The Void of Muirwood (Covenant of Muirwood Book 3)(23)

Maia sighed. “I will be merciful,” she said simply. “Sometimes we commit acts that we regret. That does not mean we do not live with the consequences of those actions. But I do not seek his death. I have always felt that mercy and patience are as important as justice. These first days will be critical in persuading people whether they will follow me or no.” She also secretly feared that the reason he had not been found yet was because the kishion might have gotten to him first.

“My lady, I agree,” the mayor said, his teeth grinding. “But if you are too lenient, they will rebel against you. You must make examples to win men’s obedience.”

She smiled at him. “That is the way things have been for many years, my lord. I prefer to be an example, rather than make them. My father would have rebuked you for contradicting him. But I value your counsel even if I choose not to heed it.”

Just then, Collier entered the throne room with a girl at his arm. Maia squinted and saw that it was Jayn Sexton. As soon as she too registered the girl’s identity, Suzenne gasped and rushed across the room to embrace her longtime friend. Maia smiled at Collier and nodded. She had not needed to ask him to find the other woman—he had guessed at her wish.

“Find Crabwell,” Maia told the mayor and Caspur. “But have no fear,” she said with a small smile. “He will not be my chancellor.”





CHAPTER EIGHT




Privy Council





When they did find Crabwell, it was at the bottom of Pent Tower, dead.

The next morning, Maia listened with a queasy stomach as the lord mayor recounted the news to her in the throne room. The hall was empty except for Justin and Suzenne and a pair of guardsmen posted by the door. Although Maia was exhausted, she dared not sleep. As soon as she had dozed off the night before in her room in the palace, a feeling of blackness had seeped into her, accompanied by frightening whispers. She had summoned Suzenne for company, and the two had walked the palace all night, fighting to stay awake.

“Are you feeling well?” the mayor of Comoros asked her, pausing in his narrative of Crabwell’s demise. “You look as if you did not sleep soundly last night.”

“I did not sleep at all,” she replied. There were so many ghosts in this palace still, so many things that reminded her of her father. Many of the Leerings, she had discovered, especially in his personal chambers, had been chiseled from the walls or defaced so that they would not work. Almost as if he had been unable to bear them looking at him. “Go on, Justin. I am sorry.”

“What I was saying is the evidence of what happened is unclear. Was Crabwell pushed off the tower, or did he jump? There was a hastily written confession that implies he killed himself, but that could also have been forged. Or he may have been duped into writing it.”

Maia sighed and glanced at Suzenne. Her friend frowned, indicating she too had trouble believing it was a suicide.

“So there is no evidence he was murdered or by whom?” Maia asked.

“None,” the mayor replied, shrugging. “My lady. Let me say this delicately. People feared Crabwell. No one loved him. I really do not think it worth the bother of an inquest. No one cares how he died, only that he is no longer the chancellor. It is a relief that he met his end by a hand other than yours, and will not oppose your coronation.”

Maia gave him a stern look. “But should we not order an inquest into the murders, Justin? My mother, my father, and the chancellor have all died in rather short order. If we do not follow due process, someone may one day try to assign the blame to me.”

He looked shocked. “No one would dare accuse you!”

“I told you this earlier. Lady Deorwynn, I understand, was the one who hired a kishion and allowed him to enter the realm. He then was the headsman at her own execution. I want him found, Justin. If not for him, my bones would be moldering in an ossuary right now. He will never meet his fate by my hand, but I cannot permit a kishion to defend my throne. He is acting on his own motives, I believe. I would send him away in peace, and with my gratitude, but he needs to go if he will not abide by the laws and rules that govern my life and my reign. I fear it will be difficult to hunt him.” The thought of losing such a staunch ally and friend grieved her, but she was determined to see her purpose through to the end. Of course, exiling such a wily predator would not be easy, and she knew it.

He frowned, looking at her seriously. “My men are frightened,” he said softly.

She nodded. “They should be. He is dangerous, but he is only a man.”

There was movement at the head of the hall as one of the soldiers responded to a knock on the door, and to Maia’s immense relief, her grandmother came striding into the audience chamber. Maia broke away from the mayor and Suzenne and rushed across the hall to pull her grandmother into an embrace.

“I am so grateful you are here!” Maia said, nearly bursting from joy and relief. “Word arrived that the refugees from Assinica have come to Muirwood. I had hoped to visit you there tonight through the Apse Veil.”

Sabine clung to her for a long moment before pulling back and tipping Maia’s chin up with her finger and thumb. “You are exhausted.”

“Sleeping here is dangerous, I have discovered.” Maia shuddered involuntarily. “Suzenne kept me company all night, but it is taking its toll on her.”