Page 105 of A Thieving Curse

“Stand down,” Tristan said, his tone biting. “Before this idiot kills me.”

The men sheathed their swords and un-nocked their arrows. Some looked relieved; others appeared troubled.

Gareth stomped on Tristan’s breastplate, then strode over and pulled Raelyn into an embrace. “I’m sorry I didn’t listen, Rae. I’m so sorry. I should have trusted you.” He hugged her so tightly she could hardly breathe. “I’m sorry I doubted you.”

“Thank you,” she whispered, squeezing him back. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell the truth from the start.”

“I’m just glad you’re all right.” Gareth released her. He rubbed his neck. “Does…the prince have other clothes?”

Raelyn’s face burned.

“In the cave,” Alexander said. “I’ll get dressed. But I’m not leaving my family or Raelyn out here alone.”

“And Raelyn isn’t leaving my sight with you…indecent.” Gareth glared over her shoulder. Heat spread to the top of her ears. “And I’m not leaving Prince Prat out here alone, either.”

“I’ll fetch his clothes,” Raelyn offered. “Everyone else can wait out here.”

Gareth considered. “All right.”

Raelyn hurried to the mouth of the cave, picking up a burning torch someone had dropped at the entrance. She made her way to Alexander’s room, grabbed a shirt and trousers, and hastened back outside. Night had fallen when she reemerged. A cluster of men stood close to where several people sat on the ground.

“This is wrong!” Gareth shouted. Her eyes adjusted to the evening shadows, and she shrieked.

Jasper, Meredith, and Peter sat in a line near Lucas’s body, their hands on their heads. Knights loomed behind them like guards. But that wasn’t why she’d screamed. Two men restrained Alex on his knees in front of Tristan. Tristan held the point of his sword under Alex’s chin. A couple soldiers had Gareth pinned to the ground.

Raelyn ran forward. “What are you doing!”

Tristan looked over at her, his expression stone cold. “You’re right.” He moved the point of his blade to Alexander’s chest. “I said I’d put my sword through his heart.”

Her hands shook so badly she dropped the torch. Years of mind-numbing lessons came back to her. “He’s royalty! You can’t kill him without a trial!”

Tristan didn’t move. Alex glowered up at his cousin. It was strange to see him seething with anger, but with his eyes dark.

It was strange to see him completely human.

Raelyn clutched Alex’s clothes, ran up to Alex’s side, and faced Tristan. “Are you going to commit regicide like your father?”

“He’s a liar!” Tristan said without breaking eye contact with Alex, but his sword trembled.

Raelyn swallowed. “Then…take him to the palace as your captive. Let him plead his case. You can’t execute royalty without the approval of the Court of Lords.”

“He’ll try to poison them with his lies and steal the throne. I won’t allow that.” Tristan pulled his sword back.

“You have to!” she said desperately. “Rethali law says a challenger or claimant to the throne must be heard before the Court of Lords!”

“Not if he’s dead.” Tristan prepared to thrust the sword forward.

“Wait!” She jumped in front of the blade. Tristan cursed and stopped the tip less than an inch from her stomach. Alexander cried out behind her. She held her breath, afraid to move.

Tristan jerked the sword away, his face bone white. “What were you thinking? I could have killed you!”

Honestly, she had no idea. It took her a couple tries to speak. “I can’t let you kill him. But maybe the Court won’t want a king who was raised in a cave,” she argued, her mind racing. “Don’t dishonor yourself by stooping to murder. The king and the Court must decide the fate of a member of the royal family according to Rethalyon’s laws.” She mentally thanked Mother for all that studying. “Are you a prince or a murderer?”

“Your men will lose respect for you if you kill him,” Gareth said from the ground. “They already aren’t sure about this. Look at them.”

Tristan surveyed his men as they fidgeted and shuffled. None of them would meet their crown prince’s gaze. After a moment, Tristan sheathed his sword. “Bind the monster.”

Raelyn allowed herself to relax a little.

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