The King's Traitor (Kingfountain #3)(55)

Then she lifted her head and looked into his eyes with a fierceness that startled him. She pushed away and lifted the cowl to hide her face. “I’ll be back before dawn,” she whispered. “Bolt the door.”

“I told Kevan that I needed to see the king and his councilors at once,” Owen said worriedly.

She shook her head. “You’re not going into that castle again until I’ve made sure it’s safe. Stay here.”




Owen barely slept that night. Every knock, every footfall startled him awake. Hours later, Etayne’s soft knock roused him from a fitful slumber, and he rushed to the door and unbolted it.

She swept in, all business, her look grim.

It was still dark, but the dim light in the sky marked the coming dawn.

“What did you learn?” he asked cautiously.

“The king is having the bodies dumped into the river this morning. At dawn.”

Owen’s stomach lurched. “So Eyric is dead,” he whispered. “Dunsdworth too?”

She shook her head. “Dunsdworth was allowed to drink himself into oblivion. He’s passed out. I saw the bodies as they were being strapped into canoes. They’ll be launched from the quay on the palace side. I told Kathryn you’d meet her there.”

“You saw her?” Owen asked.

She nodded. “She’s grieving. You can only imagine. I told her you’d bring her son so he could watch Eyric go into the river. She knows about the boy. I made arrangements with Liona to fetch him and dress him, and they’re expecting us in the kitchen. The king knows you’re coming. They’ll be expecting you at breakfast in the great hall. He plans to name you the heir of Ceredigion today, in front of the hall. But it’s a ploy, Owen. He fully intends to marry Kathryn, and any son will supersede you. The announcement will allow him to strip you of the Espion and half of Westmarch.”

Owen gritted his teeth. “How did you find all this out? Who knows you are back?”

She shook her head. “No one. I dosed Catsby with nightshade. When he awakens, he won’t remember telling me anything. He’s going to run the Espion now, and he knows all about Dragan. He’s your chief adversary. If I were to advise you, I’d ask Iago to invade the North. The people hate Catsby so much, they’ll welcome him with open arms. Thus begins your rebellion. The king will command you to subdue them.”

Owen smiled. “That’s my plan exactly, and the first steps have already been taken. But first I must tell the court about the dream I’ve had. It’s time to rock Severn’s throne. This will be my most impressive dream yet. Thank you,” he said, smiling eagerly at her. “You’ve done well. I couldn’t manage any of this without you.”

“Glad you realize that,” she said with a smirk. “I’ll disguise you so you’re not recognized when we fetch the boy from the kitchen. I brought you a tunic to wear,” she said, opening her cloak and revealing a small satchel. Inside was a black tunic with the white boar insignia. She helped Owen rebuckle his scabbard after he donned the disguise. She cinched the buckle and stuffed the added leather through the band. “Wish we had time to shave you before going,” she said, shaking her head. “Severn’s knights aren’t bearded. I’ll have to use magic to disguise you.”

Owen nodded, and they left the inn together, walking rapidly across the bridge. Somewhere a rooster called, the sound barely noticeable amidst the rush of the waterfall. Owen tugged on his gloves as the chill of morning crept into his hands. He looked at Etayne and saw puffs of mist coming from her mouth.

“It’s not normally this cold,” he said, looking up at a sky thick with gray clouds that hid the stars. “It’s already happening.”

She shuddered and nodded, holding her arms to her chest for warmth as they walked briskly. Etayne showed her Espion ring at the gatehouse, and then they slipped into the woods to approach the palace from the secret entrance. It was dark, and the woods looked menacing in the dimness, putting Owen in mind of the woods in Brythonica where he’d found the silver bowl and the marble slab. Memories of his battle with the black knight made his insides crawl. When they reached the kitchen, Liona and her husband were feeding the boy a buttery roll in the corner. The kitchen was empty but for them. The boy looked tousled and tired, and his brow furrowed when he saw Owen enter. He said nothing, keeping his thoughts to himself.

“Hello, Drew,” Owen said.

“Would you like something to eat?” Liona asked him. Her husband patted the young man’s shoulder and Owen noticed how silver his hair had become of late.

“I’ll have breakfast with the king,” Owen said, although his stomach did complain at his refusal. “Come with me, lad. There is a place I would like to take you.”

Drew looked at him for a long moment before nodding. Owen tried to hide his disappointment that the lad wasn’t as demonstrative with him as he’d been with Lord Horwath. But then, Owen’s own unhappiness had made him a poor uncle figure. He promised himself that would change.

After stuffing the rest of the roll into his mouth, Drew stood and followed Owen and Etayne out of the kitchen. They walked around the edge of the castle wall toward the yard leading down the hill to the quays. Owen and Evie had wandered the grounds together as children, and he found he still knew the way.

“I’m cold,” Drew said, chafing his arms.