I didn’t want to get into all the details. Though I trusted Anna, Olivia was fickle, and drank too much and spoke too loudly.
“The queen is emotionally drained. She’s inside.”
“Tallis,” Anna said, flying over to me while the other two landed on the bed. “The king is searching for you. He’s furious.”
“Stay with the queen. Do not leave her side until I come back. I need to speak with the king.”
I walked out and pointed to the guard. “No one but the pixies come in or out of here. Do you understand?”
“Of course, sir.”
“Where’s the king?”
“He’s down in the castle’s control room.”
“Very well. That’s where I’m headed.”
I rushed through the royal halls, down the main stairs and deeper into the keep. Guards stood outside the door to the control room and stepped aside as I walked in. Kyros sat in the main chair in front of the window that overlooked the mountains. From here, you could see the stone arms and the sides of the golems that had raised the keep, high off the ground. Birds fluttered by the clouds which were even lower than before. “Your highness,” I said, bowing.
“There’s a murderer in this castle,” the king said, tapping a finger on the control table. “Where were you?”
“I escorted the queen back to her chambers. She was very weak and unsteady on her feet. I think the events have been too overwhelming for her majesty.”
He nodded. “I imagine she hasn’t slept well. Her grief over the loss of the princesses has made her erratic.” He stood and put his hand near the dials. The crystal gears were all imbued with magical runes that enacted the defense system.
“Tell me what has happened,” I asked, “for you to sanction the castle’s defense system.”
“The sisters were attacked outside the ceremony. One was fatal. But thankfully, Stephani chased the assassin inside the castle. With the keep raised, no one can get in or out.”
“Did she describe him?”
“No, she lost him in the servant’s quarters. She believes it was a fae following the queen’s orders.” Kyros turned around, folding his arms leaning against the stone control table.
“Why would the queen order someone to do this?” I asked, keeping my expression shocked.
“She’s not thinking clearly and believes my mistresses are to blame for Laoise’s death, though I do not believe any of that to be true.”
“They said this to you?”
“I am no fool, Tallis. The queen has made her point clear and will use any lie to remove my mistresses from the palace.”
I held my tongue, not wanting to speak that I thought the mistresses were also to blame. Claiming the queen had hired an assassin was not as bad as claiming the queen murdered Bianca. Regardless, I had to navigate this conversation carefully.
The king sighed. “If anyone is to blame for the princess’s death, it’s me.”
Before I could ask, he continued. “I had tea with her that afternoon. After my last trip to the Magi Council, I made sure to stop and bring her the sugar squares she loves. I don’t need to explain the rest.”
My muscles tensed. “Did you eat any?”
He shook his head. “No. I can’t stand those awful candies.”
“Does the queen know this?”
“No. It will just anger her more and things are already complicated. For now, I need you to find this assassin. The queen will stay confined to her quarters, for her own safety.”
I glanced outside. In all my years, I had only seen the defense system activated once. It was unusual and unlike anything you could imagine. The golems the size of a mountain themselves. The castle built on top of their stony shoulders. “How long will we keep the palace raised?”
Kyros put a hand on my shoulder and opened the door. “Until the murderer is found and killed.”
