Page 186 of Prize for the King
I expect him to rally and put Richard in his place, but Sidonius clenches his jaw, giving me a hard, regretful look, and sits down.
Still, he said enough.
“I accuse them of breaking the Kings’ Peace,” I say, breathless.
Is this it? Is it really my salvation?
When Richard snorts with scorn, it becomes clear this won’t work, either. Sidonius’ face is grim.
“Only a king who sits at this table can accuse the others, queenCaliane,” he says with regret that seems sincere. “You cannot.”
“I see.”
There is a silence, and I struggle to come up with something,anythingto fill it. As long as we talk, they won’t vote. I search the faces of the kings, desperately looking for an ally. I suppose I could offer them something. The mines? Our wealth?
I think back to my father’s notes. Xander used to be heavily indebted, but he bolstered his coffers with Molly’s dowry. Richard and Bernard are doing well, and Theodore, Susan’s husband, thrives off the overseas trade.
Wait. There was something. Something about Theodore.
“Do you have any other questions, Caliane, before we put your husband’s culpability to vote?” Richard asks, having regained his composure.
“Yes. I want to see him before you vote and hear his version of events.”
Richard scoffs. “That is not necessary. You are not a judge in this matter—we are. The accounts of the witnesses are enough.”
“But you still don’t have an impartial witness!” I exclaim, panic clawing at my throat.
What was it about Theodore?
“I have not told my men to lie,” Richard says, lifting his chin proudly. “And I resent your accusations. Maybe you should be tried next.”
“There is no cause,” Sidonius says instantly.
“Yet.”
Oh, I’m going to be sick. Not only will I not save Magnar from death, I’ll get myself and my people killed, as well. I swallow and swallow, keeping the bile down while Richard watches me with a sly, pleased smirk.
My vision blurs. For a moment, a page from my father’s journalflickers in my mind’s eyes. There’s a doodle of a ship. I remember that page. And I remember…
I look at Theodore with wild eyes, and he frowns at me, confused by my attention.
“The Cove of Two Moons,” I whisper, my lips barely moving.
For a moment, no one reacts. Then Xander scoffs, folding his arms on his chest. “Mutterings of a fool.”
But Theodore grasps my meaning. His mouth falls open in fear, and he shakes his head slightly. I give him a faint nod, pursing my lips. He takes a deep breath, closes his eyes, and nods back.
My father gathered all kinds of secrets, large and small—whatever he could get his hands on. One such secret is that Theodore, who rules Amber Port, the kingdom with the longest shoreline, steals the other kings’ wares.
They ship their goods through his ports, and he lets them use his robust trade flotilla for a fee. What they don’t know is that once a year or so, Theodore keeps a ship full of luxurious goods to himself and lies to the kings that pirates robbed it. He waits a time before moving the wares for fear of being discovered.
And the place where he hides the stolen goods is called the Cove of Two Moons.
“What was that?” Richard asks, throwing me an impatient look.
“Oh, just a silly thing I remembered.” I muster as much carelessness as I can, but my voice is tight, my body on the verge of giving out. I’ll either vomit or faint.
“So female,” Richard scoffs, rolling his eyes.
