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“Even if I do this thing you ask,” Branford said, growling at his advisor, “which I will not, it does not stop war! It only puts his puppet next to me instead of Alexandra!”
“I will stand behind you, whatever the decision,” Lord William announced, “but I know if war comes to Silverhelm and Silverhelm falls, the consequences will be dire for us all.”
“Alexandra,” Phillip said as he looked at me, “you know you do not want your people to suffer another war. Look at Wynton and how they still suffer because of—”
“Enough!” Branford bellowed. “You will not use her compassion against her!”
“Branford,” I said softly. “Perhaps—”
“No!”
The doors opened at the end of the great hall. King Edgar, Princess Whitney, and four of their guards entered. They were early, which was undoubtedly their intent. They walked quickly and with a clear objective. King Edgar walked straight up to Branford while Whitney came to stand so close to me, I had to take a step backwards.
“The time has come, King Branford!” Edgar announced as he approached. “Your discussions with your advisors are at an end, and my army stands at the ready. Your decision must come now.”
Branford glanced at Dunstan as he hobbled into the room, trailing the guards. I saw Dunstan nod once and knew Branford’s informants had confirmed Hadebrand was prepared to carry through with the threat.
Whitney sneered at me openly.
“You are early,” Branford said quietly. “We have not yet reached our conclusion.”
“You have had more than enough time!” King Edgar yelled. “Is it war you seek, King Branford? Because I would rather end this peacefully and deliver your heir through my daughter, but I am also prepared to take Silverhelm by force.”
Silence followed, and my eyes darted to my husband as he sat staring blankly at Edgar. Lord William looked between the kings, and I could see his hands shaking as he clasped them together. Phillip seemed about to speak when Branford’s voice stilled him.
“I will speak with my queen,” Branford said softly, and his voice terrified me.
“Then go right ahead and—”
“Alone!” Branford yelled at Edgar. “Do not try my patience any longer!”
“My army will be at your border by nightfall, King Branford.” Edgar sneered. “Do not take too much time.”
He turned to go without a glance toward me. Whitney leaned close as
she turned, and her shoulder bumped into mine.
“Once this is over and done”—Whitney smirked as she passed by—“you will be dressing me in my nightgowns before I go to my husband.”
My stomach lurched.
She had not taken a half-dozen steps from me when the large doors were once again opened, and a loud voice called out from the other side of the long room.
“Stop!”
My heart began to pound again as I looked back over my shoulder and saw Sir Parnell rush through the large doors at the end of the great hall. Behind him was a couple I had only seen a few times before—Sir Rylan and Lady Suzette from Seacrest. I knew Branford had been trying to enlist their support in case war was inevitable.
Sir Rylan was dragging a woman by her arm.
“How dare you?” King Edgar stood and shook a finger toward Parnell as he walked in. He took a few steps backwards to move himself into place beside Branford again. “We are in session!”
Parnell ignored King Edgar as he approached Branford and the throne with the other three figures close behind him. As they came closer, I could see the woman in Sir Rylan’s grasp was Lady Nelle, the woman who had been punished along with her sister, Lady Kimberly, during my first month as Branford’s wife.
“You must hear what she has to say, King Branford,” Parnell told him as Sir Rylan tossed the woman toward the ground in front of us. Nelle yelped and then covered her mouth with her hand as she stayed on her knees before my husband, staring at the floor in front of her.
King Edgar stepped between Parnell and Branford, his eyes glaring intently down at Nelle.
“This is ridicu—”
