you saying, Carys?”
“I’m saying the story we were told isn’t true,” she whispered, looking around to make sure the room remained empty. “Or not entirely. Adderton might have been part of the attack, but there must have been others who helped set it up. Others that Father and Micah trusted. It’s the only thing that makes sense.”
Her brother took her arm. “You’re saying members of the King’s Guard killed their King? Why?”
“I don’t know,” she admitted. “Maybe the Bastians are maneuvering once again to take back the throne. Maybe Adderton has decided they would have a better chance negotiating peace if the two men who enjoy fighting the war were no longer in charge.”
Or maybe it was someone else pulling the strings. The Council of Elders. One of the District High Lords or someone Carys had yet to consider. The list of those who wanted power was too endless to count.
“All I do know,” she insisted, “is that the lights were sabotaged last night. The King and Prince return dead, and the only people who can tell the truth about what happened were murdered in their cells. Do you think all of that is a coincidence?”
“I don’t know.” Andreus raked a hand through his hair and paced across the gleaming white floor. “It’s hard to believe that the attack and the sabotage could be related.”
“Did you talk to the boy?”
“I started to. Then the gongs sounded and . . .” He shook his head. “By the time I got back to my rooms . . . I had other things on my mind.”
Other things.
“I know.” She held her breath, waiting for him to apologize. To tell her that they were still a team. When he said nothing, she walked past him and stared at the throne on the dais above. “Lady Imogen appeared to have other things on her mind, too. I was foolish enough to believe you’d be there to help me.”
“I can explain.”