“I will not let that happen. You are safe, as is your son; you are both under my protection.”
I dabbed at my imaginary tears and turned away from him. I sniffled as I brushed away tears that had not fallen. “I knew I was right to come to you. I thought I would never see you again when the Neaux soldiers were ramming the gate.” It should have been your name I cursed as they raped the princess.
He wrapped his arms around me and brought me close to his chest. It pinned my arm against him and made my grip upon the blade awkward. “Don’t worry. I am here now.”
“Why did you do it?” I sniffled.
“Do what, darling?” he asked as he stroked my hair.
“Have Artor killed. What did he know that you disliked?”
His hand paused for moment before continuing. “You’ve been through a traumatic event, and now you’re talking nonsense. You’re obviously distraught. Maybe it would be best if you returned to your chambers.”
“So you can write to the king and accuse me of treason as well?” I tilted my head so I was looking up at him.
He tightened his grip upon my shoulder and balled his hand in my hair, which was tied in a braid. I wriggled, pretending to struggle against his grasp when in truth I was removing the dagger. I pressed it against his gut. He felt the prick of the dagger as I pierced his skin. His eyes grew wide.
I pressed the blade against his flesh. “Tell me.”
“He was a spy, a turn-cloak. He was going to tell the king of our plots for the throne. We could not have that.” He smiled and did not pull away from my blade.
“And you silenced him for good?”
“No, that was Prince Garrison’s plot. He could not stomach a turn-cloak. Funny, isn’t it? He wanted to kill his own brother, and he hated a turn-cloak.” He chuckled.
“And you would have killed him the moment King Dallen’s blood was pooling on the ground, so you could put yourself upon the throne in his stead,” I guessed.
“That I would have. Why do you think I insisted that his son go with you to White Crest? I could not have any pesky heirs tainting my claim to the throne.”
I was disgusted by him. He used his words against me as a distraction. For a moment my grip slipped, and he took the opportunity to slide away from me. He wrestled the blade from me and pointed it at my breast. I took a deep breath, and the blade rose with it. It brushed the fabric of my nightgown but did not touch the skin.
“You wanted to kill me to keep me silent? Did you fear I would discover the truth?” Keep him talking. Just keep him talking.
“I did not want to, believe me. You are a vixen in the sheets, but you’re too strong willed for your own good. I had to.”
“And my son?” I did not take my eyes from him. Sweat was gathering along his brow, and his hand was trembling.
He shrugged his shoulders. “A casualty.”
“You’re a snake.”
“You knew that from the start. That’s why you bedded me. You knew where to place your token.” He laughed, but it transformed into a choking gurgling sound. He reached for his throat as his face purpled. He dropped the dagger with a clatter, and I kicked it across the room with my foot.
He fell to his knees, clawing at his throat and gasping for air. But all that came out was a high-pitched squeak. He looked at me as his eyes bulged and his face turned bluer.
“You underestimated me from the start. I would never have had the strength to kill you with a blade. Nor Idella, but you knew that, didn’t you? You thought you knew everything. What you forgot was my father shipped poison, and when you are a merchant’s daughter, you learn your father’s trade. I know more poisons than you could possibly imagine. And the strangling vine is something I know very well.”
He grunted and then fell over dead.
Chapter Fifteen
I was summoned to Idella’s chamber the next morning by a messenger in royal livery. I had slept little that night and wept much of it. Tomas’ blood is upon my hands. I am a murderer. I thought I would feel justified in taking his life. No matter how I looked at it, I only saw a murderess staring back at me. Artor was dead, and no matter how many I killed, it would never change that. I was expecting an escort to the tower. Instead I was whisked to the queen’s chambers. The queen was alone when I entered. She was dressed in violet. Her golden hair was piled on top of her head in artful curls. She appeared relaxed, but her posture was tense. Her lips were a thin line as she regarded me.
I bowed as I entered, low enough that my knees almost touched the ground and my gown pooled around me. I wore a gown with a high neckline in a pale green. The gown was meant for an innocent maid, not a vile murderess. I felt Tomas’ blood upon my hands like a spot that could not be washed out. I will carry this burden with me until the end of my days.
“Rise,” she said.
I did as my queen bid but dared not speak. She may not know yet. She may have wanted to speak on some other matter, maybe discuss Johai’s fostering or some other such thing of little importance.
“Do you know why I summoned you?” she asked.
I kept my expression blank. “No, Your Majesty.”
She smiled, but it was false and full of venom. “Prince Garrison was found dead this morning, and Sir Tomas has gone missing.”
She looked at me for an explanation. I had none to give. I had left Tomas’ body where he had been poisoned. I could not move the body alone. I dared not involve anyone else. The more people that know, the more likely someone will betray me. I arranged his limbs to make his death look like an accidental choking. I spilled wine on the carpet, and grapes and cheese were left on a platter. I moved his body near the table and left. It would not pass careful scrutiny.
“Do you care to explain yourself?” Idella pressed.
“Am I being accused of a crime, Your Majesty?”
“No. Not yet. The investigation has not even begun, but I would like to have it from your mouth first so I know how we can prepare a case to prove your innocence.”
I took a step back. “I did not kill the prince!”
“So you say, but I have a half a dozen men from the Order who are willing to swear you were one of them and in bed with Tomas. What else can we think?”
I opened and closed my mouth for want of something to say. There was no rebuttal I could give. I could absolve myself of one murder by confessing to another. Where has Tomas’ body gone? Did someone find it and hide it? To what end?
“Do you have evidence to prove your innocence? Anyone who can vouch for your whereabouts last night?” she asked.
I shook my head. Layton was abed, and no one had seen me sneak out. I had given Hilliard the night off, but if I asked him to lie for me and say he was with me all evening, I knew he would. I dared not bring him into this. He had saved my life.
Idella sighed. “You are making my life most difficult.”
“I apologize. It was not my intent to make your life difficult,” I said with rancor. My hand itched to slap her once more, but I suspected that would not benefit my case.
She stood up and walked over to her desk in the far corner of the room. She pulled out a piece of parchment and handed it to me.
“The prince gave this to me before he was murdered.”
I held up the parchment and glanced at it.
I commend you for playing the game. Like Artor, you tried and failed to stop us. No one can stop the rise of the True King. He will come; he lives within my legacy.
“What is this?” I asked. I reread the lines over and over.
“The end of the game. Prince Garrison is dead. The Order is destroyed, and whatever plans they had for Danhad have been squashed.”
“And me, does this mean I am free to return to White Crest if no one remains to accuse me?”
“I am afraid you shall not be returning to White Crest for some time.”
My stomach clenched. “Are you planning to try me as a traitor?”
“Oh no, I have need of you.” The queen t
ook the parchment from me and set it to the flames. Smoke curled around the edges and burned away the last trace of Prince Garrison’s message to me, or was it to Tomas? Either way, they had lost the long game. They were both dead.
“I did as you bid, Your Majesty. I found out why my husband was killed, and we caught those who were responsible and plotted to overthrow the kingdom. What more could you want from me?”
“I still have need of a spy, and you have need of a protector. Do you think we caught all of them? Hardly, Tomas proves that. You will not be safe without me.”
Tomas is dead! I wanted to shout, but her words were true. Garrison and Tomas were not the only ones; there were many members I had never met before. “And if I refuse?”
“Then you will be tried for Prince Garrison’s murder.”
“He was an accused traitor!” I balled my hands into a fist.
“He may have been a traitor, but the king granted him his life in the tower. You took away what life was left to him.”
I glared at her. I thought I was free, but I had only been led into a longer trap. “I did not kill him.”
“There is no proof that you did not.”
“There is no proof that I did.”
“It is my word against yours.” She gave me a long look, and I turned away. She had me cornered; it was my word against the queen’s. She must have planned this from the start. She knew that I would never escape her clutches. She continued, oblivious to my thoughts. “You will remain at court at my pleasure, and your son, Layton, shall return to his fostering in House Ilore.”
I clutched my bodice, and the beading cut into my hands as I gripped it. “You would take my son? As a mother, you must understand what that means.”
“It means you will remain loyal. Layton shall grow alongside Prince Adair. He will be given every advantage.” She sat down at a desk beside the fireplace and scribbled something on a piece of parchment.
“Princess Florian is not fit to raise her own child. Why would I want her raising mine?”
“Because I have ordered it,” she said, her voice like a whip crack across the room.
I glowered at her, hating her for everything she had done to me. I should murder her as I did Tomas. It was a passing thought, however. I would leave Layton without a mother if I followed such deadly thoughts. Once was enough to leave a stain on my soul. I cannot keep going down this road, or I will lose my self completely.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” I said, my voice dripping with disdain. I wanted to scream, to retch, to do any number of things, but instead I said, “As you wish.”
She stood and came over to me.. She touched my shoulder, and I shrugged her off.
“You will not believe me, but everything I do is for the good of the kingdom. You have a gift, a rare one that saved this kingdom from destruction from within.”
“I believe you do what you think is best.” I went to the door. “Please excuse me, Your Majesty.”
I had set out for revenge, and in a cruel twist of fate, I had put myself in bondage. Hilliard was waiting for me in the hall. His expression was vacant, but I suspected he had heard some of what had been said behind the door.
“Your grace?” he prompted me.
“Let’s go, Hilliard. There is work to be done.”
“Oh, what work is that?”
I smiled and tossed my hair. Do not let them see your fear, lest others rule you with it. I learned that lesson the hard way. I let my grief rule me, and in the end, I lost everything. I would be her spy but on my own terms. “I have been given the honor of being a Queen’s Spy. You will be tested on your oath, sir.”
He chuckled. “I look forward to the challenge.”
Be sure to check out Diviner’s Prophecy the first book in the Diviner’s Trilogy and for a limited time you can get the second book in the diviner’s trilogy for free as well when you sign up for my reader’s newlsetter.
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About the Author
Nicolette is a native San Diegan with a passion for the world of make believe. From a young age, Nicolette was telling stories whether it be writing plays for her friends to act out or making a series of children’s books that her mother still likes drag out to embarrass her with in front of company. She still lives in her imagination but in reality she resides in San Diego with her husband, children, a couple cats, and an old dog. She loves reading, attempting arts and crafts, and cooking. Connect with her at her her website, on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest!
Cast of Characters
Damara Florett –Dowager Duchess of Florett; Mother of Layton Florett and widow of Artor Florett
Artor Florett –Husband of Damara Florett; Father of Layton Florett; former Duke of Florett; deceased
Layton Florett—Duke of Florett; Son of Damara and Artor Florett
Idella Raleban Florett --Sister of Artor Florett; Queen of Danhad; Mother of Sarelle Raleban; wife to Dallen Raleban
Tomas Deane— A merchant's son
Hilliard Gullen— A soldier
Florian Illore— Princess of Danhad; Sister to Dallen Raleban; Mother of Adair Illore Raleban; Wife to Jon Illore
Jon Illore—Duke of Illore; Father of Adair Illore Raleban; Husband of Florian Illore Raleban
Adair Illore –Prince of Danhad; Son of Florian and Jon; heir to the throne
Dallen Raleban—King of Danhad
Garrison Slatone Raleban –Prince of Danhad; brother to Dallen and Florian
Sarelle Raleban—Princess of Danhad; Daughter of Idella and Dallen
Johai Slatone— Son of Garrison Slatone Raleban
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