Annika nodded. “We want our country to have a future.” She ducked her head. “And I want a future with Dimitri.”
Gwennore rested a hand on Annika’s shoulder. “I’m going to try my best.”
“But for only a week?” Annika gave her an injured look.
“It might not take as long as you think,” Gwennore said. “The only reason the curse has lasted this long is because no one has ever tried to be rid of it before.”
“Here’s to us, then.” Margosha lifted her cup.
“The three of us.” Annika lifted hers. “We can do it.”
Gwennore clinked her cup against theirs. “Death to the curse.”
* * *
“I’ve been hearing a rumor that people are disappearing,” Silas told Karlan in the captain’s office. “What can you tell me about it?”
With a sigh, the captain of the king’s personal guard took a seat behind his desk. “There are too many courtiers with nothing to do but gossip.”
Silas moved his chair closer to the desk. “From what I heard, the people go missing after they talk about the queen’s illness.”
Karlan winced. “You know how devoted His Majesty is to his wife. He’s desperate to keep her from harming herself.”
“I understand that.” A flash of memory pricked at Silas. The devastation of a six-year-old boy learning that his mother had thrown herself off the bridge in Dreshka. He would have done anything to stop her, anything to convince her to live.
Or maybe not. He doubted he could ever kidnap children like his brother was doing. Knowing that the children were now in loving homes didn’t do much to lessen the guilt Silas felt. There had been too many kidnappings that he had failed to stop. And now he was worried that his brother might be doing something even worse. “Karlan, I trust you more than anyone else at court. Please tell me what’s happening.”
Karlan was quiet for a moment, then nodded. “All right. Two noblemen requested an audience with the king, so they could tell him that the queen was too mentally unstable to keep her office. They petitioned His Majesty to divorce her and remarry.”
Silas winced. “I doubt that went well.”
Karlan gave him a wry look. “That’s putting it mildly. After throwing a few things across the room, the king calmed down a bit. He gave the two men assignments far away from court, and I was ordered to have some soldiers escort them away that night. So it looked like they had disappeared. His Majesty has allowed everyone to believe it, so they’ll keep their mouths shut about the queen.”
Silas clenched the arms of his chair. “Are the men still alive?”
Karlan snorted. “I wasn’t ordered to kill them, if that’s what you’re thinking. They’re … resentful, but still alive.”
Silas heaved a sigh of relief that his brother hadn’t become a murderer. But still, the situation was not good. “So now there are noblemen in the countryside with a grudge against the crown.”
Karlan nodded. “True.”
“Are you watching them? They might try to join forces with Lord Morris.”
Before the captain could answer, the door burst open and Dimitri rushed inside. “I just received word from Aleksi. The priest has left Dreshka and is moving south. Aleksi is following him.”
“Good.” Silas stood. “We can arrest Romak now.” He helped himself to one of the swords Karlan kept in his office and passed another one to Dimitri.
Karlan grabbed his sword as he circled his desk. “I’ve been wanting to arrest that weasel for months.”
As they strode down the hallway, Karlan called several of his guards to accompany them.
Silas flung open the door and marched inside. Romak and several courtiers jumped to their feet.
“What is the meaning of this?” Romak demanded. His eyes widened at the sight of more armed soldiers entering his office.
Silas motioned to the two courtiers who were waiting for an audience with the king. “Out.”
As they scurried away, Romak eased toward the door.
“Halt.” Silas pointed his sword at the weasel.
“There must be some sort of misunderstanding,” Romak said, his voice becoming a shout. “I have been His Majesty’s faithful servant!”
The door to the king’s office opened, and Petras peered out, his eyes widening with surprise.
“Your Majesty!” Romak dropped to his knees. “I’ve done nothing wrong, I swear it!”
“You’re under arrest for espionage against the crown, accepting bribes, and attempted murder,” Silas began.
“No!” Romak shot the king a pleading look. “Please, Your Majesty, don’t believe—”
“You have proof?” Petras asked.
Silas nodded. “He met a spy, a priest from Eberon, whom I believe is connected to Lord Morris.”
“Speculation!” Romak shouted.
“You were seen delivering a message to this priest and accepting a purse of gold coins,” Silas said. “And before that you handed Colonel Tolenko a dagger to be used to murder me.”
“What?” Petras strode into the room.
“The dagger was coated with poison.” Silas motioned to Dimitri, who lifted his sleeve to show the inflamed area. “If anyone had been pricked by that dagger, they would now be dead.”
Romak turned pale. “I—I didn’t know about the poison! I didn’t know! I—I’m being framed!”
“Where did you get the dagger?” Petras demanded.
“S-someone gave it to me,” Romak insisted. “I didn’t know it was poisoned!”
“But you still intended it to be used on my brother!” Petras shouted.
Romak crawled toward the king. “I was doing it for you, Your Majesty. I’m trying to protect you. You can’t trust the general. He wants your crown.”
“Bullshit,” Silas growled. “You’re a spy. Once we find out who the priest reports to—”
“I was only doing my job!” Romak cried as he grabbed on to the king’s boot. “I was gathering information for you, my liege. I’ve been risking my life spying for you!”
“Then why were you accepting gold instead of giving it?” Silas asked.
“Your Majesty!” a female voice screamed in the hallway.
The soldiers moved aside to let Lady Olenka enter. She glanced around, her eyes widening at the sight of drawn swords and Romak on the floor, clinging to the king’s leg.
“Your
