AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Ivy placed her hands firmly on his shoulders pinning him to the bed. “God’s blood, Henry. You nearly died. You are in no condition to leave this bed.”
He collapsed against the soft bedding and took several deep breaths. When the pain subsided, Henry nodded.
Ivy released him and resumed her seat. “I have been left with strict orders on how to care for you. If I fail, then they truly will have my head.”
“What—” Henry paused, unsure if he wanted to know the outcome, but he pushed through the hesitation “What happened after I—?”
“After you threw yourself on the guard’s blade?” Ivy’s disappointment etched the lines around her mouth.
“I did nothing more than what is expected of me,” Henry growled. “My mission is to protect the king and queen without concern for my own well-being.”
“Sacrificing yourself does not protect anyone, Henry.” She scowled. He wanted to smooth the frown from her lovely lips with his own. After a tense silence, Ivy conceded. “They dragged you from the room to leave you for dead. Then chaos descended like a vengeful storm tearing at the fabric of the kingdom.”
“What of Crispin? Ruby?” Fear wrapped around his heart constricting it in its fist.
“The king and queen are quite well,” Ivy assured him. “The imposter has been dealt with accordingly.”
“The imposter?” Henry shook his head with confusion.
“’Twas not Francis.” Crispin’s voice filled the void. “My brother is truly dead.”
Henry turned to search for his friend and found him leaning against the bedpost watching them. His gaze, so shrewd, softened with obvious relief.
“I am pleased to see you escaped the same fate, Henry. I cannot say I would be able to rule quite as efficiently without you by my side.” Crispin sat on the bed beside him.
“You have a strong queen by your side to serve as your conscience in my stead.” Henry smiled. “I am certain you would have managed quite well without me.”
A flash of sorrow marred Crispin’s strong features for only a moment before vanishing. He shook his head. “Thankfully, I will not have to do so.”
“I should fetch some water.” Ivy backed away from the bed, but Crispin held his hand up, making her pause.
“Stay.” He gestured to the seat she occupied earlier.
Ivy settled into the chair with her hands in her lap. Henry reached out his hand, and she laced their fingers together. Her presence warmed him.
“The imposter posing as my brother,” Crispin spoke slowly, “’twas Simon.”
Henry gasped at the revelation. “How in the devil? He survived? But how? Why?” An onslaught of questions bombarded him. Before he could formulate them into words, Crispin continued recounting the gaps in the story after Henry was wounded and left for dead out in the bailey.
With rapt attention, Henry listened, unsure of what to believe. The tale seemed almost too fantastical. Simon assuming Francis’s identity. Using his connections to form an alliance against Crispin. Waiting until Crispin aligned himself perfectly for failure and preying on his flaws.
“Why would Simon do this?” Henry finally asked once Crispin finished his tale.
“You remember Simon so little?” Crispin shook his head. “The arrogance. He believed himself to be the heir to his father’s estate, but as a bastard, he could never hold a title. He had to earn it, and when that failed, he resorted to treason.”
“All those years training together, I never had reason to doubt his loyalty even though there were whispers of his smuggling activities.” Henry could not fathom allowing hatred and greed to fester to such a point.
“None of us did. Which is why I never considered him to be anything other than who he claimed to be.” Crispin ran his hand over his clean-shaven jaw.
“How did you know he was not who he claimed?” Henry attempted to work it out in his mind, but there was nothing to lead him to a firm conclusion one way or another.
“My mother discovered the truth.” Crispin chuckled. “She is wiser than the rest of us by far.”
“They say a mother’s intuition is keen,” Henry agreed. “What have you done with Simon?”
“He is occupying the dungeon alone with those loyal to him. They will stand trial for their crimes and be punished according to the law of Meradin.” Crispin folded his arms across his chest.
Henry stared in surprise. How could this be the same man he held dearer than a brother? Crispin would have taken vengeance into his own hands and wrought destruction upon any who dare cross him. Yet the actions he chose against these traitors bore the hallmark of a true king. Wisdom in leadership comes from ensuring the needs of the many come before one’s own selfish desires. Perhaps Crispin would make a fine king after all. As if Henry had ever doubted it.
