‘But he’ll happily stand silent. Have you forgotten the aftermath that followed? All he had to do was raise his hand, confess, and all the suffering would’ve come to an end.’
Blake’s eyebrows came together. ‘Is that what you believe? That if Roul had confessed, all the suffering would’ve ended?’
Eda did not reply.
‘The merchants suffered under King Borin’s rule long after the port gate was opened,’ Blake said. ‘Those deaths that occurred in the aftermath, when we were caged in like dogs, they do not fall on Roul’s shoulders. Those fall squarely on King Borin.’ There was a bitter edge to her tone when she said that last part. ‘No one,no onecould’ve imagined the drastic measures he would take.’
Eda reminded herself to breathe. ‘So you think he did the right thing?’
‘The right thing for whom? It’s not as straightforward as you’re making it sound. Have you forgotten what happened with Lyndal? If there’s one thing we all learned from that experience, it’s that Queen Fayre is always in control. The only reason Lyndal escaped her clutches was because Borin died. She still has control of Roul’s family.’
Eda thought back to all the horrible things she had said to him during that journey home. She had made him feel unlovable, his actions unforgivable.
‘I love you,’ Blake said, ‘but you can be very black-and-white sometimes. We all wished King Oswin dead. We all thought his death would solve our problems. Many people stood by while we were locked in that borough. Harlan could’ve opened that gate. Or Astin. But then what? At least Roul acted with a plan.’ She eyed her sister. ‘And don’t forget that he was the first defender to stand beside Harlan when Borin trapped us in the square like fish in a net and began shooting at us.’
Eda closed her eyes at the memory.
‘Tell me one thing,’ Blake said.
Eda waited.
‘If you were in his position, if that wasus, and you were the only person who could keep us alive and fed, where would you draw the line?’
There was no line. There was nothing she would not do for her family.
‘How many people died at your hand on the other side of that wall?’ Blake continued, cutting deeper still. ‘How many fathers, brothers, and sons did you take from families?’
Eda held the stall door for balance as the face of the young boy she had killed flashed in her mind.
‘I say this not to make you feel guilty but to point out that good people do questionable things all the time. We’re all just doing the best we can with the hand we’ve been dealt.’
‘Hello?’ came Lyndal’s familiar voice. ‘Where is everyone?’
Blake pulled Eda into her arms. ‘I’m proud of you, by the way, in case I forgot to say it earlier. You brought us a king.’ She released her. ‘Now go meet your nephew. Then we’ll sit down and make a plan to get Roul out of that tower.’
Lyndal appeared in the doorway of the stables, eyes widening when she saw Eda standing there. ‘You’re home!’
Eda went to her sister, kissing her face twice before turning her attention to the sleeping bundle in her arms. She ran her hand over the light covering of blond hair. ‘He’s absolutely perfect.’
‘Of course he’s perfect. I birthed him.’
Eda ignored that comment. ‘What did you name him?’
‘Easton. After Astin’s father.’ Lyndal looked Eda up and down. ‘Oh. Did you just arrive?’
‘Do I look that bad?’
‘You really do.’
A bray sounded from the other end of the stables. Both Lyndal and the baby jumped.
‘Was that a donkey?’ Lyndal asked, looking alarmed.
‘A long story,’ Blake said, wandering closer. ‘Amongotherlong stories.’
Lyndal’s face fell. ‘Did you get the prince? Wait. Did someone die?’ She sucked in a breath. ‘Did Thornton die?’
‘We got the prince,’ Eda said.
