‘They actually did it,’ he croaked.
Lyndal turned just as a corpse was hoisted up the wall by the neck. Not just any corpse—the king. Knowing he was dead was one thing, but seeing it was something else. There was no sense of victory, and it was too early for hope. She felt only relief knowing King Borin would never harm another merchant again.
‘I need to go to the farming borough,’ Astin said, coughing into his arm. ‘Cooper’s the reason we’re in this mess, and I need to get my sisters and mother out of the borough.’
‘I’ll come with you,’ Lyndal said straight away.
He shook his head. ‘I need you all to go to the nobility borough. You’ll be safest there.’
Blake chewed her lip, then asked, ‘Do you happen to know where Harlan is?’
Astin glanced at her. ‘North wall. I’m guessing he thinks you’re safely in the nobility borough?’
Blake shrugged. ‘I’m probably safer here due to recent events.’
Astin blinked slowly. ‘Remind me not to be present for that reunion.’ He wandered off to collect the weapons from a nearby corpse.
‘You’re in no condition to fight,’ Lyndal said, following him.
He strapped on the sword and slung the quiver and longbow over one shoulder. Coughing, he said, ‘It’s just a precaution.’ He cupped her face with one hand. ‘Promise me you’ll go to the nobility borough.’
Nobody spoke—or met his eyes.
He looked between them. ‘None of you are going, are you?’
‘I doubt they would let us in anyway,’ Lyndal said. ‘We’ll meet in the merchant borough when this is over.’
Astin searched her eyes, stifling a cough. ‘I need to know you’re safe.’
Lyndal gestured to her sisters. ‘You of all people should know it’s not the location but the company.’
His hand fell away. ‘I’ll come find you as soon as I can.’
Lyndal watched him jog off in the direction of the gate. A bad feeling enveloped her, but she did not get time to indulge it, because then Blake said, ‘Is that Queen Fayre?’
Lyndal’s eyes snapped in the direction of the castle wall. And there she was. No guard in sight and surrounded by merchants. Lyndal’s heart sank as the queen mother was confronted by the sight of her own son hanging on the wall. Her feet were moving before her mind had a chance to catch up. ‘We have to make sure they don’t hurt her.’
Eda and Blake rushed after Lyndal.
Why?Eda signed.She locked you in your bedchamber.
Blake’s eyes widened. ‘She locked you in your bedchamber?’
‘It sounds bad out of context,’ Lyndal replied. ‘It’s not like she set it alight.’
The king did though.Eda sneered.
Blake moved in front of Lyndal, blocking her path. ‘The king lit that fire?’
Lyndal stepped around her. ‘He also tried to poison me, but let’s not dwell on the past.’
‘Tell me how you got that cut on your throat,’ Blake demanded, matching her stride.
Knife to the throat,Eda signed.
Blake was fuming now. ‘He’s lucky he’s already dead. You don’t owe that woman anything. You know that, right?’
Lyndal met her eyes. ‘She doesn’t deserve to die for his sins.’
