Oh, thank the Spirits.
“Your spirit-gift? No.”
“I have the ability to discern truth from lies. To prove it, I ask you to tell me five things. Make some truths and some lies, and I shall tell you which is which.”
I sensed Silvermane’s hesitation. The silence which hung in the room was stifling, and finally Silvermane broke it. “As you wish.” She drew in a long breath. “First, Lord Horn and I are lovers. Second, I have a daughter, which I have hidden from the world. Third, I am currently pregnant. Fourth I hate my mother for pushing me so hard as a child. And finally, I want to kill Legs for killing my mother. How’s that?” The hotness of her voice was evident, along with a tremulous nervousness. I got the sense she never would have said half these things otherwise.
“Oh…” Ursa sounded stunned and apologetic. “My Lady, I am sorry for making you go through this. I know this can’t be easy for you. The first three things you said are all true, the last two are lies.
I worked that out quickly. So, Lord Horn, a man who was well more than twice her age, was Silvermane’s lover? No wonder she’d never taken a husband. And Horn had gotten her with child twice? Fascinating. But that also meant she didn’t hate her mother and didn’t want to kill me. Odd, I would have thought killing me would have been a priority if she thought I killed her mother.
Silvermane sighed heavily. “Indeed, that is correct.” She cleared her throat quickly. “And I do not wish to discuss any of that, and I hope you will all keep it in the strictest confidence.”
“Of course, Lady,” Alvere said quickly.
Silence hovered around all of us for a long moment before Ursa remembered to speak. “I trust I have proven myself?”
“Yes. Go on.”
“Do you trust me to evaluate the truth of what the King is saying?”
“How do we know you’re not in league with him?” Horn said skeptically. There was no convincing him. Though perhaps he was angry at what the woman he loved had just been put through.
Ursa sighed heavily. “Do you want this war?” she asked directly. “Our people are dying. Some of your Nobles are at the front now. Do you want them to die if this continues?” Before he could answer she pushed on. “Then you’ll need to trust someone at some point, and if you can’t trust me, another second from another Noble House, then whom can you trust?”
The trouble was, I knew who he trusted. He trusted his son and his lover and that was probably it. Still, I waited for his reply and hoped.
Horn let out a grunt then said, “Perhaps I will trust you, but first, tell me this. How did you come to know the King? How did Dove come to be in your care? All of this rings a little too much of the work of someone else.”
“I presume you mean the work of the traitor Noble House once known as Maverick?” Ursa said easily. I didn’t like that phrasing, but I was in no position to argue.
“Yes.”
Ursa sighed. “You want the full and honest truth, then fine. Know that we are not here to hurt you, only to talk, so please don’t be alarmed. Legs, please come out.”
I hoped she knew what she was doing. I hopped off Alvere’s shoulder and returned to myself in mid-jump, landing lightly and bowing to Lady Silvermane and Lord Horn.
“Your Ladyship, Your Lordship.”
The room was frozen in a tableau of tension. Silvermane and Horn wore expressions which were both surprised and not surprised at the same time. As if my appearance confirmed everything they thought this meeting was, but they were still shocked that I’d dared to show my face.
“Trust us or not,” Ursa said softly, but sternly. “We only ask that you listen, then let us go. Will you abide by those terms?”
Silvermane nodded, looking a bit dumbfounded.
“Your Ladyship, no!” Horn hissed. “We can’t let her go! She must pay for what she did to your mother!”
“I did not kill the queen,” I said quickly.
“The truth,” Ursa confirmed.
“How can we trust you? Any of you?” Horn bit out.
“Again, Lord Horn, you don’t have to, just listen. Then we’ll be gone.” Ursa’s tone was hard. “Do you agree.”
“Yes,” Silvermane whispered. “I have to know…” Her voice was just a breath. “If you didn’t kill my mother, who did?”
“A mistweaver,” Dove said for me. “A curse had been placed on the queen. She died as soon as she left the capital.”
