Thelonius was frowning too. “What is this about? What are you saying, Edyon?”
“They plan to kill you. And me too.” Edyon’s words seemed to be carried away by the wind.
But Regan had heard them well enough, and his eyes blazed. “These are serious allegations, Your Highness. Perhaps you’ve had a little too much sun, or even more wine than usual, in which case, if you apologize now we can . . . accept your feelings of regret and move on.”
“No. I will not apologize. You are plotting my murder and that of my father.”
Regan’s face changed to a look of disgust. “Even too much wine cannot excuse that accusation. I demand that you retract that statement now, and apologize to Hunt, Birtwistle, and myself.”
Edyon didn’t care if Regan was furious with him. He cared only that he and his father were safe. “I stand by my words. You, Hunt, and Birtwistle are planning a coup, but without even the bravery to admit it or to attack us openly. You’re planning an ‘accident.’ My father and I will fall to our deaths, and you will take over Calidor.”
“These are wild accusations,” Hunt said. “Where’s your proof?”
“That’s my proof.” Edyon pointed to the platform. “The balcony will collapse if we stand on it.”
“You’re talking nonsense,” Hunt replied.
“Then you step out on it,” Thelonius spoke up.
Hunt’s face seemed to quiver in fear.
“I support my son,” Thelonius said, coming back to stand beside him. “He would not make accusations without reason. You asked for proof? Well, let’s see who is telling the truth here.”
Hunt swallowed and stepped cautiously onto the small balcony, stood still for a moment, then began to return to Edyon.
“You don’t have the weight of two people,” Edyon shouted.
Regan said, “I’ll be the second, if it’s to clear my name.” And he strode onto the platform beside Hunt and held his arms out.
Now Birtwistle came forward. “I’m accused too. I’ll stand with my fellow lords to show we are innocent.” He was not a small man, and he joined the other two and jumped heavily up and down.
Nothing happened. The balcony didn’t move a fraction.
Edyon felt ill. Did I imagine the whole thing?
Thelonius looked horrified. “My lords. My friends. It seems that you are true and my son . . . my son has been misguided.” He turned now to Edyon, adding, “I’m sure he will apologize immediately and unreservedly. And explain himself completely to me later.”
All eyes were now on Edyon. His mouth was dry. He looked like a fool once again, but now a dangerous one. He held his head up and said, “I apologize only to you, Father, for not being able to prove my words.” Then he turned and left. Byron stepped toward him, but Edyon ignored his friend. He fled to his rooms.
What have I done? How could I be so mistaken? Was it all a trap? Did Regan know I was hiding in his room and say wild things to lure me into disgracing myself?
Edyon got to his room, shut the door firmly, then sat, then got up, walked to the window and back. And then to the window again.
I should have apologized. Why didn’t I? What was I thinking?
I’m a fool. An absolute fool.
He’d messed up completely. He went to the washbowl, bent over, and threw up.
Edyon couldn’t sit. He paced around as the thoughts whirled in his mind. They were stopped only by a loud bang on his door. It was a guard.
Am I to be arrested for slander?
The guard carried a message that Edyon was required immediately in the presence of his father.
Oh shits. I’m going to be thrown in the dungeons.
“Just one moment,” Edyon said. He closed the door and went back to the washbowl to throw up again. He took a sip of water and turned to see that the guard had opened the door and was watching him.
Edyon was escorted to Thelonius’s rooms and was relieved to find that Regan, Hunt, and Birtwistle weren’t there. It was just his father and the chancellor, Lord Bruntwood.
“Prince Edyon, you have made the most serious allegation against three lords. Three of the most senior and powerful lords,” the chancellor began. “But it’s not too late to resolve the situation. An explanation to your father. A sincere and full apology to all concerned . . .”
“No,” Edyon said. “I will not apologize, but I will explain myself.”
The chancellor looked from Edyon to Thelonius. “Well, that’s something,