Igniting Darkness (Courting Darkness Duology #2) - Robin LaFevers Page 0,97

staring at each other, the weight of tangled betrayals filling the room.

“This only proves how correct I was to try to place someone in the king’s confidence. His relationship with you, his handling of this entire matter, only proves he cannot be trusted to rule on his own. His judgment is flawed and lacking.”

And there it is. The thing that will ultimately destroy her relationship with the king. Whether it will happen in time to do me any good is the question. “The king has now reached his majority. The crown is his, Madame, not yours.”

Her head rears back as if I have slapped her. There is nothing I could have said that she less wished to hear. “You know nothing.” Her pale face is now white with rage. “I have ruled this country for eight years. I have expanded our borders, put down rebellions, negotiated treaties so complex that your feeble brain could not fathom them.” She takes a step toward me, but I give no ground. “I was charged by my father to act as steward to the crown, and I will not abandon that responsibility. Unlike my brother, I have a distinct talent for politics. My father even declared me the least foolish woman in France.”

I want to shout at her that that is no compliment, but bite my tongue.

“He charged me with a sacred duty to continue to consolidate power to France, and I will allow no one, no one, to interfere with that duty.” She recovers her equilibrium somewhat, and an oily smile shimmers across her face. “While trusting you was clearly a mistake—one I will not make again—you have served some purpose. You have provided me with a new weapon.” Her eyes burn bright. “The time has once again come for you to remember who you truly serve. I have a task for you. One of utmost importance. You must ensure that the king grants Pierre full custody of Sybella in these hearings. I do not care what else happens, I do not care what else you hear. But Sybella will be in Pierre’s custody within a week’s time, or I will expose your secrets.” My heart begins hammering against my ribs like a rabbit caught in a snare.

She takes a step closer. “And I do not mean that I will simply expose your secrets, Genevieve. I mean I will tell the entire council that the king has knowingly harbored an assassin and a murderer under his wing. How far do you think the king will go to protect you from that truth getting out? What would his Privy Council and bishops have to say about that revelation? Once they hear that, once they see how badly his judgment has gone, they will be inclined to look to me for leadership once more. Do you understand?”

“Madame Regent, I understand, but what you ask is—”

“I am not asking, I am ordering you. If that is too difficult for you to manage, there is one other option.”

I wait, knowing I will not like what she is about to say.

“If you cannot convince the king to hand Sybella over to Pierre, then you may kill her yourself. Either way, I wish her removed for good.”

Why? Why does she harbor such hatred for Sybella? It is one thing that they cross political swords, but to arrange her murder? “Madame, you must understand it takes time to arrange to kill someone.”

“I do. That is why you have a week. No more talk. Simply nod if you understand me.”

It feels as if this woman has just grabbed a spoon and scooped out my heart. She has taken one of the most selfless things I have ever done and turned it into a weapon to be used against the king. With no other choice before me, I nod. She sends me one last scornful glance and disappears through the door.

I force my body to breathe. My head grows light, and I stumble over to sit on the bed. My carefully crafted and painstakingly built progress toward fixing this catastrophe has been hacked from under my feet.

Of course, there is no decision to be made. I will not hurt Sybella, not for any price, and certainly not for the king’s power struggle. But, oh, the innocents who will be caught up in this wake!

The queen, who has so graciously opened her doors to me, in spite of everything. The king’s budding confidence, which could allow him to grow into a decent ruler.