Page 64 of Shadows and Roses

The spy who had burnt to a smoky crisp by the end of the day. His guilt hadn’t warranted that punishment. She snapped, "Then why am I needed?"

"The lady says they took something else, something important, but she will only tell you. Nothing was found on the thief."

She scowled. The chamberlain was prone to dramatics when it concerned the treasury.

They entered the healer’s hall, the lady in question lying on a cot, her eyes closed, a frown marring her forehead. Her wrist and hand were bandaged, and there was a small cut on her cheek.

"Chamberlain. You requested an audience." Anais spoke in as cold a tone as she ever used. No one summoned the Queen.

Lyrroth’s eyes flew open and she gasped. "My Queen! Please forgive me!" She made to stand but Anais' sideways glance sent her captain pressing thelady back down.

"Stay where you are. Speak," she commanded.

Lyrroth shrank on the cot. "I was attacked—"

"Don’t waste my time. What will you not tell my Escort?"

The lady started shaking, rubbing at her injured arm. "Please, my Queen. For your ears only. I beg you."

Anais glared in icy silence, then glanced at Jerome again.

He patted the lady for weapons.

"Clear the room." The Queen raised her voice. Healers and servants fled, the few patients on cots quickly helped to a different room. Jerome stood beside the door—out of hearing but in sight.

The lady sighed in relief. "You know my loyalty is only to you, my Queen."

To her gold, more like, but close enough in this case.

"And I would never betray you. But, they took my daughter a week ago. The thief said he knows where she is. I… I gave him the keys so he wouldn't hurt her. He said if I told anyone, they'd kill her."

Fear for her child. Anais pitied her, but the Queen couldn’t.

"My dear Lyrroth," she purred, perching at the lady’s bedside. She ran her claws down the woman’s arm, tapping at the bandages. "How fortunate for you that it’s still my birthday. We'll find your girl."

"Thank you! Thank— Ah!"

Her claws punctured the bandages, stabbing through the lady's hand. Blood slowly soaked the white cloth and began to drip onto the sheets below. Lyrroth screamed.

"You should have come to me or an Escort immediately. Do you understand that?" Anais said gently.

"Yes. Yes, my Queen, this will never happen again." Pain strained her voice, fear flashing in her eyes.

"Mmhm. Should we, somehow, find ourselves in this uncomfortable situation again, you will need a very accurate accounting of the coins in the treasury. That is how many steps you will walk. Healer!" The last word was shouted, startling the lady. Anais stood and withdrew her claws.

A blue-robed woman rushed into the room, bowing.

"Tend her hand. Carefully. My chamberlain needs to be able to write."

The healer bowed again and scurried off to gather supplies.

Anais took two steps, cleaning her claws on a towel. She turned almost absently. "Oh. Once we find your daughter, I think it best if she comes under my protection. Don’t you agree, my lady?"

Lyrroth hesitated, then nodded slowly. "Yes, of course. Thank you, my Queen."

Hesitation was to be expected. A traitor would have protested more. Satisfied, Anais addressed the guards, tossing out commands. The thief would need to be interrogated quietly, then the girl recovered. As well as additional guards and vigilance to prevent these continued, irritating infiltrations. Spies amongst the servants were unavoidable, but the chamberlain should have been better guarded.

She rolled her shoulders after those heavy wooden doors closed behind her. Castien would reprimand her for tensing up again. If he was still in her room. If she hadn't chased him off by being too forward. She hesitated at the entrance to her own chambers, glancing at her captain as an excuse not to enter.

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