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My lips parted. Had I heard him correctly? I glanced at Draven again, but still he stood stony-faced.
“I encountered three men, yes. And there was a misunderstanding. I do not think they were truly planning to harm me. I was trying to negotiate with them...” My voice trailed off as I saw my brother’s face. Cold fury scrawled across it.
“Fresh blood was spilled for your sake,” Arthur said softly. I heard the subdued arousal in his voice, as there always was when he spoke of anything to do with blood, and suppressed a shudder. “Three men died because of you.”
Was this really the little boy I had grown up with? The one I had done everything in my power to save? Our father’s influence had been too strong. I had been too late. I had loved my brother with all my heart. I longed to love him still. But when I looked at Arthur now, all I saw was a stranger who left me chilled and frightened.
“You’re right, Arthur.” I raised my head. “Of course, you are right. I should not have gone out.”
Everything in my body railed against the words pouring from my mouth. But in my heart, I knew I had no other choice.
My brother was no longer someone I could disagree with. I wasn’t even sure he was still my brother at all.
“My liege, the mens’ deaths were my fault. I acted rashly, when I should have exercised restraint. I might have brought the men back for questioning instead. Indeed, your sister chided me afterwards for failing to do so.”
I gaped as Draven finished speaking and stepped back into place, still staring straight ahead of him.
Draven had lied for me. Told Arthur he had been with me all along. Now he was lying again. Did he really believe he had done anything wrong by slaughtering the three men? I found it hard to believe the man I had spoken with last night could have had such an abrupt change of heart.
My brother looked at the guard curiously. “A noble gesture, guard. But no, you should not have been there in the first place. Morgan is to blame, not you.”
My brother’s eyes flickered to my throat. “What is that, there on your neck? Lower your tunic.”
I raised a hand to my throat, then very slowly slid the neck of the tunic down a few inches, praying it would be enough.
“There.” Arthur sounded triumphant. “They wounded you. They bruised you. I am told a knife was found on one of the men. They might have slit your throat, Morgan.”
I felt Draven’s eyes on me and quickly let go of the tunic, letting it slide back into place.
“It’s nothing. Only a scratch. I am fine, Brother.”
“The marks on your neck say otherwise,” Arthur answered, his voice deceptively gentle. “I admit, I balk at the prospect of my sister being slaughtered like a pig in an alley. You made me look like a fool, Morgan. You made us look weak.”
Instantly I understood what this was about. It all hinged on that one word.Weak.
I sank to my knees and lowered my head as modestly as I could. “Forgive me, Brother. I see how I have wronged you.”
I watched as his expression softened and pushed my luck. “But the people are hungry. I went out to see if there was anything I could do. Surely you know how dire things are...”
Arthur’s face flashed livid with rage. “Of course, I know what occurs in my city. My kingdom.”
“Of course,” I said, my heart pounding. I made my voice as soothing as I could. “If only there was some way I could help. Is there nothing I can do to ease your burdens? Perhaps I could...”
“You can help me by remaining in the castle,” Arthur barked. “My enemies, Morgan, would like nothing more than to use you against me. Even if it means your death.”
I swallowed. “Your enemies?”
“They lie in wait, all around us,” was all Arthur said. He ran a hand over his face. “You are fortunate, Sister, that this man happened to be with you last night.” He gestured to Draven.
I looked at the guard’s flinty face and felt a resurgence of the helpless anger I had felt last night.
“I disagree, Brother,” I said, lifting my chin. “He acted rashly, as he has already admitted. Those men need not have died.”
Arthur leaned forward in his seat. “Oh?”
“No,” I said, racing forward into the trap. “Those three men may have had families, children. I believe they were simply desperate to gain your ear, Arthur, and they saw me as a tool to do so. They wouldn’t have hurt me. This guard–” I swallowed. “He should have arrested them, not slaughtered them.”
Arthur was looking back and forth between us, with a curious expression.
