The Silent Shield (Kingfountain #5)(70)

“Fifteen thousand men, all loyal, to a man,” Fallon answered.

Trynne frowned. “I heard some of your soldiers were marching south.”

He gave her a sharp look. “Who told you that? It’s not true.”

She clenched her fist under the table. “Maybe I misunderstood.”

Fallon nodded curtly. “I think defending Dundrennan will be much easier than trying to recapture Kingfountain. We just need to hold out and let Gahalatine lose men and nerve hammering away at our walls. He cannot dock his ships nearby, so he’ll need supply lines to feed and equip his men. I don’t think he’s prepared for a long siege.”

There was an urgent rap on the door and Fallon scowled, having left instructions for them not to be disturbed. The door opened and Morwenna entered. Her face was flushed, her hair disheveled. Trynne felt instantly wary.

The king turned to look at his younger sister as she approached his table. Although they shared the same mother, he had inherited his mother’s looks whereas she had inherited her father’s.

“Morwenna,” the king said. “Would you join us?”

“I won’t stay for long, Brother,” she said a little breathlessly. She looked at Trynne, as if only now recognizing her in her rough soldier’s garb. “Who are these women in the castle? All these maidens with swords and shields?”

“They are my protectors,” Drew answered, his voice guarded. “You had something of importance to say. What is it?”

Morwenna fidgeted with a ring on her finger. She cast a sidelong look at Fallon and the flush in her cheeks deepened. “I haven’t had the opportunity to speak to you. I heard that the Painted Knight saved my father’s life in battle.”

“Indeed,” Drew answered. “I saw it.”

“But where is he now? Was he riding in your company?” Morwenna gazed at Trynne with a hint of suspicion.

“I have no idea,” the king replied. “He comes and he vanishes, often without saying more than a word. He said nothing when he appeared at Guilme. They call him the Painted Knight, but I think of him as my silent shield. When I am in danger, he is there.”

Trynne felt a shiver of warmth at his words, but she kept her expression neutral, her eyes focused on Morwenna.

“How did you escape Chandigarl?” Trynne asked suddenly, breaking the silence. She heard the accusation in her own voice, and Morwenna assuredly felt it too, for she bristled.

“I was going to ask you the same question,” the poisoner countered. “There are no ley lines coming or going from the zenana. I heard you attacked Gahalatine.”

The tension in the room was growing palpably. “No, I was the one who was attacked while rescuing Fallon’s mother. I brought her back with me to Kingfountain.” She looked at Fallon and added, “She helped sneak Genny away. They are safe, I believe.”

Fallon looked dumbstruck. “You found my mother?”

“And brought her back,” Trynne answered with a nod. “Morwenna, you have been to Chandigarl multiple times. Surely you knew that your disguise would be unmasked as we crossed the waters to the tower?”

“Are you implying that I am in league with our enemies?” Morwenna asked, her face betraying a look of fierce anger. She turned to her brother, who had stopped eating and was staring coolly at her. Taking a reflexive step backward, she said, “My lord, I must warn you to be wary. I believe you are in very real danger. When I last saw Trynne, we were both on a stone barge crossing the waters to the zenana. I had no idea that my illusion ring would cease working as we crossed. When the guards attacked, I had no choice but to leap off the barge into the water and swim to safety. My lord, I have contacts in the Forbidden Court, people I have bribed for information. I was told that Gahalatine has sworn an oath to marry Trynne Kiskaddon and make her Empress of Chandigarl.”

The king pushed away from the table and came to his feet. “That is quite an accusation to make, Morwenna!”

The poisoner nodded. “When I learned about it, I returned hastily and discovered the Wizr Rucrius had invaded the palace of Kingfountain. He was disguised as you, but I saw through his little trick. I found Lord Fallon and brought him here immediately.” She turned to face Trynne. “Do you deny this? Did not Gahalatine offer to make you his empress?”

Trynne felt the ground beneath her had turned unstable. One wrong step and she would fall. Her stomach writhed from the confrontation, from the baseless accusations. “He did,” she answered softly. Then she turned to the king. “That part is true, my lord. He did offer to marry me. And I soundly rejected him. There is a struggle for power between Gahalatine and his Wizrs. He will not be controlled by them as other emperors were. His financial state is nearly ruined—”

“Only the Wizrs and the Mandaryn know that,” Morwenna said. “This proves you are in league with them.”

Trynne turned to her calmly. “I did not learn this from them. But it begs the question of how you know it?”

“She brought Rucrius to Kingfountain,” Morwenna said with a hint of triumph. “Wasn’t he the person who spelled everyone in the castle to fall asleep?”

“The spell came from a staff fixed atop your tower,” Trynne shot back.

“My lord, I caught her in my tower the eve we were departing to Chandigarl.”