With a frightened whimper, Eviana wrapped her arms around Gwennore’s legs.
“Oh, my!” Queen Freya pressed a hand to her chest as she straightened. “Isn’t she beautiful?”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” several of her ladies-in-waiting murmured.
Gwennore cleared her throat. “Your Majesty, may I present Eviana, the daughter of Queen Luci—”
“Eviana?” Queen Freya looked confused for a moment, then nodded with a smile. “Yes, of course. That is what I named her. I chose a lovely name, didn’t I?”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” another of her ladies answered.
Gwennore gave the ladies-in-waiting a wary look. Why were they agreeing? “I beg your pardon, Your Majesty, but Eviana was named by her mother, Queen Luciana of Eber—”
“Liar!” Anger flashed in the queen’s eyes. “The child is mine. I was in labor all yesterday and last night.”
“This little girl is three years—”
“I would know my own baby!” the queen interrupted Gwennore. “She is mine. Is she not, Captain?”
Karlan nodded. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
Gwennore shot him an astonished look, and he turned away, avoiding her gaze. She glanced at the ladies-in-waiting, but they, too, refused to look at her.
“She looks just like her father, King Petras.” Freya smiled at Eviana. “She has his black hair and green eyes.”
“Her father is King Leofric—”
“You lie!” Freya glared at her. When she waved a hand imperiously, the sun glistened off her ruby rings. “Who is this elfin woman?”
“Her name is Gwennore, Your Majesty,” Karlan replied.
Freya narrowed her eyes. “Why is she here? Has she come from Woodwyn to steal my baby?”
“Your Majesty, I would never harm Eviana.” Gwennore held the girl close. At first, she’d thought the queen was merely deceitful, but now she had a terrible feeling that the queen actually believed Eviana was hers.
Gwennore glanced at the others, but they all looked away, their faces shuttered with embarrassment and guilt. Good goddesses. The truth struck her hard.
The queen was mad. And all these people knew it.
“Give her to me!” Freya made a grab at Eviana’s arm, and the little girl screamed.
“You’re frightening her.” Gwennore stopped the queen by grasping her around the wrist. The contact immediately triggered her gift, and she gasped at how quickly she was bombarded with information. Never had her gift reacted this strongly. But then, never had she touched someone this ill.
Sickness permeated the queen’s entire body. How she even managed to stand was a miracle.
Freya tried to yank her hand away, but Gwennore tightened her grip and concentrated. The queen’s mind and body were deteriorating, but why? She was so close to seeing the cause.
“Let go of me!” Freya screamed.
Poison. “Your Majesty, I can help—”
“How dare you touch me!” Freya wrenched her hand away and stumbled, nearly losing her balance. “Arrest her!”
“Your Majesty.” Gwennore reached out to steady her. “I can help you. I’m a—”
“You’re an assassin!” Freya slapped her hand away. “You came here to kill me and my baby! Arrest her!”
Karlan and one of his guards grabbed Gwennore. Eviana wailed, clinging to her skirt.
“Please, Your Majesty,” Gwennore pleaded. She knew the queen didn’t care about her, but surely, she cared for the child she believed was hers. “This is frightening Eviana. Let me take her someplace quiet so she can rest.”
“You are going to the dungeon,” Freya announced. “And then tomorrow, I will decide whether you live or die.”
Gwennore’s heart lurched. Good goddesses, how could she escape this? She couldn’t reason with a woman who was mad. She looked around frantically. All the gates were shut and guarded. And Eberon was so far away. Could the dragon help her? Puff, can you hear me? I’m in trouble!
“Take her away!” Freya waved her hand.
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Karlan tugged at Gwennore, and she stumbled. Eviana clung to her, crying.
Gwennore struggled to breathe as panic threatened to swallow her whole. This couldn’t be happening. It was a nightmare, and she needed to wake up. Now.
“Release her.” A deep, compelling voice echoed across the courtyard.
Immediately the guards let go. Gwennore fell to her knees as she pulled Eviana close. Am I waking up now? Will we be back in the nursery at Ebton Palace? Please let it be so. Then Eviana would have no memory of today.
Karlan came to attention, tapping a fist against his chest. Each of the guards did the same.
The queen turned toward the northwestern tower. Her ladies-in-waiting gave a collective sigh.
Thump, thump, thump. The sound of booted feet echoed across the courtyard.
Gwennore rose shakily to her feet to face the newcomers. The late-afternoon sun shone into the courtyard at an angle, casting much of the western portion in shadow, so she couldn’t see the men clearly.
There were three of them, tall with long-legged strides. The one in front had set the pace, and the two flanking him had matched it, so all three sets of boots rang out in unison.
Thump, thump, thump, thump. They walked—no, stalked—toward her, for their strides were powerful and determined. While they were in shadow, she could only see that they were dressed alike. Army uniforms, perhaps, since Karlan and his guards were still standing at attention.
As the first man stepped into the sunlight, the ladies-in-waiting gave another collective sigh. And Gwennore’s heart stilled in her chest.
He was beautiful. His hair, black and wavy, ended at his shoulders. Incredibly broad shoulders. The cut of his jaw, the sharpness of his cheekbones, the smooth breadth of his brow, pale against the dark slashes of his eyebrows—it all added up to make a remarkably handsome man. And his eyes, a brilliant green, were looking at her.
With a jerk, she pulled her gaze away so she wouldn’t be caught gawking at him. The other two men were visible now. Not quite as handsome, but their looks and uniforms were similar. Brown leather boots and breeches. Leather breastplates over dark-green shirts. Their green capes billowed behind them as they
