They stared at each other, not speaking.
A second defender entered the room and looked around. He went to the dresser and began opening the drawers and emptying the contents onto the floor, efficient and thorough.
Harlan stared at the floor.
Panic rose in Blake as the defender began lifting the other mattresses. When he reached Eda’s bed, Blake stood in his way.
‘Move,’ the defender said, staring her down.
Blake looked over at Harlan, expecting him to come to her aid like he always did.
He lifted his eyes to her, nothing but defeat and resignation in them. ‘Move your sister to another bed.’
Blake’s eyebrows came together. She turned to Eda, helping her out of the bed and walking her into another one. She held her breath as the defender lifted the mattress and let it drop back down onto the creaky wooden frame. As it landed, the sheet flitted up, revealing the cut with wool bulging from it. The defender doing the search had already turned away, but Harlan saw it. His eyes met Blake’s, and she waited to see what he would do.
‘Check the kitchen,’ he told the defender.
The soldier left the room, and the sound of items being thrown around the kitchen followed shortly after.
Blake walked over to Harlan, studying the injuries on his face.
‘This isn’t the way,’ she whispered.
He dipped his head closer to hers. ‘You said you would forgive me for whatever comes next.’
She swallowed, tentatively reaching up to touch the large cut above his eye. The wound had crusted over already. ‘But what if you can’t forgive yourself?’
Eyes closing, Harlan leaned into her touch for a moment, then turned and left the room.
Chapter 35
‘What do you mean, you did not find his killer?’ Prince Borin asked, fingers pressing into the arms of his father’s chair.
Harlan was still adjusting to the sight of him seated on the elaborate throne. He looked too small for it, like a child playing king.
Shapur answered that. ‘None of the arrows confiscated in the borough today matched the one taken from your father.’
Prince Borin’s mouth twisted. ‘Or Commander Wright failed to find it.’
Harlan drew a breath. ‘We turned the entire borough upside down, Your Highness.’
‘Well, it came from somewhere, Commander.’
Harlan had not been a huge fan of King Oswin’s, but he was even less of a fan of his firstborn son. ‘It’s possible the arrow used was made for the job. A single arrow that can’t be traced.’
Borin regarded him, one finger tapping. ‘If the defenders cannot weed out my father’s murderer, then we shall leave it to the merchants.’
Harlan snuck a look at Astin, who was standing by the wall. The bodyguard looked as defeated as Harlan. ‘Can you clarify what you mean by that?’
Borin rose and walked over to him. ‘Get your men out of the borough. Close the gates. And keep them closed until the killer is handed over.’
King Oswin’s advisor, who had remained silent until that point, took a small step forwards. ‘I do not think that is wise at such a time, Your Highness. I suggest you focus on the funeral arrangements and the upcoming coronation.’
Borin spun around. ‘My father is dead! The very least we can do is bring his killer to justice.’
Shapur cleared his throat. ‘If I may, Your Highness. I served under your father his entire reign, and I never knew him to be a vindictive man.’
‘Are you calling me vindictive, Warden?’ Borin asked, eyes shooting to him. ‘If your loyalty is as deep as you claim it is, then you should be the first person backing me on this.’
