‘And we shall continue to provide for you and your family for as long as you need it,’ she added.
What more could he possibly ask for? To want Eda on top of that was just greedy. But he wanted her anyway.
‘You know, a little appreciation for sparing your life would not be misplaced right now,’ Becket said, glaring in Roul’s direction.
Roul gave a small bow. ‘Thank you, Your Highness. Your Majesty.’
‘Commander Wright,’ Queen Fayre called.
Harlan entered the room. ‘Your Majesty?’
‘Provide Thornton with a horse and adequate weapons for his journey, along with any other supplies he needs.’
Harlan’s eyebrows rose. ‘Where’s he going?’
‘To Carno,’ Roul said, trying to keep the devastation out of his voice. ‘I’m going home to my family.’
CHAPTER35
‘Lyndal had her baby the day you left,’ Blake said.
‘Oh.’ It was wonderful news.What did she have?
Blake frowned. ‘You’re signing again.’
‘Sorry.’
‘A boy.’
Eda smiled. ‘I can’t wait to meet him.’ She leaned on the stall door to watch Basil eat.
‘Mother will be home before dinner.’
‘Good.’
‘And Luella’s asleep.’
A nod. ‘All right.’
Blake reached up and scratched at a piece of the wall. ‘So are we going to talk about the fact that Roul is locked in the tower, or should I wait until Harlan gets home and ask him for the details?’
‘I’m not sure I’m allowed to talk about it.’
Blake angled her head. ‘Eda.’
She faced her sister. Then, drawing a breath, she told Blake the entire story, only leaving out the part where they had slept together at Harlech Castle. It was not relevant.
When she was finished, Blake stood in silence for a long time.
‘I can’t even imagine being in that position, knowing Queen Fayre could dispose of your entire family on a whim.’
Eda blinked. ‘Did you hear the part where I said hekilledKing Oswin?’
Blake crossed her arms. ‘How many times did we stand in that square wishing him dead? How many times did we feel sick to our stomach at the things the defenders did to us? The things they were ordered to do. Now you want to be angry at the one man who did something about it?’
The response was not what Eda had been expecting at all. Blake was supposed to join her in her heartbreak and outrage, not pity him. ‘You don’t even look surprised.’
‘I’m not. He’s not one to stand idle, as you well know.’
