‘Stop,’ she said, facing Becket. She sat fearlessly in front of his clenched fist. ‘He was just a pawn.’ She searched his eyes. ‘You know what she’s like. You know better than anyone.’
The prince did not back down. ‘So I am supposed to ignore the fact that he murdered my father in cold blood and treat him as a victim?’
‘Holy shit,’ Tatum said slowly.
Eda shook her head. ‘No. You’ll never forget.’
Becket staggered back, glaring at Roul. Muddy water ran off him as he turned away and exited the pool. Eda exhaled slowly, then followed him.
Roul looked up the hill at the others. Their expressions ranged from shock to utter confusion. No one moved. They were all looking at him, waiting for him to fix the situation.
He climbed out of the water to address the group.
‘I’m still your commander. Still responsible for your safety—and the prince’s. So whatever you’re feeling right now, put it aside. Not forever. Just until we reach Chadora’s walls. We still have a job to complete, and we can’t do it divided.’
Eda turned away and began walking up the hill. Not only had he broken her trust but her heart. Her family had suffered enormously during the lockdown that resulted from King Oswin’s death. But no one could have predicted the aftermath—not even Queen Fayre.
Roul trudged up the hill towards his waiting horse. He passed Alveye on the way. The defender looked down and stepped back.
Snatching up the reins of his horse, Roul climbed the hill.
CHAPTER33
It was her fault that Prince Becket found out.Herfault. He likely would have found out eventually when he confronted his mother, but she had exposed Roul at the worst possible time. They were in rebel territory being pursued by English soldiers, and her careless actions had created a divide so large they were all at risk of falling in.
Woottone was watching Roul like he expected him to come for the prince at any moment. Tatum was watching Woottone like he was expecting him to come at Roul. Blackmane was quieter than his usual level of quiet. Alveye and Hadewaye had detached themselves from the group entirely. They looked heartbroken and understandably torn. They were theking’sdefenders, after all—and Roul was their teacher.
It made for a long and painful afternoon of riding.
The group reached the last forest on their journey a little before sunset. Roul positioned himself at the front and said he wanted to get as much space between the English soldiers and them as possible. No one objected.
They had been riding in the dark for nearly two hours when Eda got the distinct feeling that they were being watched. She looked over her shoulder at Basil, who was still trailing behind her, then to Tatum, who was at the rear. He gave her a questioning look.
‘Something’s wrong,’ she said.
A creak in the trees above had her looking up. Hadewaye must have heard it also, because he looked up at the same time.
‘Talk to me,’ Roul said over his shoulder.
Eda searched the branches but could not see a thing. ‘I thought I heard some—’
A figure fell from the trees before she could finish, knocking Woottone from his horse. Everyone drew their swords at the same time. Roul swung his horse around and went for Woottone’s attacker, but the man rolled beneath the blade. Two more men dropped from the trees. Alveye and Hadewaye were upon them in an instant. Eda’s horse reared when more men appeared on either side of them, coming at them with daggers and swords. Eda and Tatum took care of them before they even had a chance to use their weapons.
A few hectic minutes later, the rebels lay dead on the ground. Prince Becket crouched beside his wounded bodyguard. A large cut ran from his shoulder to the base of his neck.
‘I need eyes on the trees,’ Roul said as he pressed down on the wound to slow the bleeding. ‘And medical supplies.’
The defenders dispersed, and Eda returned with what supplies they had.
‘Everything’s wet,’ she said, handing Roul some bandages.
He looked around. ‘Who’s watching the rear?’
Alveye immediately moved to the back.
Roul selected the driest bandage and began wrapping Woottone’s shoulder and neck. ‘Anyone else injured?’
‘No, Commander’ came a chorus of voices.
