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“Is it my heir you are carrying, Belisent? Or my doom?” Arthur eyed my sister’s rounded belly. “Did you bear this child to destroy me?”
“To destroy you?” Orcades sounded derisive. “Our child could destroy many kings. I should think that would make you very happy. What makes you think the prophecy concerns you in particular?”
Arthur shook his head. “It’s all too convenient.”
“Is it? Or has that fool of a Lord General been filling your head with nonsense? Where did he find this prophecy, anyway? In some musty old book that no one has read in centuries, no doubt.”
Orcades waved a hand and turned back to her armchair. “You’ve upset me. You’ve upset the child.” She sank back into the chair with her hands resting on top of her belly. “Is the tournament not today? I would have thought you would be preparing.”
“Yes, it begins in an hour. You will be there. By my side.”
“Am I not always? I live to serve, my lord. I am your humble queen,” Orcades said, her voice saccharine.
I watched Arthur stare at his wife, filled with suspense. Something was still not right. She had not convinced him.
No, more than that. Arthur’s face was not simply angry. My brother was afraid.
He stepped towards Orcades until he was very close, then leaned over her with his hands on the arms of the chair.
“There is more at play here than you could ever know, Belisent. You are meddling in things beyond your ken.”
Orcades, to her credit, merely laughed again. “By having a child? I assure you, it happens every day. Why, there must be hundreds of women across Pendrath about to have children in the spring, just as I am. Fifty tonight alone.”
“‘The death of kings, the birth awaits.’” Arthur stood back and crumpled the parchment in one hand. “That’s what it says. The second stanza. Do you have any idea what my allies would do if they learned of this?”
I glimpsed shock on my sister’s face. Orcades leaned forward, slowly forcing Arthur back. “Your allies? What allies, husband? You have never spoken of allies before.”
Arthur turned away from the chair, hiding his face. “There are many things you do not know. Do men tell their wives everything?”
Orcades studied his back. “You truly do fear. For yourself or for another?”
Arthur whirled back around. “I do not fear.”
“There is fear in your heart. I see it there. Or you would not have come here, accusing me of wishing to kill you with our child.”
Arthur’s face grew white. “It is not our child any longer.”
“What are you saying? What madness is this?”
“You will attend the tournament.” He began to walk towards the door. “Then you will return here to these chambers where you will remain. Guards will surround you at all times. When the time for your labor comes, the babe will not live a single hour once it is born.”
Orcades rose to her feet. “I was right. You are mad.”
“The tournament. In one hour. You will sit beside me. You will smile. Then you will return here.” Arthur hesitated in the doorway. “Pray that the child dies at birth. Many do. There will be other children.”
Orcades said nothing.
And then he was gone.
I watched as she pulled the panels of the doors closed, then I stepped out from behind the tapestry.
For a moment, we simply looked at one another.
“He has no idea who he’s dealing with, does he?” I said finally.
Orcades smiled slightly. “The same might be said of you.”
“I’ll go now. But I am here for you, Orcades. You know that.” I leaned forward and squeezed her hand. “Nothing will happen to your child. We’ll get you out of here. After the tournament.”
