“Bevan, son of Judith Angwedd Mallory, for your collusion and the attempted murders of two peers of the realm,” Alys gasped at this, and wondered if Piers had caught the king’s meaning. “You shall die by beheading in one week. May God have mercy on your soul.”
“I cannot be imprisoned! No!” Judith Angwedd shrieked as she was pulled to her feet. “Bevan, save me!”
Alys winced. Bevan had made no move, his eyes were trained on the floor between his feet, blood trickling down his still cheek.
“Do you understand, man?” the king demanded.
Slowly, Bevan brought his head up. He looked at theking for a moment, his face an expressionless mask. “Why wait out the week?” he asked levelly.
Then in the next moment, he had reached into his torn tunic and pulled out a short dagger. Without so much as a shout, Bevan turned and dove at Piers.
Alys was shoved aside, falling to the floor and rolling to protect Layla. She flung herself onto her back to find Piers with her eyes and screamed his name.
Bevan’s arm was raised, the blade arcing down. Piers, weaponless, threw up a blocking hand.
And then Bevan crumpled to the floor, following his clattering blade with a hoarse cry. One of the king’s guards stepped away, pulling his bloodied sword free.
Judith Angwedd gave an eerie, keening wail as she was dragged away. From somewhere in the crowd of witnesses, someone retched.
Edward looked down on the body from his dais as guards stepped quickly to remove the lifeless bulk of a very disturbed man. “Why wait out the week, indeed.”
When all that remained was a swash of bright blood, the king looked to Piers. “Piers Mallory, I dub thee, and rightly so, Lord of Gillwick Manor.” Edward held out his hand, fingers first, palm down.
Alys felt the catch of breath in Piers’s chest. He left her side to mount the dais and kneel before the king. Taking Edward’s hand, he kissed the royal symbol. When Piers rose, Edward handed him the carnelian signet ring.
“I trust you will keep close watch over this particular piece in the future?”
Piers nodded and then after another bow, returned to Alys’s side. She felt her heart would burst when he slid his fingers around hers.
Edward spoke in a low voice to his agent, who then addressed the hall. “No more audience this day. Come backon the morrow. Good day.” His face swung around. “Save the pair of you,” the man said pointedly to Alys and Piers.
Alys gulped. It was time to answer for Fallstowe, for Sybilla. And although Alys was in truth frightened of how the king might punish her in her sister’s stead, Alys was ready to face the king. For the first time, it would be Alys who would protect Sybilla.
Chapter 25
The monkey had saved the day.
Piers waved Ira on with the rest of the crowd, signaling that he would join his grandfather as soon as he was able. In the last instant, Ira came back and took charge of Layla, who went willingly enough. Piers vowed silently that the monkey would have all the pomegranates that Gillwick could afford to buy her. Alys blew Ira and Layla each a kiss from her fingertips. Piers squeezed her hand as they turned in the emptying chamber to face the dais.
She had come back for him. She had survived Judith Angwedd and Bevan, grasped her freedom, and turned it away in favor of him. Piers did not know what her plans were, or in truth how she would feel about him once they were out of sight of the king, but he knew he loved her, more than he’d ever thought possible. And now he would stand with her before Edward, as she had stood with him.
Her lovely face was milk-pale, and he could feel her trembling. But other than those signs which only he, at such close proximity, was privy to, she appeared calm, confident. She was the Alys that Piers knew.
Edward fell back onto his chair and took a chalice froma tray offered by a serving boy. The king took a long drink, and then appraised Alys over the rim.
“Where is your sister, Lady Alys, and why has she ignored my repeated summons?” he demanded straight away.
Piers felt rather than heard Alys’s deep intake of breath. “Fallstowe keeps her very engaged, your majesty. The death of my mother was a sharp blow. She and Sybilla were very close.”
“People die, Lady Alys. That is no reason to dismiss a direct command from the king.”
Alys nodded. But all she said was, “I understand.”
Edward stared at her. “Do you have her blessing to be here, with this man?”
Then Alys smiled. “No, Sire. In fact, I have done naught but disobey my sister’s orders. I am in direct defiance of her at this very moment.”
Edward returned the smile. “Then mayhap you are not the enemy I mistook you for, if you would go against one who defiesmeat every turn.” He paused, as if thinking. “Is she taking up arms against me?”
