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“Scouts have returned from the west with prisoners. If their braggart captain is to be believed the Lady Alwenna has been brought back to Highkell. Travelling with a monk, so they say.” He caught Weaver’s eye then. “We face interesting times, lads.” He shuffled out with the empty ewer.

Weaver picked at his portion of bread. With a monk? Only one? If she’d been sold to Vasic she’d surely have been sent under a full guard. He’d told her to stay on Vorrahan, but if Garrad had set out to betray them both… He had too many questions, and no answers.

In the guardroom higher up the tower Alwenna curled up on the narrow window ledge, sliding into a deep sleep. Drew moved over to her and took hold of her bound wrists to check her pulse. He’d read of this, the deeper power that came with the sight. His own meagre ability couldn’t hope to accomplish the working she’d just completed. Gwydion had told him how it would be, of course, but he couldn’t help marvelling at her strength. There had been a time when he’d resented her, turning up and taking the legacy from Gwydion that would otherwise have been his. But when he’d witnessed the raw energy that had flowed between them he’d realised he should have feared that power, not coveted it. Events had overtaken them so quickly he’d had no opportunity to explain to Alwenna what Gwydion had taught him, yet somehow, he had to. As if he could hope to explain the ramblings of an old man he hadn’t understood himself.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

Vasic waited impatiently in his throne room, returning more than once to the window to look down into the courtyard, as if he’d see the woman there again. He couldn’t believe it was anyone other than Alwenna – she’d always had that effect on him.

A cautious hand knocked at the door.

“Enter.” Vasic turned away from the window. Hames entered the room, pausing to make a low bow. Behind him followed a soldier – sergeant or some such rank – bowing and scraping in the inelegant manner of one unused to making obeisance before a monarch.

“Enough grovelling, man, make your report.” Vasic was in no mood for observing the social niceties.

“Your highness, on the road between Westhaven and Highkell our patrol apprehended a monk and a lady travelling on horseback. The monk gives his name as Drew, formerly of Vorrahan, while the lady claims to be the Lady Alwenna, relict of Tresilian.” He paused for breath. “She answers the description given to us closely enough to bring her before you, your highness.” The man bowed once more, making a more creditable effort this time.

“A monk, you say?”

“Yes, your highness. A young novice.”

Vasic had no trust for the monks at Vorrahan. They may have cheated him after all, trying to gain some kind of advantage. “Where did they say they were bound?”

“We found them travelling east, your highness, after hearing word of suspicious travellers bound for Westhaven from Vorrahan. I did not question them further once I heard the lady’s claim. I felt sure you would wish to oversee any interrogation.” He bowed again.

Oh, yes, he was a quick learner – or a smooth-tongued liar. “Have the prisoners brought before me here. Now.”

A man-at-arms stationed at the door scurried away to do his king’s bidding, his footsteps padding across the smooth stone hall beyond the doors.

Hames stepped forward. “Sire, I have here urgent despatches from Vorrahan.”

“They can wait. I have more pressing matters to attend to.”

“As you wish, sire. However, it may be worthwhile perusing them quickly – there may be information pertaining to your prisoners.”

“You presume a deal too much, Hames.” Vasic ran a hand across his brow. “Show me these despatches.”

Hames handed him the single scroll of parchment.

Vasic cracked open the seal and frowned as he studied the sheet. “Curse the man, his writing’s terrible. Who has written this? Garrad. And well he might.” He read on a few lines and his frown cleared, his lips curling in something like a smile. “How providential. Hames, this is excellent news.”

Hames bowed. “Your highness.”

“She has played right into my hands. Father Garrad seems a little put out, but since he was so careless as to lose his prisoner before my soldiers could collect her… He has managed to make himself useful in this matter, nonetheless.” Vasic lowered the paper. “You there, soldier, you said your prisoners were travelling on horseback? Describe the animals.”

“Yes, your highness. They were quality, one grey–”

“And one bay.” Vasic smiled. “You have done well, soldier. You may leave my presence. Hames, see he is rewarded with coin for today’s work.”

The soldier backed from the room and Hames followed in his wake, bowing with the grace of one raised on palace intrigue and risen to high rank through his aptitude.

Vasic sat back on the throne. “Our moment of reckoning approaches, Alwenna. You have over-reached yourself this time.” His fingers flexed on the polished wood of the throne arms and he drew in a deep breath, closing his eyes. This promised to be exquisite.

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

Alwenna followed the guard up the winding stairs she knew so well. They paused outside the upper guardroom before entering the antechamber to the throne room. Drew scuffled up the stairs behind her, the old leather boots he’d donned when he left the precinct much the worse for wear. A fine sight they must have presented, both deprived of sleep and the means to wash for several days. Despite her bound hands she attempted to pull her hair into some kind of order as they waited to be admitted to the king’s presence. Tresilian had never stood on ceremony like this, but he’d always been secure in his kingship, and in himself. Vasic had never enjoyed such a luxury.

The door opened and the guard motioned with his head. “In you go, now.”

Alwenna studied him for a moment with a raised eyebrow, just long enough for the man to look discomfited. “You are new here, I think?”

The man shuffled under her scrutiny. “Aye, milady.”

Alwenna looked him up and down once more. “Well, I never.” Her voice contained just the right amount of disdain. Court ways: she hadn’t forgotten them during her absence. Nor had she missed them. She drew herself up to her full height, then walked with a measured pace into the room. Head held high, she was more stately than she’d ever sought to be during Tresilian’s tenure as king.

Vasic sat on the throne where her husband’s place had once been. Alwenna recognised Hames standing off to one side. The petty administrator must have wasted no time making himself useful to his new employer. Vasic tensed, straightening in his seat as she crossed the floor. His fingers gripped the arms of the throne more than necessary. It seemed her first impression had been all she could hope for.

She stopped three paces away from the throne, inclined her head for a moment, then stood tall and straight as before. Drew padded up to take his place beside her and knelt there, his head bowed.

Vasic’s eyes remained fixed on her.

She sensed the handful of advisors in the room hoped to see her make obeisance before Vasic. Doubtless a deal of money was about to change hands on the outcome of this meeting. Courtiers were ever fond of gambling, regardless of who sat on the throne. Alwenna waited as the tension in the room built.

Vasic’s brow furrowed.

She let her lips curl in a hint of a smile, visible to no one in the room but Vasic. A hint of a smile, spiced with a tinge of derision. “Well, cousin. I see you style yourself king of the whole Peninsula these days?”

Vasic’s eyes narrowed. “Curb your insolence, madam, and kneel before your king.”

His words echoed round the chambers. Alwenna was aware of a movement from Hames, at the very edge of her vision.

“You may sit on the throne today, cousin, but you are no king. You are nothing but a usurper. That throne is mine: by right, by law, and by popular support.”

A murmur ran around the room.

Vasic’s lips curled in a sneer. “You were ever headstrong, Alwenna. I was led to believe our cousin taught you the semblance of manners, but it seems reports were exaggerated.”

“Manners, cousin? You dare talk of manners?” Alwenna heard a nervous intake of breath from Drew as she marshalled her anger, combining it by instinct with some eldritch strength she’d scarcely known she possessed until this moment. “You summon me before you with my hands bound like a common thief, without offering water to wash or refreshment of any kind.” She raised her voice so it rang about the chamber. “Like a common thief. I am not the one who presumes to sit on a stolen throne. I am not the one who tortured the rightful king on the rack to learn the whereabouts of his wife. I am not the coward who killed his own kinsman by slipping a knife between his ribs while he was bound there. I am not the one who consigned his body to an unmarked grave with hundreds of his loyal citizens. I am none of those things, cousin, but I am the one who will call you to account for every one of your misdeeds.”

She couldn’t hold the room in silence any longer, and for a moment feared she would lose consciousness as she heard men-at-arms rushing to restrain her from either side. But as soon as they touched her they fell back in fear and she felt her strength return.

Vasic watched her in fascination, as one might study a swaying cobra that blocked the only exit from a room.

Alwenna smiled. “I am sure, cousin, you did not summon me to discuss that. What is your purpose in calling me here?”

Vasic’s eyes never left her. “Hames, clear the room. I want no one left in here but yourself and two men-at-arms. You may wait by the far door.”

“Your highness.” Hames bowed lower than ever and the room emptied. Drew got up from his knees but Alwenna set her hand upon his shoulder. “Stay, Drew. You will be safer here with me, I think.”

Drew gave her a wide-eyed glance, but he nodded. She could tell he thought she was playing an unnecessarily dangerous game.

Vasic glared at the youth. “I ordered the room to be cleared.”

“Cousin, just as you have no wish to be alone in the room with me, I have no wish to be alone with you and your men. And I know you are not without clemency.”

“Then let him stand at the far end of the room.”

Alwenna nodded at Drew and he obeyed, setting himself apart from Vasic’s men who were stationed before the door.

“Well, cousin, here we are, just the two of us. It is quite like old times. Will you unbind my hands now so we may talk like civilised human beings?”

“It may suit my purposes better to keep you tied, Alwenna.” He let his eyes run over her body from head to toe, lingering over her curves with a return of his insolent bravado.

“I had hoped the passage of time might have wrought an improvement in your attitude, cousin. It would seem I was overly optimistic. It is of little import.” She shrugged one shoulder. “Tell me why you have brought me here.”

Vasic’s brows snapped together. “You are my prisoner. I ask the questions.”

“As you wish, cousin.” She stood before him, tall, proud, unconcerned. She would show him no weakness.

Vasic glanced beyond her to the silent onlookers at the far end of the room. “Hames, bring me the letter from Vorrahan.” Hames hurried up the hall and passed him a sheet of parchment. Vasic re-read the letter while Hames, now somewhat breathless, hastened back to his place.

“You may be interested to learn news of your escapades has already reached us here at Highkell.” Vasic glanced at Alwenna; she took care not to react. “I fear Father Garrad lays some serious charges at your door.” He frowned. “This does not surprise you?”

“Father Garrad promised me sanctuary, then betrayed me. I doubt I could be surprised by any lies he might concoct now.”

“Indeed? He reports that while at Vorrahan you lived under the same roof as a common soldier, without servant or chaperone to preserve decency.”

“I was obliged to live in the lodgings Father Garrad provided. He claimed it was safer, being within the precinct walls.”

“I have only your word for that.” Vasic shrugged. “He further informs me that not content with the attentions of a common soldier, you turned the head of a young novice, name of Brother Drew, and seduced him from his vows of abstention.” He let his eyes flick across the room to where the youth stood.

“Brother Drew was as sickened by Father Garrad’s treachery as I was myself.”

“Father Garrad is a loyal subject – you ought not speak against him in that way. Further, you stole two horses, one grey and one bay, both in care of the precinct at Vorrahan. And further still, you caused a fire to be started to cover your escape, destroying precinct property and endangering lives.”

“We did no such thing. We came upon two brothers in the stable intent on breaking their vows. They had brought a candle with them and set it down in the straw.”

“The community at Vorrahan has long been famed for its piety. Your influence there was baleful.”

“And the charges Garrad levels against me are laughable.” She forced her voice to remain perfectly even, perfectly calm. “Come to the point, cousin. I weary of your conversation as fast as ever I did in my youth.”

“I see you are determined to make light of these matters. Your arrogance has brought you low, Lady Alwenna.” He leaned forward, gripping the arms of the throne until his knuckles whitened. This, then, was to be the crux of the matter. “I am prepared to be lenient. I am prepared to overlook your past mistakes and grant you a pardon for these crimes. I am prepared to allow you to take the place you wrongfully claim is yours by right. All this I am prepared to grant, on the single condition that you become my wife.”

There it was, out in the open at last. “A generous offer indeed, cousin, but one I cannot accept – not while honest men who served my late husband remain immured in the dungeons here. My conscience will not permit me to take my place here in luxury while they suffer.”

“Madam!” Vasic rose to his feet. “You are in no position to bargain with me.”

“As you wish, cousin. But your impassioned entreaties leave me unmoved.” She doubted he would even notice her sarcasm. “I cannot accept the terms you offer.”

“Damn it, you witch, you’ll do as you’re told.”