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“No,” I agreed. “But she is mine.”
I’d never seen Fenyx gape before. It was a good look for him.
“But that’s impossible,” he stammered.
“Not as impossible as you’d think.” I wasn’t about to explain my family tree to my torturer. “A baby that can bring down kings. I can’t say the idea isn’t appealing at the moment.”
Fenyx’s look of concern was clearing away. “Some bastard from your mother’s side, no doubt. It doesn’t matter. Arthur’s taken steps. Belisent’s child will never see the light of day.”
“You don’t know Orcades. That’s my sister’s true name,” I clarified. “I wouldn’t be too sure if I were you.”
But Fenyx’s smile was returning. I felt a sense of looming dread. “It doesn’t matter what her name is. Not a single infant in this fair city will live come dawn. Your brother has decided to take no chances.”
My throat went dry. “What are you talking about?”
“Arthur’s soldiers are, at this very moment, out in the city butchering every child born since the winter’s solstice.”
“What...? Why? Why would Arthur do such a thing?”
But the answer was already at my fingertips.
Fenyx gave a disinterested shrug. “Because he can? Because he’s king? Because the prophecy went straight into his brain and filled him with fear and suspicion. He’s reasoned that if he can’t find his queen, he’ll annihilate all potential threats. I suppose once he’s finished with Camelot, he’ll go through all of Pendrath if he has to. After all, the queen could have exchanged her infant for any one of the babies out there.”
“They’re infants,” I raged. “Innocent children!”
“And he’s a madman. I did try to tell you.”
“You did this. You put him up to it. Planted the seed in his mind.”
Fenyx tipped his head back and laughed. “Oh, no, that seed was planted long ago, and not by me. How I would love to take credit, but he came up with this plan entirely on his own. The priest was a little nervous. Tried to talk him out of it. Said if anything would make the people revolt, this would be it.” Fenyx shrugged. “He may be right. But one does not stand up to a king when he is in such a foul mood as that.”
At least, not until Fenyx had his hands firmly around Excalibur’s hilt. Then I had no doubt there would be open mutiny.
“And Kaye? Will he be murdered tonight, too?”
“Not for the same reason, but yes,” Fenyx said with infuriating calm. “Your brother is in an awkward position.”
“Oh? The man with unlimited power who can murder so freely?” I seethed. “How so?”
“He does not serve himself alone. He is sworn to another. He’s High King of Pendrath, yes... and yet not. If you see what I mean.”
I went very still. “What are you talking about?”
“There is another High King. One you and I have never seen. One Arthur claims to have made a vow to long ago. He has been paying him fealty ever since.”
My blood ran cold. “Who is this High King you speak of?”
“I doubt you’d recognize the name. Not many do. It’s been a very long time since he made an appearance in Pendrath. No, he prefers to rule from afar.”
“Does this king,” I said, speaking very carefully. “Know that Arthur was to have a child? Does he know who Arthur’s queen is?”
Fenyx gave me a strange look. “Why in Aercanum would he care?” Then he seemed to think he understood. “I suppose you have the prophecy in mind. The death of kings, plural, and all that. Arthur seems convinced that he alone is in danger, though I suppose you might be right.” He shrugged. “Considering this man’s power, I’m sure he can take care of himself.”
A child born to Orcades. Arthur’s sister’s sister. The kin in his nest.
Fenyx turned back to the table to make another slice in my poor uncle’s corpse.
Now was my chance.
