Dornar tilted his head to one side as he turned to Lucilla. “Are you traveling with this man willingly?”
“Sort of,” Lucilla admitted.
Dornar gave her a politely expectant look. “And where is he taking you, Your Majesty?”
“To the north, to the Nephilim Temple. To meet with Alanna,” she answered slowly.
“Mm-hmm.” Dornar’s look was positively smug. “And did he mention that Alanna is working with Lanval, the man who killed your brother?”
Lucilla frowned. “He said that Ballanor had died in trial by combat from poison on his own sword. And that Alanna chose to stay with Lanval rather than take the throne….” Her eyes flickered toward Mathos. “It sounded like, I mean, I thought they were… ah....”
Dornar shook his head sadly. “Did he also tell you that Lanval admitted publicly that he was having an affair with Alanna’s maid? It really doesn’t make any sense that Alanna would choose him over her throne when he already loved someone else. I’m sorry to have to tell you this but Alanna didn’t choose Lanval, or anyone else, instead of the throne, no, she is still very much hoping to rule this kingdom.”
“No! That’s—” Mathos’s exclamation was cut off by Claudius waving a hand to the nearest archer, who pulled up a crossbow and aimed it at his head. Fuck, Dornar was twisting everything.
“And,” Dornar continued, “I’m guessing that he forgot to mention that Lanval also confessed to arranging the massacre at Ravenstone. The attack that resulted in the death of your father.”
Lucilla spun to stare at him wide-eyed, her face slowly draining of color, and he shook his head frantically.
But Dornar was still speaking. “Lanval’s sister murdered the previous Lord High Chancellor and she did it with a poisoned blade. Think for a moment, how did the poison get on Ballanor’s blade, if not put there by someone who knew exactly what they were doing? Someone who’d done it before. Someone working with Lanval, Alanna and the Hawks.”
Dornar gave Lucilla a sorrowful look. “Mathos and his friends have wiped out your entire family and are currently colluding with the nation that killed many thousands of Brythorians. They’re actively conspiring with the Verturians—Alanna’s people—to take control of Brythoria, and now they’ve come for you.”
Fuck it all. Put like that, it really didn’t sound good. He had to fix this somehow.
The archer held his crossbow steadily, but it didn’t stop Mathos from trying to explain. “Don’t listen to him. He’s twisting what happened to suit him. I promise I told you the truth… Alanna and Lanval are married, and the rest… sounds bad, but when you meet the—”
“Shut up Mathos,” Dornar interrupted, “or we will shoot you right here.”
Lucilla closed her eyes for a moment, seeming to center herself, before opening them to look right at him. Her face was pale, framed by escaped tendrils of thick black hair, her big eyes filled with betrayal.
He reached out a hand toward her, trying to think of the best way to explain, but she simply turned her mare away and began to ride toward the village.
Soldiers scrambled out of her way while, behind her, Dornar smirked at Mathos.
The new Lord High Chancellor gave a brisk nod to Claudius. “Lieutenant, arrest this man.”
Chapter Seven
Dornar heldthe door open for Lucilla as she made her way into the small, empty tavern.
A quad of guards had been sent ahead to ensure everything was ready for her. Penelope had been taken to be cared for in the stables. A corporal was carrying her satchel. Another had arrived with a cool, damp cloth for her hands. Everyone was bowing and smiling, polite and respectful.
It was surreal.
Dornar was treating her like she was valuable. Like what she wanted was the most important thing in the world. When she commented that she was thirsty, within a minute she had a corporal at her elbow holding flagons of water, ale, and wine for her to choose from, and the entire company had paused in the road while she drank it.
When she mentioned that she had been riding all morning, Dornar immediately sent men to prepare the tavern for her to rest in.
He made eye contact. He always called her “Your Majesty.” He asked for her opinions. He insisted that his men treat her with absolute respect. She had never experienced anything like it.
At first, she had been deeply suspicious of him. And she still had moments where she felt that something was too good to be true about the entire situation. But what did she know? Geraint and Ballanor’s staff had always spoken to them with the utmost courtesy; maybe this was how she should have been treated all along.
Should she compare him to Mathos? Ha. Bastard. Arrogant, idiotic, asshole. He had lied to her. Manipulated her. Was planning… who knew what?
He deserved to be punished.
He did.
