'What is this? What does he mean?' King Rolen demanded of Byren.
'Orrade is a true and loyal friend, who has saved my life on more than one occasion,' Byren said. 'He is not my lover, never has been. But he is — '
'…a Servant of Palos,' Cobalt finished for him.
'There is no secret society serving Palos.' Byren rounded on Cobalt, glaring. But with Cobalt slumped exhausted in the chair and Byren towering over him, Byren appeared the aggressor.
Her brother seemed to realise this and took a step back, looking around the group. 'It is all wicked rumour spread by an evil schemer for his own advancement.'
Cobalt shook his head sadly. 'You accuse me of what you are doing. It is ever the way.'
Byren's mouth dropped open, then he turned to their father in a silent plea for understanding. But King Rolen's usually bluff, good-natured face had grown hard with suspicion.
Piro glanced to their mother who looked from Cobalt to Byren, obviously horrified by what was unfolding. If only Piro hadn't asked her mother to look into Byren's heart. Instead of convincing her of his honesty, it had convicted him in her eyes. It was Lence who had, unconsciously, severed the twin-link, not Byren.
'Byren?' the queen whispered.
He dropped to his knees in front of the king. 'I swear by the love I have for Rolencia, I have never sought to be more than your second son, Father. I have served the kingsheir — '
'As long as it suited you,' Cobalt inserted.
There was a low murmur from the old guard.
Byren shifted with annoyance. 'Out of love, I have served my twin and will always do so.'
But Piro noticed even Captain Temor had averted his face from Byren. There was only one way to prove Byren spoke the truth.
She darted in front of the queen. 'Please, mother, tell them Byren speaks the truth. You know he does. You can — '
'No. I can only see with a mother's heart,' the queen whispered, denying her Affinity.
Piro's gaze flew to Byren, who had resumed his feet. She turned back to the queen and, in a flash of insight, Piro realised that if her mother revealed her Affinity now her marriage would be annulled and her children declared bastards. Cobalt would have as much right to the throne as Lence.
Piro fixed on Springdawn. 'You are an Affinity wardess, you can look into people's hearts and tell if they speak the truth. Look into Byren's.'
But Springdawn was already shaking her head. 'I don't have that skill. It is a very specialised talent.'
'Autumnwind?' Piro pleaded.
'I can't and even if I could, I'm exhausted,' he apologised.
'Then send for someone who can,' Piro insisted.
'Enough, Pirola!' the king snapped, using the voice he reserved for hearings. 'These are very serious accusations.'
'But Father — '
He silenced her with a look. 'The Servants of Palos caused the civil war that weakened Rolencia and this was the reason Merofynia attacked us thirty years ago. It might seem like history to you, but I was there. I saw the destruction — '
'But Father, Byren is innocent!' Piro ran to him and clutched his arm. 'If anyone is guilty of deceit it is Cobalt.' She rounded on him. 'Why did you leave Dovecote before we did? It was to lead the manticore pride to our camp site, wasn't it?'
Seated, Cobalt was almost as tall as her. His handsome lips twitched. 'You must think I am a wondrous person, little Piro, if you think I could lead a pride of manticores anywhere. Why, it would take a renegade Power- worker…' his eyes widened. 'So that is why you thought I had Affinity!'
He turned an astounded face towards Byren. But Piro was close enough to see past his expression, into his heart and it was as hard as stone. She faltered. Her sight shifted to the Unseen and she recognised a predator in Cobalt's eyes, a predator in human form.
She gasped, backing up until she reached Byren, who steadied her. It seemed to take forever, but by the time her vision returned to normal Cobalt had only just drawn his next breath. Startled by her slip, she glanced quickly to Autumnwind. He was rubbing his face wearily. Then she glanced over her shoulder. Springdawn was whispering to her mother. No one had noticed her use of Affinity.
'Byren.' Cobalt shook his head sadly. 'Don't blame your misfortune on me. There is a perfectly simple explanation for my presence here at court. Lence sent me to tell the king and queen that he will be staying at Dovecote for a few days on the way home.' His face hardened. 'I am not the one who has been lying.'
Frustration welled up in Piro. Cobalt managed to turn everything to his advantage. She glanced to her father. Surely he did not believe Byren meant to depose his brother?
But King Rolen sagged as if from a blow. 'That my own son should turn out to be a — '
'He should be disinherited,' old Lord Steadfast muttered.
'Banished,' another insisted.
Byren undid the shoulder clasp of his cloak and flung it aside, lifting his hands palm up. 'I demand the right to a Trial of Truth to clear my name.'
'He has the right,' Captain Temor began. 'He — '
'How can he even suggest a Trial by Truth when no man of ordinary size can stand against him?' Cobalt demanded, astounded. 'None but his twin, the kingsheir, can match him for size and strength!'
The truth of it made everyone draw back.
'Freezing Sylion, I don't want to fight Lence. You would twist the very goddess's words, Cobalt!' Byren hissed with frustration. 'You were the one I wanted to stand against to prove my innocence. You have accused me of treason, I challenge you!'
'Me?' Cobalt repeated, pale and frightened, for once not quick enough to hide his honest reaction. Piro smiled.
'The Trial of Truth is a barbarous custom and proves nothing but that one man is a better killer than the other,' Queen Myrella snapped.
Cobalt cleared his throat. 'I'll meet you, Byren. But I must warn you, I have been tutored by the best swordmaster in Ostron Isle.' He went to rise, still shaky. 'Send for my sword.'
'No. This is ridiculous,' the king muttered. 'Illien can hardly stand. This will prove nothing!'
'Father!' Byren appealed, searching the king's grey face.
'I can show no favour,' he whispered as he took a step back from Byren.
Piro gasped. He couldn't mean it.
'Wait.' Captain Temor leant closer to the king. 'Little Piro had the right idea, Rolen. Send for the mystics, they — '
'Yes,' Byren insisted. He cast Cobalt a furious glance. 'I do not hide behind walls and half-truths. I will bare my soul to both the mystics. Let the master and the mistress look into my heart. They will see I bear my twin no malice!'
That impressed the old warriors, who had an instinctive fear of the great mystics. Piro waited for her father to agree.
'Rolen.' The queen took the king's arm. 'Byren deserves a chance to prove his honesty.'
'I have proof of his deceit,' Cobalt announced with a heavy sigh. 'I did not want to do this…' He felt inside his vest to pull out a small velvet bag with a drawstring top. Piro recognised it as the one Lence had given him, back at Dovecote.
Cobalt held it out to the queen. 'I'm sorry, Myrella.'
Piro sent a questioning look to Byren. Her brother gave a slight shake of his head. He had no idea.
The queen opened the bag, tipping two rings into her hand and a small roll of paper tied with ribbon.
'Matching lincurium rings,' King Rolen whispered. 'Worth a small fortune.'
'They are mine!' Byren bristled. 'I found the lincurium and had them set onto rings.'
Piro frowned. Then how did Lence get them and why had he given them to Cobalt?
'Read the note,' Cobalt suggested.
The queen unrolled the scrap, read it, blanched then handed it to King Rolen. 'Byren!'
