The bedroom door was flung hard against the wall behind it, cracking the plaster. The king stood there surrounded by several of his Own, and accompanied by the Lord Commander (spines snapped as Suiden, Javes and I jumped to attention), a woman carrying a satchel, and the other lords of the king’s Court. Bringing up the rear was Jeff. He sidled around the mob in the doorway and took up a position behind me. Which could’ve meant anything.
King Jusson’s eyes were blazing as he strode over to where Laurel stood bathing Lord Esclaur’s face, the captain and the rest of the guard scrambling to keep up. “What has happened?”
At that most opportune moment, Lord Esclaur’s eyes opened and, seeing the king, he smiled. “Sire, it’s good to see you.” With that, he rolled over on his side and went to sleep, and I began to think that maybe, just maybe, I would live to see the dawn.
Tension went out of Jusson. “He will be all right, then.”
“It appears so, honored king.” Laurel dipped the cloth in the bowl, wrung it out, and wiped Esclaur’s neck. “As I told Lord Rabbit and the captains, he was given a very strong poison, but he only received a trace and, with the antidote, he should recover.” The king relaxed further and he looked around for a chair. Seeing none, he sat on the edge of the bunk and, propping his arm on his knee, rested his forehead on his hand.
“Your Majesty?” the woman with the satchel asked.
Jusson looked up. “Oh. The royal physician.” He beckoned her over. “We’re sure, Ambassador Laurel, that you won’t mind if she examines Lord Esclaur.”
Recognizing a demand, no matter how politely couched, Laurel moved aside and allowed the woman access to Esclaur. To her questions, the Faena showed her the leaves and powders he used to make up the antidote and, as she competently poked, pried and pressed, they talked about different herbs and compounds, comparing their methods of healing. Hampered only by Lord Esclaur waking up and weakly demanding that she quit her assault on his person, she soon finished. The physician bowed to the cat and moved to where the king could see her without turning his head. “I agree with Ambassador Laurel, Your Majesty. Given time, my lord should recover. As his pulse is still a little fast and weak, I suggest that he not be moved tonight.”
A soft snore came from the lordling who had fallen back asleep. “And as he is sleeping naturally, I shan’t bleed him.”
I was standing behind the healer and so King Jusson could see me look of horror that passed over my face. He gave a faint smile. “Thank you, we trust your judgment.”
The physician bowed again, gratified, and Laurel offered to show her the officers’ mess, “where, honored healer, you can get a decent cup of tea.”
The king waited until Laurel’s rumble and the physician’s treble faded down the stairs before looking at the captain of his guard. “Shut the door, Thadro,” he commanded.
After directing two of the Own to stand guard outside the door, Lord Commander Thadro shut it and walked back over to stand next to King Jusson. Jusson then settled down on the bunk, just as at ease as he had been in his chamber.
“Now, cousin,” he said, pinning me with a look. “Tell us everything.” Once more I recited my evening, starting with Lord Esclaur picking me up at the embassy and working through the events at the House of Flavan. And once more it became very quiet when I told of how my sword had shattered. Lord Commander Thadro went over to where the pieces were still on my cape, next to the cudgels and masks, and picked one up.
“Lord Gherat sent you out to the courtyard?” King Jusson asked.
“Well, he suggested it, sire,” I said as Thadro broke the blade piece in two, the sound of the snap seeming to echo in the room.
“I see,” the king finally said, his glittering gaze showing why he was called “Golden Eye.”
“This must be investigated fully, Thadro, and the culprit punished. No matter who he is.”
The Lord Commander dropped the pieces back onto the cape and bowed. “Yes, Your Majesty. I will take care of it.”
Suiden had moved over to where Jeff and I stood, and now Javes joined us as we stood bunched together. The king looked back at me. “Please continue, cousin.” If I thought the silence thick when I told Laurel and the captains the rest of my tale, it was absolute while I told the king and his Court. When I finished, Jusson held out his hand.
“Show us, Rabbit.”
I walked to where he sat but a couple of the guards moved in front of him, their hands on their swords.
The king sighed. “We have given someone a command, yet you prevent him from obeying. Tell us, what is that called?”
The King’s Own were chosen for their family trees, not their mental capacities, but these guards caught on quick and moved aside. I took one step closer and extended my hand. The king sighed again and, grabbing my hand, yanked me to him. “We haven’t bitten anyone. Yet.” He traced the rune just as Laurel did, and just as it did for the Faena, it flared warm. He looked up at me, his eyes now completely gold. “What did Ambassador Laurel say when he heard this?”
“He was very upset that I hadn’t allowed Rabbit to be trained,” Suiden said.
“Very good, Captain Prince,” Jusson said. “But we asked our cousin.”
“He said that it was no wonder that Magus Kareste greatly desired my return, as I should have been reduced to a quivering mass like the assassins,” I said.
“Indeed.” The king’s eyes narrowed into slits. Still holding onto my hand, he stood and spread open my palm. “Come look, everyone.” No one moved. The narrow-eyed gold glare swept the room and suddenly I was mobbed. “Do you see anything evil?”
A ragged chorus of “No, Your Majesty” sounded. “Though he did kill a man, sire,” a lordling added.
Captain Suiden opened his mouth.
“Do not presume to answer for us, Captain Prince,” Jusson said. “While your zeal to protect your charge is commendable, please remember that you are not in Tural.” The king turned to Thadro. “Tell me, Lord Commander, how did Lieutenant Rabbit say he killed his attacker?”
“With a knife, Your Majesty.”
“So he did”—Jusson tapped my palm with his finger—“and not with this. Show us the knife, cousin.” I tried to tug my hand from the king’s grasp, but he wouldn’t let go. So I pulled the knife with my other hand and started to hand it to him. The guards as one drew their swords.
“No, cousin, not to us.” The king indicated Lord Commander Thadro. “To him, if you please.” I switched directions and handed the Lord Commander my knife, noticing that I hadn’t gotten all the blood off.
Commander Thadro took the knife and examined it.
“Well?” said the king.
“It’s just a knife, Your Majesty.” Thadro hefted it in his hand. “Well balanced and cared for, but still a plain knife. Though you should clean it properly, Lieutenant, before you resheath it.” He handed it to a guard.
“An assassin is killed after he and his fellows attack Lord Rabbit,” the king said. “Is that evil?” Another ragged chorus denied that it was. Jusson nodded and let go of my hand. “No, of course it isn’t. We will tell you what is evil. When guests are invited to fellowship and one is poisoned and the other has to fight for his life.”
The silence was back.
“And when a soldier’s weapon is made to fail at the time it is most needed.”
The silence deepened and I shivered.
King Jusson turned to Suiden. “We will leave the royal physician plus two of our Own for Lord Esclaur here while he is recovering. Please tell Ambassador Laurel that this is only to relieve our anxiety and not to cast any doubt on him.” He waited for our bows and, gathering his Court, left the room in the same whirlwind that he entered in.
As footsteps pounded down the stairs, I realized that, in guarding Esclaur, the two Own would also be standing outside my bedroom—and I wondered which way that sword was supposed to cut. I also realized that Lord Commander Thadro had taken my knife.