“Asleep,” Josef said.
The queen arched her eyebrow. “Asleep? All night?”
Josef crossed his arms. “All night. Why?”
For a split second the queen looked relieved, and then the scowl was back. “Finley is dead.”
“Dead?” Josef said. “How?”
“Stabbed,” the queen answered. “Someone, or several someones, broke into his mansion last night. His honor guard is dead, as are most of his servants, his son, and, of course, the duke himself.”
Josef frowned. “Was there a fight?”
“Adela is investigating as we speak,” the queen said. “In the meantime, why don’t you tell me.”
The room filled with whispers as the nobles began to talk. Josef ignored them.
“How should I know?” he said.
“You were with the duke a few hours before he died,” the queen said. “You had an argument, a loud one, after which you left. What did you talk about?”
“Nothing of consequence,” Josef said. “He told me he was going to be king, and I said go ahead.”
The queen’s eyes narrowed. “Really? That’s all?”
“That’s all,” Josef repeated firmly. “I didn’t kill him, if that’s what you’re implying.”
The queen’s fingers tightened on the arms of her chair. “The report said the guards died with swords in scabbard, killed by a blow to the back of the neck from a long blade. Finley was heir to the throne of Osera, guarded by the best the country can offer. So either his guards were killed treacherously by someone with enough rank to avoid a challenge, or they were taken out by a master swordsman before they could draw. You are both, so you can see how suspicions could rise.”
Josef rolled his eyes and reached over his shoulder. He drew the Heart with a flourish, slamming the point into the wooden floor at his feet. All around the room, people began to shout. The guards drew their swords and encircled the queen. Even Lenette shrank back against her mistress, but Queen Theresa just watched, her eyes hard as iron as she glared at the large chunk that was now missing from her floor.
“Blow to the back of the neck?” Josef said, turning the Heart so everyone could see the size of the blade. “This is the only blade I keep that could be considered long. If I struck someone across the back of the neck with this, I would take their head off.”
The queen sniffed. “Are you saying you’re not clever enough to hide a murder weapon?”
“I’m saying I had no reason to kill Finley other than he’s an ass,” Josef answered. “And if I was going to kill him for that, I would have challenged him openly and had the pleasure of thrashing him in front of everyone.”
“That, at least, I agree with,” the queen said with a long sigh. “You can put away your iron bat, Thereson. I don’t think you killed Finley, but the fact remains that the heir to the throne of Osera is murdered, and I have to determine how, by whom, and why.”
Josef slid the Heart back into place on his back. “Easy enough,” he said. “We’ll go investigate.”
“You will do no such thing,” the queen snapped. “I said I don’t think you did it, but that does not remove you from these matters. You are still under suspicion, and until my people get to the bottom of this, you will remain in your rooms where I can keep an eye on you.”
“What?” Josef shouted.
“I don’t see why you’re surprised,” the queen said, her voice rasping. “You were the one who chose to pursue a life of violence. You cannot now turn and condemn us for judging you by it. Our country is on the brink of war, and the people have just lost the man they thought would be their king. Now more than ever, Osera must be united. Lawful. Its throne without reproach.”
“But I didn’t do anything!” Josef cried.
“I believe you,” the queen said earnestly. “And I have no doubt our inquiry will absolve you of all guilt, but I cannot shield a known murderer from investigation just because he is my son.”
“I never murdered anyone,” Josef said hotly. “I killed swordsmen in battle. There’s a difference.”
“A subtle one,” the queen said. “Countries on the brink of war that’ve just seen their duke murdered don’t appreciate subtlety.”
“I don’t care what they appreciate,” Josef sneered. “I’m not going to let you lock me up for something I didn’t do.”
“You don’t have a choice,” Theresa said. She turned to her guard. “Take his swords. The prince is under arrest.”
“Are you out of your mind?” Josef roared. “You’re not taking my swords!”
“I am queen!” Theresa roared back. “I take whatever I—”
The queen’s words dissolved into a coughing fit as she doubled over, heaving into her handkerchief. Several of the nobles started to run forward, but Lenette was there first, waving the rest away.
“The queen’s medicine!” she yelled. “Hurry!”
A servant grabbed a kettle, a cup, and a folded paper sachet from the tray in the corner and ran to Lenette, pouring the steaming water into the cup as she went. Lenette grabbed the sachet and the cup. She shook the folded paper open, dumping green powder into the hot water. She stirred it once with the spoon the servant offered and then, grabbing the queen’s convulsing shoulders, pushed the cup to her lips.
The queen drank, choked, and drank again with Lenette’s help. Her coughing subsided, and she slumped back into the chair. For several minutes she did nothing but sit with her eyes closed, breathing as though taking in air were the hardest task she’d ever attempted. When she did finally open her eyes, they looked immediately at Josef.
“My order is final,” she said in a strained, husky whisper.
Josef stared at her, helpless, and then looked plaintively at Eli, but the thief was already a step ahead of him.
“My lady,” Eli said gently, stepping forward. “Think a moment. Someone out there is knocking off members of the royal family. Do you really think disarming the prince at such a time is a wise—”
“I will not be disobeyed,” Theresa said, closing her eyes again. “This meeting is over. Take the prince to his chambers and make sure he stays there.”
The guards bowed and moved to Josef’s side. With a final glare at his mother, Josef raised his hands and let the guards guide him toward the door. Eli followed with his own escort. Looking back, Josef caught a final glimpse of his mother slumped between Lenette and the serving girl, and then the door closed and he saw no more.
The palace seemed empty as the guards marched Josef and Eli back to the prince’s suite. The usual bustle of nobles and servants rushing on Osera’s business had been replaced by grim-faced guards standing in knots wherever corridors connected.
When they reached Josef’s rooms, the entire squad circled round as Josef disarmed to make sure he surrendered every blade. It took a good thirty minutes, partially because Josef was taking his time about it, but mostly because he wore a lot of weapons. It took two men to hold Josef’s arsenal of daggers, throwing knives, and short swords, and Josef spent the entire time making it very clear what would happen if every one of those blades didn’t return to him.
When he finally announced he’d handed everything over, the guards stepped in to pat him down, just in case. This uncovered another two blades, one at the small of his back below his belt and one tucked into the heel of his shoe, both of which Josef claimed he’d forgotten. The guards gave him a sour look and added the blades to the pile. Then they came to the main bone of contention.
“The sword on your back,” the soldier said. “Hand it over.”
“This?” Josef lay his hand on the wrapped hilt of the Heart of War. “I don’t think so.”
The soldier crossed his arms. “The queen said every blade, Prince Thereson.”
Josef smiled at him. “Fine,” he said. “You want my sword?” He reached up to his shoulder and undid the strap that held the Heart on his back. “Take it.”
The Heart fell to the floor with a crash that rattled the windows. The soldier jumped back in surprise, and Josef, still grinning, stepped aside so the guard could retrieve the Heart. The soldier glowered and reached down, grabbing the Heart by the hilt to lift it onto his own back.
Nothing happened.
The soldier’s anger turned to confusion. He added another hand to the Heart’s hilt and pulled again, harder. The Heart didn’t budge. The soldier braced his legs against the wall. His face turned pink, then red. Sweat poured
