The Ciphers of Muirwood (Covenant of Muirwood #2)(44)
Maia paled, her heart shuddering from the disappointing news. “Is it . . . is it certain?” she asked tremulously, struggling to maintain her composure.
“Your father needs allies and Dahomey needs money. The negotiations are still under way. As you can imagine, King Gideon is trying to squeeze this situation as best he can. If Lady Deorwynn succeeds, it will entrench her power even further. Her son will become a king, her daughter a queen, and her uncle will rule all the abbeys.”
Her heart burned with silent agony. Of course . . . Collier was furious. She could only imagine how injured he was by her betrayal. The thought of him divorcing her and marrying Murer caused unbearable pain, yet she kept her countenance and tried to think.
She forced herself to respond to the chancellor without revealing her upset feelings. “And what will she do with you, my lord?” she said in a small voice.
“She will have me executed, no doubt,” he said with venom. “And she will name the new Earl of Forshee as chancellor. He has been insufferable to me of late, no doubt relishing the prospect of gloating over my downfall.”
“By Cheshu,” Jon Tayt muttered, shaking his head. “You are a dead man, I think.”
Crabwell shot him a murderous look. “The dance has not finished the final chords yet, Master Hunter. There is time yet. As you see, the king no longer favors Lady Deorwynn. I have been trying to convince Lady Sexton to encourage the king’s affections. He is weary of quarreling with Lady Deorwynn. Lady Sexton is very meek—his wife’s opposite in every way. He tries to persuade her that she is saving his soul and bringing him back to the maston cause. I am not certain she believes him, but he can be quite charming when he wants something. Now, this is where you come in, Lady Maia.”
Lady Sexton. The name sounded familiar, and she realized it was Suzenne’s friend who had left Muirwood the previous year.
He rubbed his hands together like a little child about to receive treats. She abhorred the gesture, but it revealed the delight he took in his machinations.
“I have been preparing evidence to charge Lady Deorwynn with murder. I have assembled enough evidence to charge her with hiring the kishion. And I have been fomenting rumors and gossip about your possible death throughout the realm in order to get the people to demand to see you. The king has been quite unsure of the situation, having lost you somewhere himself. His men have been searching for you as eagerly as mine. I plan to tell him that I have found you at last, that you were here all along, seeking to be reunited with your mother and pursue your studies to become a maston yourself.” He waved his hand. “Whether or not it is true does not matter. Lady Deorwynn has sensed my ploy and has been arguing, most forcefully, that your father should restore you to favor and give you your dower lands. She does this, of course, because she does not want to be blamed for your death. By arguing publicly for your restoration, she wets the flames crying in riot for you to become the heir of Comoros once again.”
Maia blinked, startled.
“Yes, my lady.” He grinned at her, his eyes widening with pleasure. “If we ally together, you and I, we may be able to right the ship of state and prevent it from crashing on the rocks. I do not want Lady Murer to wed the King of Dahomey. The more besotted the king becomes with Lady Jayn Sexton, the more fragile Lady Deorwynn’s hold will be. I have guards watching the king night and day to prevent his assassination. If he were to fall, we would all be ruined, including you. You are Lady Deorwynn’s biggest threat. While I trust you have a capable protector in this axe-wielding Pry-rian, I would not wager he would survive if a kishion came hunting you.”
She exchanged a glance with Jon Tayt. Before answering, she needed time to mull over all that Crabwell had told her. She pushed a lock of hair behind her ear. “What are you proposing, Chancellor? I have not agreed to anything yet. Do not interpret by my silence that I do not have serious doubts regarding some of what you have told me.”
“You always were wise and insightful,” he crooned. No wonder her father enjoyed him so much. He was oily, duplicitous. She did not trust him one bit. “If I tell your father you are here, then Lady Deorwynn will know at once. She will send the kishion to murder you.” He shook his head seriously. “Let us continue to keep your presence here a secret. The sheriff has enough men to guard and watch over you. He owes his position to my influence, so he will do as I order him. Your father and Lady Deorwynn will arrive shortly to celebrate Whitsunday at Muirwood, confiscate the revenues of the abbey, and install a new Aldermaston. That would be, in my estimation, the perfect opportunity to reveal your presence. It will not give Lady Deorwynn enough time to react.”
He walked over to the table and lifted a cup, drinking thirstily from it. He glanced at her, his eyes still scheming. “What say you, Lady Maia—Princess of Comoros once more?”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Counsel
After she told her tale, Maia felt the power of their silent gazes on her. She looked around the room and registered the different ways her friends had reacted to the news. The Aldermaston looked wise and brooding as always, his eyes full of sympathy for her. His wife looked grim, and seemed particularly upset over the news that Jayn Sexton was the king’s new favorite. Tomas, the steward, sat quietly in the council chamber, shaking his head with surprise. He looked like he wanted to speak, but he deferred to the Aldermaston. Jon Tayt was sullen and had a murderous look in his eyes, as if he wanted to go out, find the chancellor, and take off his head instead of just his fingers. Suzenne was there too, her face pale with dread and worry—Maia could tell she was concerned about Jayn, for they had been very close.