Alek has taken a step forward, and his tone is repentant now. “Had I known you bore such doubts about my response, Your Majesty, I wouldhave returned to court at once. I assure you, I meant the King’s Courier no harm. I knew he had magic, and I assumed we were simply … having a disagreement.”
“That involved bloodshed,” she says flatly.
“I contend that he threatened me with magic first,” says Alek.
He’s not lying. Grey looks at me, and his gaze could cut steel.
I have nothing to say.
The queen is still looking at Alek. “Tycho is not one to pick a fight,” she says, and the king leans in to murmur something to her.
“Perhaps not one to pick a fight,” says Alek. “But I would ask that you inquire about his dealings in the small town of Briarlock. He has been seen many times with the young blacksmith who held a message for me.” Alek’s gaze shifts to Grey. “I believe your man-at-arms discovered some effects that indicate a link to the Truthbringers in the blacksmith’s workshop, did he not? I have heard that the boy is hungry for silver, and your so-called courier enjoys a good bit of freedom.” He looks at some of the other House ladies and lords who are gathered in the throne room. “Rumors have been flying in the city that Princess Sinna was at risk. Missing forhours, in fact. I believe we all deserve to know whether you’ve brought someone into your confidence who seeks to workagainstour queen—”
“Enough,” says Grey, and his voice is low and vicious. “Tycho is not working against the queen.”
A low murmur has filled the throne room again, but Alek looks at me. “Were you in Briarlock yesterday?”
“You know I was there,” I say tightly. “Inquiring as toyourwhereabouts.”
“Were you?” he says, putting a finger to his lips. “I saw Lord Jacob, but not you. He was well informed of my reasons for being there.” He pauses. “Where was the young blacksmith, then?”
I swallow tightly. Every eye in the room is on me—including Grey and Lia Mara.
“Answer,” says Grey, and there’s absolutely no give in his voice.
“He had nothing to do with this!” I say. “He was injured, and I—”
“Used the king’s magic to heal him?” says Alek. “A young man who’d displayed evidence of working with the Truthbringers? Who else have you been working with, Tycho?”
I inhale to snap at him, but the room explodes with noise and commotion, including nobles who are suddenly demanding a formal inquiry. Many others are yelling for the queen to separate herself from the king.
Jake appears beside me. “Not another word,” he says.
“He’slying,” I seethe.
“They don’t think he is,” Jake says under his breath. “If he’s trying to be misleading, it’s working.”
The queen is on her feet. “I will have silence,” she declares. “And I will have order, and I will have—”
She makes a tiny sound, very much like a gasp, and it’s such a small noise that I almost don’t register that I’ve heard it. But her hand goes to her abdomen, and she gasps again. Almost as quickly, she’s straightening, her free hand clutching at Grey’s hand. Her face has gone pale, but she’s clearing her throat.
“I will have silence,” she declares.
But the room is already silent. I’m not the only one to have noticed.
Everyone has gone still. Almost every eye has fallen to that hand that rests above her stomach.
Grey leans close to her and says something, his voice very low. Her jaw is tight, and she draws a slow breath before straightening.
Some of the contempt has slipped out of Alek’s expression, and his gaze shifts from the queen to the king. Instead of disdain, his eyesflicker with outright hostility when it comes to Grey. The court might not know what’s happened yet, but Alek is savvy enough with court politics to knowsomethingis amiss. It’s bad enough that there are already rumors about Sinna’s disappearance.
“I will meet with my advisers to discuss what has been said this evening,” Lia Mara says, and her voice is strong and clear.
“Perhaps the King’s Courier should be stripped of his magic until these questions have suitable answers.”
I go still. This suggestion comes from a woman of the court, Lady Delmetia Calo. She’s the head of the Fifth House, which isn’t known for being closely allied with Alek. I’ve never had an issue with her—and to my knowledge, she’s never been outright opposed to Grey either.
For her to suggest this means the distrust of magic may run even deeper than I thought.
