"Treason?" He laughed.
She tilted her head. “How do you think Arthur would react if he learned his brother not only despises him—but dreams of his downfall, that his brother has ties with the Northern Rebellion? That you are blackmailing his very own Archmage?” She paused. "If you tell Arthur the truth about our maiden knight, he will very quickly learn another truth—that you tried to force yourself on her, knowing she was the very woman Arthur has been desperately trying to locate."
The color drained from Kay’s face.
“Treason is but one of your crimes against the crown. Add to that sedition, blackmail, obstruction of justice… the list goes on." She took a step closer, eyes sharp as drawn steel. "You abuse your rank. You threaten silence. You attempt to force yourself on a woman, knowing full well she is someone Arthur has been searching for. That is not a private sin—it is an offense against the Crown.” Her lips curved, not in humor, but in certainty. “You break sworn oaths. You wear the mask of loyalty while rotting beneath it. Every step you’ve taken stains you with dishonor.This isn’t one crime. It’s a pattern. And patterns are how kings justify executions.” Straightening, she finished coolly: “So choose carefully what you do next. Because if the king hears even half of this from me instead of you, you won’t be standing long enough to regret it.”
“What do you want?” he finally asked, his voice flat and controlled. Clearly, he recognized his own losing hand.
Elenora didn’t blink.
“You will stay away from her," she answered and motioned toward me with her chin. "You’ll saynothingof her identity. From this night forward, as far as you are concerned, Sir Lioran is exactly as he appears—a powerful knight competing in the king's trials—his only desire to servehisking.”
Kay's eyes narrowed. “And in return?”
“Your secrets remain buried with me and safe. Keep scheming with the rebels, keep pretending to serve a brother you hate. But if you so much as look at Lioran the wrong way… Arthur will knoweverything.”
The silence that followed stretched taut. Then, finally, Kay nodded—stiff, bitter.
“It seems we understand each other.” His jaw clenched tight.
Elenora’s smile was blade-thin. “Very good.”
She gestured toward the door with a single elegant movement—calm, yet threatening.
“Now leave us.”
Kay bristled. “These aremychambers,” he snapped, defiance flaring for a single, foolish second.
“You’ll return once we’ve gone. Unless, of course, you’d prefer I discuss this with Arthur over breakfast?”
Kay's eyes darted between Elenora's unnaturally calm expression and the subtle shimmer of magic that seemed to dance just beneath her skin. Whatever power this womanwielded, it was far beyond anything he could hope to match with steel.
“Who the bloody hell are you—you’re clearly not the wench you pretend to be,” he growled, his eyes searching her face, desperate to find the edges of her.
Elenora tilted her head, just slightly.
“My identity is no concern of yours.”
Kay’s jaw flexed, teeth grinding loud enough to hear.
"And don't forget to pull up your braies, Kay; I doubt anyone wants to witness the appendage that hangs between your legs."
He didn’t speak—just reached down, gripped the linen, and yanked it up to his waist, looking down at the large pool of urine that stained it.
"I've pissed myself. At least, allow me the courtesy of—"
"—you are allowednocourtesies. Now step outside until we have concluded our business." She paused. "And you will face the stone wall."
His eyes found mine. Venomous. Yes, definitely a promise.
Then he walked to the door, throwing it open before disappearing into the corridor.
The moment the door shut behind him, Elenora immediately turned to face me. Her hands were unexpectedly gentle as she helped me to my feet.
“Can you walk?” she asked, her voice a whisper now—soft, grounded.
I nodded shakily, the drugged wine strangely clouding my thoughts once again. She tore the sheet from Kay’s bed and draped it over my shoulders without a word.
