I look at Beast, wondering if we should make a break for it. We could—easily. We have fought twice this many before and won.
He gives a faint shake of his head. It is a different thing altogether to raise one’s hand against the king.
And so I must watch in silence as the man who risked his life time and time again to secure this fickle kingling’s lands is chained and led away. He does not fight, and his head does not bow. His innocence shines like a beacon—for those not too blinded by their own political scheming to see it.
I am escorted by six armed guards to a small room in the north tower. Four of them remain at my door. I immediately cross to the window and look down in time to see the entire palace courtyard below come to a standstill as Beast is led to the dungeon housed in the old tower. I feel, rather than hear, the clang of the door as it shuts behind them, imagine them leading him lower and lower to that dark pit. I clench my fists. I have gotten him out of there before, I can do so again.
But such thoughts feel like empty promises and bring me little comfort.
* * *
Sometime later, my door opens, and much to my shock, the king enters. “Your Majesty.”
He says nothing, but simply circles me, watching. At last he says, “Rise,” then turns to stare into the fire.
When minutes pass and he still has not spoken, I decide I have had enough of games. “What will you do with Sir Waroch?”
He glances over his shoulder. “What we normally do with traitors.”
Cold, piercing fear takes over my body. “You cannot kill him! He was only trying to protect what was yours.”
“I am king. I can do whatever I like.”
I clench my fists and try to calm myself. “Will you not at least consult with the men he named to see if their stories match his?”
“We have Viscount Rohan’s sworn oath already.”
“And if Rohan were behind this, as we claim, do you not see how convenient that would be for him to sign such a thing?”
A small frown creases his brow. “He gave his word.”
“I can swear my oath as well.”
“Yes, but we already know you are a proven liar, spy, and assassin. Your word is worthless.”
“Sir Waroch’s is not.”
“You would not be the first woman to have corrupted a man.” He pauses a moment, placing a hand on the mantel to stare into the fire. My mind whirs, striving to think of something to say, something I can do that will open his eyes to the truth.
Before any such thing comes to me, he whirls from the fireplace, fury contorting his face. “You lied to me. You said you were going to a convent. You freed Beast from my dungeon and left a . . . bear in his place!”
“I did not lie. I did leave the palace, and I did spend some time at the abbey. And the bear was too old and tired to hurt anyone. Truly, for an assassin, I have worked hard to ensure that nobody died.”
He takes a step toward me. “You are a dangerous influence on the queen. Ever since you have attended upon her, she has changed. You poison her mind with your thoughts of power. You push her to disobey me. It was a mistake to ever indulge her and allow you at court.”
“You are mistaken if you think your queen is so malleable as all that. She has ever been strong and resolute.”
“I will have to set her straight on that, but will wait until the babe has come so as not to risk anything happening to it. However, I can at least rid myself of you now.”
“Shall I be executed as well?”
“I have no stomach for killing women. You shall be permanently banished from court. I am returning you to your family and will let them deal with you.”
My family. He means—
“Your brother Pierre will be here by nightfall. You will be given into his custody, and I will wash my hands of you.”
No. I have not gone through so much, come so very far only to end up back where I started. “Your Majesty, one of the things we discovered while here was that Pierre was also involved in the rebellion. His troops fought alongside Rohan’s. He is not loyal to you. He cares only for his own interests.”
The king gives me a withering