“We fought earlier in the evening, and I went into the room, just trying to get away from the crowd and have some privacy, and I found Julian already dead,” the prince said.
Huxley ground his teeth.
“Liar,” Angelonia hissed.
“So how did a knife end up in Julian’s chest?” the examiner asked.
“I don’t know.”
“And you did not stab him?”
“I did not.”
“Liar, liar, liar,” Huxley mumbled, slamming his fist into the palm of his opposite hand.
“Could Zephyr Laminaria please come to the stand?” the examiner said.
The valet started, wide-eyed.
“Zephyr had nothing to do with it,” the prince said quickly. “He was already in the coach, waiting for me.”
Lady Justice stepped gracefully down into the aisle, took the valet’s hand, led him to the seat Magdala had just vacated, and covered his eyes. Asherton whispered somethingto him, and he bit back harshly, but Magdala couldn’t make out what they were saying.
“Zephyr,” the examiner said. “Where were you when Julian Davenport was killed?”
Zephyr shifted, turning his head toward Asherton as if he could see him. “I was summoning our coach.”
“And you did not see him fight with the deceased?”
Zephyr swallowed. “I did not see him kill anyone.”
“How long have you known the prince?” the judge asked.
“Since he was a child,” Zephyr said.
“And he lives with you at Elegy, does he not?”
“He does.”
“You raised him, essentially, did you not?”
Zephyr nodded.
“SPEAK!” Lady Justice barked.
“Yes,” Zephyr said.
“How is that possible?” the examiner asked. “You are not an elderly man?”
“I am older than I appear,” Zephyr replied.
“And so you and His Highness are close?” the examiner asked.
Zephyr hesitated.
“Well?” he prodded. “Are you?”
“I raised him,” Zephyr admitted. “From boyhood.”
