AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I raised my eyebrows. But I wasn’t entirely surprised to hear it. Clearly, my uncle had his own network of power.
“You were forced to bear witness to it. I’m truly sorry for that. She was an incredible woman.” His eyebrows furrowed. “The attack on the temple... I had no warning. Which means it was impulsive. That suggests someone brought information to Arthur, perhaps as late as yesterday evening. There is an informer amongst us.”
“More than one,” I said ironically.
I wondered if I should mention my suspicions concerning Javer.
My uncle nodded gravely. “We have our own spy now.”
“Though I no longer know who to report to. With Merlin gone and everyone scattered...”
“For now, you and I will stick together.” He tried to give me a reassuring smile. “I’m sure it won’t be long before I have word of Galahad and the others. I’ll let you know when I do.”
I cleared my throat. “The passages. As I was saying, Arthur plans to conduct a search. He’ll probably fill them in with bricks when he finds them. Or use them for his own completely horrible purposes.”
My uncle did not look concerned. “He’s welcome to try. He’s gone this long without knowing they were here. In fact, I’ve deliberately left some purposely exposed. I figure it will do him good to find a few. He’ll feel more secure afterwards.”
I shook my head admiringly. “You really are an utter rascal, aren’t you?”
“I prefer the term ‘gifted spymaster,’” he said in a tone so unexpectedly prim that I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Speaking of which, have you locked the door? I could easily make an excuse for being in your rooms this early in the morning, but going forward, I don’t wish for you to take any chances.”
I nodded. “I’ve locked it.”
It had been the one and only thing I’d done once I was alone in the room. Right before falling back onto the bed and into sleep... And into my mate’s arms.
“Good. Make sure it remains a habit.” He shifted in the chair. “Arthur’s lapdog has been praising your beauty to anyone who will listen.”
“I assume you mean Fenyx. Does that mean Agravaine is out of Arthur’s favor and Fenyx is in?” I wouldn’t be sad not to have to see Florian’s father again. Though part of me was curious about what he’d have had to say to me.
“You may see Agravaine in passing. But his obsession with finding his stray son quickly grated on Arthur’s nerves and he lost favor, yes.” Caspar’s eyes were hawkish as he observed me. “Florian vanished the same night you left, in fact. I suppose it was sheer coincidence.”
I tried to shrug casually. “Can’t say I’ll miss seeing Florian around these halls.”
I also had absolutely no idea where his body was buried. Perhaps Draven had chopped it up into little pieces and fed it to the fishes in the Greenbriar. If so, I hoped it hadn’t choked them.
Caspar smiled wanly. “Indeed. Well, with Agravaine out of favor, Fenyx rose to prominence when he led the force that caught the Lyonesse uprising. Oh, their forces have not given up, but killing their king and his eldest son dealt a significant blow to Lyonesse’s morale.”
“I remember. Guinevere’s father and brother,” I said hollowly. So Fenyx had been responsible for that.
“Fenyx believes you a rare prize,” my uncle remarked. “He’s praised you before half the court.”
“Considering I only returned to this castle last night, he’s had little time in which to do so.” The thought of it made me uncomfortable.
“Arthur’s already annoyed by it, but intrigued, too. Really, this obsession could work in our favor.”
I frowned. “How so?”
“Arthur is evidently remembering that you once had your use.”
“He was considering marrying me off to Florian instead of letting me go to the temple as Father had intended, if that’s what you mean by ‘useful.’”
“Precisely. There is no chance that you will be allowed to retreat to the temple and become a priestess of the Three now. None whatsoever. But a useful political marriage that would strengthen ties to his Lord General, a man who many of Arthur’s most loyal soldiers look up to? That would be much more helpful to Arthur at the moment as he struggles to maintain control over his army and quash any trace of dissent.”
“In case you’d forgotten, I’m not interested in being married off,” I snapped.
Besides, I was already married. That made it rather complicated.
