Page 112 of Jeweler to the Blessed
The king set down his glass. “As if you don’t know.”
I had plenty of suspicions but I’d be damned if I voiced anyof them. He had left to chase after something, some history. That’s what Father had thought. I wondered how much of that had to do with me—what I was. I couldn’t think about that now. My anger at all he kept from me could wait. The only thing that mattered was getting Alaric out of this.
I turned to the prince. “Please. What has he done?”
The king snorted at my supplication of his son, but I didn’t regret it. Prince Elias couldn’t help himself. He wanted to be liked, even when he stood no chance.
“Your uncle was found in the mines. He was trying to destroy the adamas source.”
Now, it was Alaric’s turn to snort. He flexed his jaw until the tie slipped enough for him to speak. “He is not a source!”
So much for claiming Alaric wasn’t guilty of what they accused.
I took a breath. This was bad. Part of me wished Hart was here, his steady presence would calm my racing heart. As quickly as I thought it, another piece of me was glad he wasn’t. I didn’t want him caught up in whatever this was with the Glanmores.
Then Uncle’s words clicked.He.The mines.Alaric was trying to free the captive. The captive … created the adamas deposits. I knew I’d been right.
“That’s enough from you,” the prince said. His gaze returned to mine. “Your uncle was arrested for treason.”
“How long?” The words were out before I could stop them. I knew it was irrelevant in the grand scheme of … everything, but I couldn’t help but feel I’d been played.
Elias attempted confusion, but it was too late. I’d already seen the flash of understanding cross his face. I held Alaric’s wrist and squeezed in a way I hoped was reassuring. This was bad. I had no idea what to do, but I would get him out.
“How long?” I pressed again, latching on to something thatElias appeared to want to hide. If nothing else, it would give me a moment to think.
“Days. We found him before we found you.” Elias’s head hung with the confession.
I knew Alaric would never miss a meeting with the king. It made more sense that Alaric thought I would have had time to find his note before being discovered by the Glanmores. It made even more sense if that note was only a precaution—if there had been a chance he wouldn’t be caught at all.
I knew that calculation of risk too well. It was the same one Hart and I had done about tonight’s task.
My rage-filled glare met Elias’s. He’d let me believe Alaric was dead. Only Alaric’s note gave me hope he was chasing down something useful—that he had a purpose in his departure.
When I thought things couldn’t get any worse, Vaddon stormed in. “Why did you bring her here, Elias? She’s a traitor, just like him.”
I wouldn’t leave Alaric’s side, but for the first time it occurred to me that not only Alaric was in trouble here. King Rodric’s words echoed in my mind:As if you don’t know.
Alaric worked around his loosed gag. “She didn’t kn?—”
“Silence.” Vaddon’s glare turned from Elias to Alaric.
My hand ran down Alaric’s back in as soothing a gesture as I could muster. My gaze bored into his as the royals and the advisor argued. I didn’t care what they thought I knew. He was my priority. How was I going to get him out of here?
“We don’t have proof she was a part of her uncle’s scheme. She deserved to know—deserved the chance to prove her loyalty,” Elias said.
“And does this look like loyalty?” Vaddon spat.
I didn’t have to look to know he gestured to my place on the floor at my uncle’s side.
“Enough about Alaric,” the prince said. “He is a traitor to Kavios. We’re here to speak about Emberline.”
I tensed.
“Her talents and her beauty.”
Vaddon groaned.
“She is wasted without magic,” Elias continued.
