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I let out a small cry of surprise. “Rheged has attacked? So Arthur was right.”
Lancelet shook her head slowly. “No. Not Rheged. Lyonesse.”
“Lyonesse attacked Pendrath? But why?”
Something like sadness flickered over Lancelet’s face. “They didn’t attack us, Morgan. We attacked them. With Rheged’s help.”
I couldn’t help it. My jaw dropped. “What?”
“It happened just after you left. The group of guests from Lyonesse? Your brother instructed his Royal Guard to slay some of them. The rest were taken hostage. We haven’t seen them since, but I’ve heard they’re still alive.”
“Oh, Zorya,” I breathed.
“We attacked Lyonesse without warning, in the night. So deceitfully, Morgan. So cravenly.” Lancelet shook her head as if she could not bear the shame. “Arthur claimed Rheged was our ally. They supported us at first, sending troops in to fight alongside ours.”
“But?” I leaned forward, the pain of my back almost forgotten.
So much for the Royal Progress that Kaye had been so excited for. The trip to Lyonesse had never happened at all. This was what Arthur had really intended all along.
“But Lyonesse had an unexpected ally of its own,” Lancelet went on. “Tintagel came to its aid. Now Pendrath is waging two wars, with Tintagel to the north and Lyonesse to the south. When Tintagel attacked, Rheged backed off its support. Now Arthur fights alone. Both within Camelot and without. Believing himself betrayed, he lashes out at everyone and everything.”
“What do you mean?” I whispered.
Lancelet swallowed. “You know what he was already like, Morgan. Now it’s so much worse. The king has imposed martial law. There are curfews each night. He’s drafting men and women to bolster the army. You know how food was already scarce? Things haven’t improved. You think I look bad? You should see some of the children, Morgan. It would break your heart. The king seems to care nothing for any of this. He seizes whatever he thinks will help his cause–food, land, and anything else he sees as valuable. Anyone who criticizes or opposes the war faces harsh punishment. Either losing their goods and property or worse.”
“Worse? How much worse?”
Lancelet paled. “There are public hangings every day now. In each of the largest marketplaces. Beheadings if they’re a noble. Even one of the priestesses, who dared to speak out.”
“A priestess?” Draven’s voice was sharp. “Most of them are no more than girls.”
Lancelet nodded. “She was an acolyte. Galahad’s age. When she was arrested, her family was furious. Her father appealed to the king, but it was no use.” Her voice dropped to a hush. “Now he’s dead, too.”
I thought of the heads in the box. The hunters who had defied Arthur by trying to find food for their families.
“I hope there’s an uprising.” I could hear the fury in my voice. “I hope they defy him.”
Lancelet looked shocked. “You do?”
“He may be my brother, but he’s also my king. And mykingis a tyrant, Lancelet. Nothing can possibly excuse this. Turning on his own people. Turning on Lyonesse. They were our allies and Arthur has betrayed them. Killing guests in his own home. It goes beyond the pale.”
Lancelet nodded. “That’s what Merlin said, too. She said the goddesses would see the spilled blood of the Lyonesse guests as the foulest violation of sacred law. The king has committed an offense against the Three themselves.”
“Did she tell Arthur that?” I asked, my eyes wide, part of me hopeful, part of me terrified.
Lancelet nodded slowly. “He had her whipped. Publicly.”
“No, no.” I felt hot tears fill the corner of my eyes. “Not Merlin. How dare he.”
Lancelet pressed on. “Arthur has stripped the temple of many of its treasures. He would even have violated the sanctum. I believe he tried. Perhaps fear of the Three finally stopped him before it was too late.”
I swallowed. “Perhaps.” I doubted it.
“Before I left, he was demanding a new temple be constructed for Perun, brother of the Three. In the meantime, Perun’s altar has been turned into the focal point of the temple courtyard. Arthur has instructed citizens to pray and leave offerings there first, then go to the goddesses if they feel the need. He encourages them to make blood offerings, small animals and the like.”
“That is sacrilege,” I whispered, feeling the color drain from my face. “The Three do not demand blood.”
“You asked after Kaye,” Lancelet continued. “He is in good health, but he is miserable, Morgan. We only know because he has stayed in communication with Sir Ector. The king has enlisted him in the army. He trains daily but is far from Camelot. Sir Ector fears the king means to send his brother to the frontlines. Arthur claims it will inspire the men to fight harder, but Sir Ector believes...” She hesitated.
