“Where were you?”
“Prince Lerek is dead?”
“Where were you?”
“What?”
“Where were you? Where did you go after the terrace?”
“I—” Sonah stopped, eyes searching the tabletop for an answer.
General Peleon slammed his hand on the table and Sonah jumped.
“Who are you working with?”
“Please…”
“Who did you let into the prince’s rooms?”
“I didn’t!”
“So,youkilled the prince? His guard?” the general sneered.
“No! Of course not! I?—”
“You are going to be executed,” General Peleon said, as if announcing he was going fishing in the morning.
Sonah’s eyes swam with tears, dread slowly washing over her chest. “But I didn’t… I didn’t do it. I didn’t doanything!Please. Please, where’s Lady Maranou?—”
“You will die. You and that traitorous bitch.”
Sonah couldn’t breathe. Her chest hurt and she tried sucking in air, but her throat closed up. She hurt all over, was cold and terrified, and now she couldn’t breathe and would drop dead right there.
General Peleon stood, sheathed his dagger and walked to the door. He lifted the latch and swung the door open wide before turning back to her. “In the morning, I’ll give you one last opportunity to confess who conspired with you. Who you’re protecting. If you do, I’ll make sure the emperor grants you a quick death. If you don’t, you’ll be drawn and quartered, along with Terena Luca.”
CHAPTER TEN
Croak groaned and turned over, pulling the thin blanket over his head against the sunlight shining on him. He heard shuffling nearby, but didn’t bother to look. He’d left money on the table and hoped the blanket would forestall any conversation.
Eventually, he heard the soft click of the door as it shut.
He must not have left the correct amount; a moment later, banging almost cracked the door, and he jumped out of bed in confusion and fear.
“What the hells is all this about, eh?” he shouted as he rummaged around the room for his pants. “If it’s wrong, tell me how much I owe?—”
“Croak? Open the bloody door!”
Croak paused with his shirt half on and frowned. “Benson?”
“Aye, it’s bloody Benson, y’ fool! Open up, quickly!”
Croak mumbled profanity under his breath as he hitched on his pants, padding to the door in bare feet. No sooner had he unlatched the door than Benson the Blacksmith burst through, slamming it shut behind him. His eyes were wild and his face ashen.
“What the?—”
“Listen to me boy,” Benson rushed ahead, reaching one shaky hand to paw at Croak’s shoulder.
“Well, you?—”
