The King's Bastard - By Rowena Cory Daniells Page 0,157

why Byren -'

'I do.' Cobalt paused and everyone waited for him to go on. 'When I was at Dovecote estate he wasn't there. Ask him why he didn't go to Dovecote.'

The silence stretched.

'Byren?' Queen Myrella asked. 'What is he talking about?'

Byren let his breath out slowly, then lifted his hands. 'Lord Dovecote told me never again to set foot on his estate.'

There was a hushed intake of breath. Byren's cheeks flushed but Piro couldn't tell whether it was with anger or discomfort.

'Why would the Old Dove do such a thing?' the king demanded.

Byren drew breath to explain.

'Why, Uncle?' Cobalt said softly. 'Because your son and his friend are Servants of Palos. And, like all loyal Rolencians, Lord Dovecote despises them. Discrediting me was part of their plan to usurp the throne.'

Their father took a step back, visibly shaken.

Their mother lifted a hand to her chest as if in pain, her black eyes going to Byren's face. 'That's why Lence -'

'It's not true,' Piro cried. 'It's -'

'A wicked lie!' Garzik insisted, his voice cracking so he sounded like a boy and not a man.

Cobalt gestured to Orrade. 'Do you deny you two are lovers?'

'I do,' Orrade said stoutly. 'And may I face the Trial of Truth to prove it.'

The king looked impressed. The Trial of Truth was not invoked lightly.

'Answer me this if you can, Orrade the Nameless,' Cobalt countered. 'Why were you disinherited?'

'Because my father leapt to the wrong conclusion.'

'And what conclusion was that?' Cobalt persisted.

Orrade hesitated, glancing to Byren.

'What is this? What does he mean?' King Rolen demanded of Byren.

'Orrade is a true and loyal friend, who has saved my life on more than one occasion,' Byren said. 'He is not my lover, never has been. But he is -'

'...a Servant of Palos,' Cobalt finished for him.

'There is no secret society serving Palos.' Byren rounded on Cobalt, glaring. But with Cobalt slumped exhausted in the chair and Byren towering over him, Byren appeared the aggressor.

Her brother seemed to realise this and took a step back, looking around the group. 'It is all wicked rumour spread by an evil schemer for his own advancement.'

Cobalt shook his head sadly. 'You accuse me of what you are doing. It is ever the way.'

Byren's mouth dropped open, then he turned to their father in a silent plea for understanding. But King Rolen's usually bluff, good-natured face had grown hard with suspicion.

Piro glanced to their mother who looked from Cobalt to Byren, obviously horrified by what was unfolding. If only Piro hadn't asked her mother to look into Byren's heart. Instead of convincing her of his honesty, it had convicted him in her eyes. It was Lence who had, unconsciously, severed the twin-link, not Byren.

'Byren?' the queen whispered.

He dropped to his knees in front of the king. 'I swear by the love I have for Rolencia, I have never sought to be more than your second son, Father. I have served the kingsheir -'

'As long as it suited you,' Cobalt inserted.

There was a low murmur from the old guard.

Byren shifted with annoyance. 'Out of love, I have served my twin and will always do so.'

But Piro noticed even Captain Temor had averted his face from Byren. There was only one way to prove Byren spoke the truth.

She darted in front of the queen. 'Please, mother, tell them Byren speaks the truth. You know he does. You can -'

'No. I can only see with a mother's heart,' the queen whispered, denying her Affinity.

Piro's gaze flew to Byren, who had resumed his feet. She turned back to the queen and, in a flash of insight, Piro realised that if her mother revealed her Affinity now her marriage would be annulled and her children declared bastards. Cobalt would have as much right to the throne as Lence.

Piro fixed on Springdawn. 'You are an Affinity wardess, you can look into people's hearts and tell if they speak the truth. Look into Byren's.'

But Springdawn was already shaking her head. 'I don't have that skill. It is a very specialised talent.'

'Autumnwind?' Piro pleaded.

'I can't and even if I could, I'm exhausted,' he apologised.

'Then send for someone who can,' Piro insisted.

'Enough, Pirola!' the king snapped, using the voice he reserved for hearings. 'These are very serious accusations.'

'But Father -'

He silenced her with a look. 'The Servants of Palos caused the civil war that weakened Rolencia and this was the reason Merofynia attacked us thirty years ago. It might seem like history to you, but I was there. I saw the destruction