Igniting Darkness (Courting Darkness Duology #2) - Robin LaFevers Page 0,110

of course she would hold such a card close until it could do the most damage.”

“It was foolish of me to think otherwise. Anyway, she has given me an ultimatum. I must do as she asks or she will expose not just me to the council, but the king’s knowledge of what I’ve done and who I am. She will use it to undermine his ability to rule and force him to give back some of the power she had as regent.”

Sybella swears colorfully. “What does she want in exchange?” She speaks softly, and I cannot tell if it is in sympathy or carefully banked anger.

“You. She wants me to ensure the king hands you over to Pierre’s custody.”

Her eyes widen in surprise. “I did not realize I had gotten quite so deeply under her skin,” she murmurs.

“And if that does not work, she suggests I kill you. Either way, you must be Pierre’s by the end of the week or she will expose the king.”

“When did she speak to you?”

“Late last night. After midnight. Why?”

She begins tapping the note on her chin. “Because Pierre did not appear at the hearing this morning. When the king sent someone to check, it was discovered that he and his party had left before dawn. It was as much a surprise to the regent as any of us.”

“He is gone?”

She nods, still thinking.

“Well, that is welcome news, but I am not certain it solves my problem.”

Her lips curve in a faint smile. “You do not wish to kill me?”

“Not at the moment, no.”

She laughs, then grows sober. “Were you just going to run away? Into the city? Hide yourself among the masses? Alone?”

“I had a plan.”

She arches a brow. “Given how your plans have gone in the past, you will forgive me if I ask you to elaborate.”

Even though it is deserved, I wince. “I’ve done it before.”

“Yes, but according to you, there was an imposing prisoner traveling at your side.”

It is all I can do not to squirm. “Odd that you should mention that. He was going to accompany me this time as well.”

“He followed you to the palace?”

“No. He has other business here.”

Her eyes narrow. “What other business? I think it is time you tell me all that you know about this prisoner of yours.”

Of yours. The words pinch at my heart. With no other options before me, I tell her about Maraud. The reason he was in the dungeon, Cassel’s killing of his brother, and his vow of vengeance against the general as well as his desire to make his crimes known to the king. In truth, it feels good to free myself of these secrets. I did not intend or wish to keep them from her, but there has been no time to speak of it since I knew she could be trusted. By the time I am finished, Sybella is staring at me with an odd expression on her face.

“Does this prisoner have a name, by any chance?”

“His name is Anton Crunard. He is the son of the former chancellor of Brittany.”

Sybella stares at me, then closes her eyes before muttering, “Merde.”

“Has the queen been looking for him? She needs to know that none of this was his fault. He had no idea that his father would betray the country for him. Indeed, they are estranged and have been for years.”

Sybella’s eyes fly open. “Estranged, you say?”

“Yes. He was the prodigal son.”

The letter begins tapping furiously at her chin again so that I want to jump up, snatch it from her hand, and toss it into the fireplace. “What? What are you thinking?”

“Not so much thinking as remembering. Just before the queen left for France, Crunard senior attempted to escape his imprisonment. He told us the reason was to go look for his son. He did not trust the queen to do it, even though she had promised she would. When we arrived in France, we received word that he had made a second attempt to escape and succeeded.”

“Why would she promise a traitor she would look for his son?”

“The promise was not made to the father, but to Maraud’s half sister.”

I gape at her. “A half sister he does not yet know that he has,” she amends.

I can scarce wrap my mind around this. Know that Maraud will scarcely be able to wrap his mind around this. He is not the sole remaining child, after all.

“I think that will come as a great relief to him,” I