“Well, maybe, but-”
“Maybe?” D’Arnlo sneered. “Maybe what little success you have had is luck. Maybe you really are a useless bureaucrat. Maybe, if you do not start performing better, you will meet the same fate as the others that have failed me.”
“Like the assassins who still languish in your care? That may know enough to expose us?”
“I can’t get rid of them. Do you know how suspicious that would look? Remember, nobody escapes the Citadel. Sometimes there are disadvantages to running the most impregnable fortress in the world.”
“Excuses, excuses,” Lord Thius muttered.
“The difference is, I have upheld my end of the bargain. The assassins have not talked. You on the other hand have repeatedly jeopardized everything. I don’t know why I ever thought I needed an ally, much less one like you.”
“You need my support to legitimize your rule!”
“I need support, yes, but I don’t need you. You can legitimize anything with enough soldiers, and I have a great many. Besides, there are others who will flock to my banner, once I step into the spotlight. You did have your uses though. Slipping poison into the stew that your wife delivered was a master stroke, I will admit. As far as I know, your family was never suspected of treachery.”
Cevet sagged against the door, jaw hanging open in shock. Stew? Were they discussing the death of Relam’s mother, the queen? His father had played a part in that?
“It was a risk,” Lord Thius growled. “But one you forced me to take.”
“And I will force you to take this one as well. Now, listen carefully. I am locking down the city. You will meet with the Assembly later today. You will propose granting me temporary control of the capital until the prince is found. During that time, I will act as a benevolent ruler, always searching for our prince and serving the kingdom. When the allotted search time is up, you will propose to the Assembly that I be crowned king. By the time that happens, I will quietly have replaced key officers in the city guard with people loyal to me. I will have control of the city guard, the harbor watch, and the Citadel guard. That will be more than enough to discourage anyone from opposing me.”
“You mean us.”
“Of course,” D’Arnlo agreed smoothly. “Opposing us. You will have a position of immense power too, of course. I will need a right-hand advisor and, assuming you continue to play your part faithfully, that advisor could very well be you.”
There was a brief pause, then Cevet heard D’Arnlo’s voice again. “Do we have a deal, Lord Thius?”
Cevet backed away from the door, horrified. He had to find Relam, if he was still in the city, and warn him. Then, Cevet stopped. He would be betraying his own father if he alerted the prince or anyone that could stop D’Arnlo’s schemes.
The lordling thought for a long moment. His father was a traitor, and so was D’Arnlo. He had helped murder the queen, and possibly the king and Relam himself. If Cevet did not alert Relam, he could be considered equally guilty.
Then, Cevet thought of something else. Lord Thius was his father, yes, but he was not a very active father. He was always meeting with the Assembly, or the smaller Council, or some other nobles. Always working. Cevet only saw him at meals, and then infrequently. At formal events, he dragged Cevet back and forth, making connections for him and showing him off, never letting him just be himself. And he had used Cevet’s mother as an accessory to murder.
Then there was Relam. Relam was a friend, and a good friend, even if they had only been on the same side for a little over a year. What’s more, Cevet knew exactly what Relam would do if their situations were reversed.
“He would help,” Cevet said quietly. Then, his mind made up, the lordling turned and ran down the stairs. He didn’t know where Relam was hiding, if indeed he had fled, but he knew a good place to start looking.
Chapter 41
When Cevet had finished his story, he sank back into his chair, emotionally spent, and continued to stare at the floor, not meeting anyone’s gaze.
Relam sat perfectly still, elbows resting on the armrests of his chair, the tips of his fingers pressed together in front of his face. To his left, Oreius had his arms crossed and was frowning into his beard. Narin was sitting rigidly in his seat, looking from Relam to Cevet and back again.
“It’s not your fault,” Relam said finally.
Cevet looked up in disbelief.
“I don’t hold anything against you,” Relam continued, sitting up straighter and leaning forward. “Your father, however, has made some bad choices. Even if he was being manipulated by D’Arnlo. He is the primary target at this point.”
“D’Arnlo?” Cevet asked.
“Yes,” Relam said, nodding. “Now, with your testimony and the information that Narin and I have gathered, plus accounts from a few others, that should be enough to convince the Assembly that D’Arnlo is guilty.”
“Are you sure?” Cevet asked.
“Yes,” Relam said emphatically.
“The great lords have no love for your family,” Narin pointed out. “And they may be stung by Lord Thius being implicated in this scheme.”
“I have an idea about that,” Relam said. “Actually, I have an idea to finish this whole thing right now.”
“What?” Narin asked, sitting up straighter.
“Let’s go,” Relam said, getting to his feet. “Coming Cevet?”
“Where are we going?” the lordling asked warily.
Relam smiled, looking around at the others. “We’re going to the Citadel,” he said grimly. “It’s time I had a little talk with Master D’Arnlo.”
“What?” Narin demanded. “No, Relam, that’s a terrible idea. Walking into the place where D’Arnlo is strongest and challenging
