I didn’t believe a word of it.
I accepted the invitation because I had no other choice, but also, I wanted to spend time with my uncle. I wanted to look into his eyes and see the exact shade of his darkness.
If he had weaknesses, I would find them. If he had secrets, I would discover them. If he wanted to treat my claim to the throne as treason, then I would treat his in the same way.
Matilda had called for my trunks to be delivered first thing in the morning. By the time Crenshaw appeared to escort me to supper, she had dressed me in my finest Soravalian gown and styled my hair with extra care.
Crenshaw’s ugly, narrow face poked into the room without knocking. Instant fury boiled beneath my skin. His behavior was deplorable. “Let’s go,” he ordered.
I followed him from the room, marching behind him like a prisoner. I could have found my way to the dining room without help. Despite the length of my absence, my familiarity with the palace returned swiftly.
When we reached the dining hall, white doors with golden swirls were pushed open and a herald announced my arrival. To my surprise, my uncle stood from where he sat at the head of an elaborate table.
Tyrn was not alone, but I recognized no one that sat with him. Three other men stood at my appearance, but the only woman remained seated.
My uncle’s face pinched in a sneer as he said, “My long-lost niece, please join us.”
I moved around Crenshaw to take my place across from my uncle. I was not naïve enough to believe this place had been set in my honor. It was given to me more out of mockery than anything else.
No one spoke until the first course, a cold root soup with clotted cream, had been served. Without a word, Tyrn took a bite, giving the rest of us permission to eat. I reached for my spoon, willing my fingers to stop trembling. As I took my first sip, I felt my uncle’s stare boring into me.
“My advisors,” Tyrn announced at last. “Lord Berwick and Lord Glaust,” he nodded to my right at two pompous looking men. To the man to my left, he said, “My first general, General Leffenmore. And his wife, Lady Leffenmore.”
I placed my spoon in my soup and nodded, “It is an honor to dine with you.”
“You will recognize none of them, of course,” Tyrn continued. “As any person in your father’s employ or council had to be put to death. I couldn’t trust any of them. I’m sure you understand.”
I focused on swallowing that news. My hands trembled and fury bubbled within me, but I could neither scream nor cry in front of these people. Instead, I forced calm into my voice. “Do you have reason to believe that any of those punished were responsible for my family’s murders?”
Tyrn held my gaze. The candlelight between us illuminated the madness dancing in his pale blue eyes. “I do not need reason. I am King.”
My gaze fell to my soup. I had lost my appetite, but I could not look at my uncle for another second.
One of the lords, I couldn’t remember which, bent forward and slapped the table with his hand. “Here, here.”
General Leffenmore leaned in as well and declared, “And long may you reign, my King.”
My uncle’s mouth tilted in a cruel smile. “I do not think my niece agrees, gentlemen. She is, after all, here to take my crown.”
There did not seem to be an appropriate answer, so I held my tongue.
“You are sure that she is indeed your niece?” Lady Leffenmore asked with a bored lilt to her tone. “She appears from nowhere with a highly hunted for crown and we are to assume she is the heir to a throne that has not been in the Allisand family for eight years.”
“That is why Conandra was called, my dear,” “General Leffenmore explained. “The trial will get to the bottom of this business. The truth will be exposed.”
Servants appeared and switched our soup bowls for plates of cheese and sliced meat garnished with squares of toast and oxtail butter.
“Are you not afraid, Child?” Lady Leffenmore asked as she slathered her cheese with butter and green jam. “This trial is serious business. Your life is at risk and for what? Because you want to be recognized as the lost princess? Because you want to be reinstated to palace life? I pray to the Light you know what you are doing.”
My voice rose. “I am well aware of the risk, Lady Leffenmore. The truth will indeed be found out. I have no reason to fear it.” The table livened with the rumbling of the lords and general. My uncle did not voice his opinion, but neither did he take his eyes from me. “And as for palace life, I was quite content at the monastery I came from. Their way of living is more natural to me than anything the palace can offer. So, you see, I am not here for luxury or notoriety.”
“One does wonder why you are here then,” my uncle mused. “After all these years, what made you leave the shadows of your secret life? Why now?”
I looked around at the men serving Tyrn and felt disgust join my rage. “It was time, Uncle. I did not leave the palace with the intent to live my life in secrecy. My home is here. My life belongs to Elysia.”
“So why not stay in Elysia to begin with? Why let the kingdom and the realm believe you to be dead?” Tyrn’s eyes flashed with frustration.
“My life was in danger,” I insisted. Nerves shivered through me as I realized that returning still might mean death. I looked at my uncle, “Whoever killed my family, wanted all of us dead. Every last Allisand. You cannot deny this.”
His stare did not waver, “I cannot.”
The next course was served- roasted boar with summer yams and turnip
