Harlan stopped walking as the pieces came together. ‘Well, that escalated.’ He ran a hand down his face. ‘Shit. It’s really hard to hate you when she has your family hostage.’
Roul stared at the bars between them. ‘It wasn’t all threats, if I’m being honest.’ He raised his eyes. ‘She also had a plan to fix this place. I just needed to stay quiet long enough for her to get here.’ Roul looked down at the piss-stained floor. ‘King Oswin was a terrible, terrible king. Everyone was suffering under his rule. Every defender I knew resented what was being asked of them.’ He closed his eyes. ‘Perhaps there was a moment there that I thought my actions heroic. If I’d known what Borin would do…’
Harlan walked over to the wall opposite and leaned his back on it. ‘Well, she did what she said she would, I’ll give her that.’
‘I wrote to her, during the lockdown. I told her it was dire here, that it was time to put an end to the insanity. I said I would confess and say nothing of her part.’ Roul swallowed. ‘She told me to sit tight, that my family was waiting for me to return, that she was coming, that my confession would jeopardise the king’s trust in his army and further fragment the kingdom. So I waited.’
Harlan watched him a moment. ‘You could’ve come to me.’
‘I couldn’t. You know I couldn’t.’
Harlan exhaled and looked up at the roof. ‘I can’t believe Prince Becket didn’t kill you on that journey home.’
‘Me neither.’
‘I suspect Eda and your men would’ve protected you if he’d tried. They’re extremely loyal to you.’
‘They’re good people. They don’t deserve to be in this position.’
Harlan watched him. ‘Are you sorry you did it?’
The question Roul had wrestled with since it happened. ‘Some days. Then there are other days…’ He looked away. ‘I think about now versus then. Now is better.’
Harlan nodded. ‘Nowisbetter.’
More footsteps on the stairwell made them both turn their heads. The warden appeared this time, the grimace on his face suggesting he had been brought up-to-date.
‘Prince Becket and Queen Fayre want to speak with you.’ He glanced at Harlan. ‘You can escort him, but you stay out of it. Am I clear?’
Harlan nodded and went to fetch the keys. ‘Yes, sir.’
* * *
Queen Fayre and Prince Becket stood side by side in the throne room. Roul might have thought they were presenting as a unified front if there had not been such a large gap between them.
‘Good work, Commander Thornton,’ Queen Fayre said. ‘You did splendidly under very difficult conditions.’ She glanced in the direction of Harlan and the other guards. ‘Leave us, please.’
They did as commanded, and then it was just the three of them left in the room.
‘It has come to my attention that certain revelations were made during this journey, stemming from a stolen letter,’ Queen Fayre began, glancing at her son. ‘Given the nature of these revelations, I am very impressed that you did not let these things impact your work.’ She paused. ‘The truth is, it might have solved some of your personal problems had my son not made it back at all.’
Becket stared hard at the ground in front of him.
‘I can see why my son might think me a criminal without proper context,’ she went on. ‘However, I believe in time he will come to understand why I did it. It is not about a few individuals but the population as a whole.’ She paused for effect. ‘This is not an easy notion to digest, as you well know.’
The prince looked to the window. ‘Perhaps you should get to the point, Mother.’
‘What point is that?’ Roul asked.
Becket’s gaze snapped to him. ‘The main point. That you are a traitor and a murderer. I intend to stay in Chadora. I will accept the crown. And while I am forced to tolerate my mother’s presence at court, for the health of this kingdom, I will not tolerate yours. In fact, I will not tolerate it anywhere.’
Roul gave a small nod. ‘I understand.’
‘I hereby strip you of your title, your position, and banish you from Chadora.’
Queen Fayre looked heavenward. ‘That is a rather dramatic way of saying that you shall be returning to your family in Carno earlier than planned.’ She gave him a small smile. ‘I think this arrangement will suit everybody.’
He was going home. It really was the best possible outcome. An early reunion with his family. It was more of a reward than anything. Queen Fayre had come through for him.
