AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“If it doesn’t hurt the current rule and you would only act on it after you became king, I would answer your question. Call it an advance.”
“I swear to only act after the crown is on my head.”
Von Uster nodded, placing his right hand on his heart.
I set the cup down and dropped all pretense of casual conversation. “Which Council members voted to kill my child?” The words burned my tongue, spewing the vitriol I always kept inside. I knew three of the names. If he confirmed them, I would know he told the truth—unless his was the fourth one. Then I had just placed a target on my back.
Von Uster frowned until his bushy, white eyebrows connected. “Is that how you want to start your rule?”
“It’swhyI want to start my rule.” Let him take that as he wanted.
He poured himself another cup, adding four spoons of sugar, taking the time to consider his words. I clenched my hand on my thigh, struggling not to pace.
Finally, the spymaster faced me. “Each voted for different reasons, but remember your father asked this of them.”
“They could have refused. There was no risk to their lives.”
“Not their lives—but their standing and financial security?” When he realized I would say no more, he sighed. “Sophina Dorova was the first one to agree.”
Alexei had given me that name.
“Mar Heridan has never voted against your father.”
True.And now I knew the courtesan he kept. He certainly was not someone to stand for what was right.
“Stasia von Lemerch voted against despite being atraditionalist.”
I leaned forward. That was three out of the eight councilors of Tal.
“I abstained, as did Bersig by default as he has almost every vote the last ten years by refusing to return to Tal—his son Kazimir has been seeking an audience with your father for the last three-day. The king is still not receiving visitors but Kazimir refuses to deliver his father’s message to anyone else. Perhaps he would talk to you.”
I ignored the distraction. “That’s four and five.” Though von Uster might well be lying about himself.
“Fine. Castle Osipov voted against.”
I nodded. His mother was the ruler of Sorach, where all children were holy and no one differentiated between the bastards and legitimate ones.
“Say their names.” Von Uster’s hesitation confirmed that he had purposefully been dragging it out. Only two Council members remained, but I wanted to hear it from his lips. To watch for tells of deceit. “You said I can trust you. That if we work together, it will prevent further deaths. They deserve what I plan for them.”
Von Uster slumped, showing his true age, and accepting my judgment. “Florentiy Makarov and Savva Novikov both voted as the king requested.”
Florentiy Makarov—the final name. And while my father lay sick, I was king in everything but name.
And they would soon pay the same price as my son had. Even wearing the crown, I would not be able to execute them publicly, but there were other ways, and no one would dare question me. The crown might tie you to Tal, but it also protected you.
Placing my fist above my heart, I confirmed he had given what he promised and that I would uphold my side—only after the coronationwould I act on the information. As long as Helia went along with the ruse, the purpose I had returned from the mountains with would soon be fulfilled. The thought did not give me the anticipated satisfaction—nothing like the thought of stolen moments with Tempest, or seeing the boy escape the riot, knowing I’d saved a life.
I squashed away my unease. There was still business to attend to.
I pushed the royal records I had copied the previous day across the table to von Uster.
“These are notes on the ancient tunnels under Tal. That’s where I believe the missing food’s being kept and the undead walk—and where I last saw Yahontov and Koshka. I lost the map I made, but all the records are here. Send the Roja, stake out the entrances, report all activity. We need to know who goes in and out. This, you can share with my father.”
Because I would not have the time to write a report tonight anyway. Hopefully, it would delay any summons.
Von Uster snapped back to his usual, focused self. “All tunnels are supposed to be blocked since the floodings a century ago. Who are using them?”
It might be the first time in my life I knew more than the spymaster. “The only living I saw were priestesses. But accusing Morovara of raising the dead and staging a coup…”
