Hadn’t he?
She nibbled on a bread roll, wondering where they’d taken Mathos. She’d glanced back once to see that he’d been pulled from his horse, his arms bound behind him. His scales had covered his arms, neck, and face, all the way to his eyes. He had looked grim and somber, his eyes meeting hers for just a moment, but he hadn’t fought at all or tried to escape. He hadn’t even made a sound. Nothing like the savage animal she’d been taught to expect.
And he had never once mentioned that she had named herself Claudia. Or that she had spent the night in his tent. He could have embarrassed her terribly, but he hadn’t.
She remembered him telling Tor that someone had to stay with her and keep her safe. Had he allowed himself to be arrested on purpose, in an effort to stay close?
Gods, she was so confused. And utterly, completely exhausted.
She could only act on the evidence she had. And so far, all she had were two parties each accusing the other of similar crimes. Mathos and Tor had clearly been sneaking through the forest and openly admitted to supporting Alanna of Verturia, while Dornar had the full weight of the Blue Guards and the Cavalry supporting his claims.
Not that any of her experiences with the Blues had left her with much faith in them. And if Dornar had been searching for her so frantically, why hadn’t he been looking in the woods?
Gods. What a mess.
She realized that she had been silent for too long and dipped her chin, reaching for politeness. “Thank you, Dornar. I appreciate all of your assistance.”
He smiled back. “You’re welcome, Your Majesty.”
She took several long sips of her water as she tried to gather her thoughts. “What has been done with Mathos?”
Dornar gave a slight flick of his fingers. “He will be kept imprisoned while we interrogate him regarding his plans with Alanna, and Verturia of course, and then returned to Kaerlud for his execution.”
Lucilla’s stomach lurched, and she had to put down her cup before it slipped from her suddenly damp fingers.
Interrogate. Execute. Gods. Why hadn’t she realized that was what would happen?
“No.” She shook her head, struggling to keep her face impassive. “I didn’t agree to an interrogation or execution. I would like to question him, of course, and imprisonment would be sensible, but I’d like to understand the details of what happened more clearly before we discuss his trial.”
Dornar steepled his fingers on the table, speaking slowly. “With all due respect, Your Majesty, he kidnapped you. The penalty is death.”
She almost rubbed her fingers down her pounding forehead but managed to clasp them in her lap instead. Damn, she was tired of being treated like a child. “I never said that he kidnapped me.”
Dornar lifted his hand as if to pat her shoulder, but then seemed to decide against it and folded his arms instead. “Your Majesty, you didn’t need to. Your silence when we arrested him was sufficient.”
Gods. She had tacitly accused Mathos of kidnapping, and now he was going to die. Even though he had given her the chance to leave. Twice.
How the hell had arresting him gone so far? Was this what Mathos had meant when he said that she was spoiled? That she was too inexperienced, too naïve, and that people could be hurt because of it.Too stubborn… too argumentative… too stupid…the dark voice in the back of her head whispered as cold fingers of guilt twined in her belly.
Dornar must have seen something of her horror on her face despite her attempt to stay blankly stoic, and he gave her a reassuring look. “You have been shielded from men like Mathos all your life—untrustworthy people with no morality. You couldn’t possibly know that he was scheming with Alanna. As your Lord High Chancellor, it is my honor to protect you.”
She frowned. Gods, she’d been surrounded by untrustworthy people since the day she’d been born.
Dornar gave her a soft look, misreading her expression. “Don’t worry about Mathos. He’s been taken care of. You concentrate on looking after yourself after your horrible time in the woods. You’re safe here with me, and I’ll make sure that you always have everything you need.”
Lucilla held her hands clasped tightly in her lap to avoid crossing her arms over her chest like she wanted to. The way Dornar was speaking, so soothingly and reassuringly, was unreasonably annoying. She didn’t want someone to coddle her and treat her like a child. She wanted the truth.
She wanted to know why Mathos had lied. What his true intentions were. Then, when she understood his guilt, she would make a decision. If he truly had betrayed her, manipulated her to control her for Alanna, then she would hand him over to Dornar to be imprisoned with a clear conscience.
“I want your promise that you will not torture him or hurt him in any way. Not until I’ve had a chance to speak with him. And execution is off the table.”
“Your Majesty—”
She firmed her voice. “Your promise, please, Lord Chancellor.”
Dornar looked her straight in the eye. “If that is your command, then I promise.”
Okay. That gave her some time to try and understand what had happened. “Good. I’d like to finish my food, and then you can take me to see him.”
