Igniting Darkness (Courting Darkness Duology #2) - Robin LaFevers Page 0,108

Brittany. Rennes is fully guarded, allowing no one into the city or out of it without the viscount’s permission. Every one of his holdings in Brittany is fully garrisoned, including the western and southern coasts.”

The queen looks at the king, any victory she feels at being right chased away by her concern. “There is no reason for his troops to be there,” she points out.

“There are no reasons for his troops to be there that the king has chosen to share with you,” General Cassel answers for the king, and he allows it. “There are many reasons he would take up such positions.”

“Such as?” the queen asks.

“Such as guarding against possible retaliation from the English for having secured Brittany against their effort to maintain its independence.”

“Then he should have told Her Majesty of such, surely,” I point out.

“Perhaps he did.”

The queen rears, as if struck. She turns to the king, who leans back in his throne, arms folded, watching the general. He does not look at her.

Finding no answer to her unspoken question, she asks Cassel. “But why seal off Rennes?”

“In a city that has recently been besieged, with mercenaries and remnants of opposing troops roaming the countryside, why wouldn’t a responsible leader secure his city in such a manner?”

“That may be so, but it doesn’t explain why he has hundreds of his troops encamped within miles of each of the queen’s advisors’ holdings.” Beast speaks again, his eyes fixed on Cassel.

Cassel takes a step toward him. “Perhaps he has reason to believe they hold conflicting loyalties. After all, the truce was sudden, the marriage recent. It is not unwise to ensure everyone’s loyalty.”

“Those men, those most honorable men,” the queen says, “witnessed the contract themselves. They would never betray me or their honor in such a manner.”

“But, Your Majesty,” the regent coos. “Can you truly be so very certain of your advisors?” She may as well have picked up a knife and stabbed the queen in the heart with it.

“You mean the very men and women you bribed with France’s gold? No, I do not trust those people anymore. They are your creatures now.”

The king glowers at his sister, reminded of the dishonorable victory she secured in his name. But the regent is an expert in diversion tactics. “Your Majesty, this is a waste of time and effort. The captain is making this up to cover for his depraved abduction of those girls.”

I can stand it no more. I glance first to the queen, who gives an imperceptible nod, then at Beast—to ask for permission or give warning—but his burning gaze is fixed on General Cassel.

“What if both are true?” I say.

All eyes turn toward me, but it is Beast’s that I feel the most. “Your Majesty, it is true that Captain Waroch took the girls—not to abduct them, but to get them to safety.”

At the name Waroch, General Cassel takes another step toward Beast and yanks the peasant hood from his head. His nostrils flare, the recognition instantaneous. “Who are you?”

“Benebic de Waroch,” Beast says softly. Then, softer still, “Your judgment day.”

“Your Majesty,” I say in desperation. “This man, Sir Waroch, would have no reason to harm those girls. Indeed, one of them was his own sister’s daughter. He simply went searching for them. And once he found them, he took them to safety.”

“Where did you take them?” Cassel demands.

“Where they will be safe.”

“How dare you suggest the king cannot be trusted.”

“It is not the king I am concerned with. As I understand it, the regent is working closely with Pierre d’Albret.”

The regent steps toward Beast. “The girls are his property.”

Beast does not back down. “They are not safe in his custody.”

“And you think we will believe they are safe in yours?” Cassel’s eyes sweep over him, taking in every muscle, every scar, every bit of ugliness that adorns Beast’s face.

Beast does not look away. “In this case, the apple has fallen far from the tree. I do not rape women. Especially not little—”

General Cassel strikes him across the mouth, the loud crack halting his words as Beast’s head snaps back. A lesser man would have been felled like a tree, but Beast simply shakes it off and stares silently at the general, blood pouring from his nose and mouth.

The king glances briefly at the queen’s pale hand on his arm, then says, “Enough, General. Captain Waroch, explain this accusation.”

His eyes never leaving the general, Beast begins. “General Cassel raped my mother during the War of the Public