Page 128 of Esperance

Guilt soured in his gut—along with frustrated regret. “That was nothing.”

“Truly?” Zacharias made a disbelieving sound in his throat. “Infidelity is a terrible sin. And, being one of the Empire’s Chosen, it could be construed as treasonous. The emperor chose your bride, and if you turn to another, that is akin to rejecting the emperor’s will.”

“You go too far,” Argent snapped, authority ringing in his voice. “This line of questioning ends now.”

Zacharias’s eyes flashed. “Your Highness, jealousy is a powerful motivator. If Darrin challenged Carver—”

“Argent is right,” Trevill overrode him. “You’ve become far too focused on Carver. You can’t even see another possibility.”

“As if your investigations have led to anything? You haven’t found Cora’s killer, and it’s beenweeks.”

Trevill glowered. “Things would go a lot more smoothly if you didn’t keep throwing around accusations as part of some personal agenda.”

The room was charged with flared tempers.

Jayveh stood, drawing every eye. “If this conversation must continue, it can do so elsewhere. Tam needs rest.”

The woman looked a little lost, still seated beside Amryn on the couch.

Trevill bowed his head. “Of course, Princess.” He twisted to the high cleric. “Please come with me.”

“Why?” Zacharias asked. He looked like a petulant child.

Trevill’s expression firmed. “I’m going to examine Rivard more closely, and then I’d like you to order your guards to take care of his body.”

The high cleric didn’t say anything to that. He just followed Trevill toward the door.

“Zacharias?” Argent called out.

The high cleric paused, then twisted back to face the prince.

Argent’s face was hard. “If you come after Carver like this again, I will tell my grandfather how incompetent you really are.”

The high cleric’s expression revealed nothing, but his hands rolled to fists. He bowed stiffly, then followed Trevill out.

After the door closed, Jayveh’s eyes went to Argent. “I’m going to stay with Tam. She shouldn’t be alone tonight.”

“I’ll stay as well,” Amryn said. She’d spoken quickly, and she didn’t meet Carver’s gaze.

He didn’t know what to think of that. He didn’t think she was afraid of him, as Zacharias claimed, or perhaps she was just afraid of their conversation that had been interrupted.

“Of course,” Argent said to Jayveh. “I’ll bring your things.”

“Thank you.” The princess looked to Carver. “You’ll bring Amryn’s things?”

He nodded, the motion cursory.

Carver and Argent left the room together, and it hit him for truly the first time.

Rivard was dead. A man he’d once called a friend. A man who had betrayed him and his family, and destroyed his brother. A man who had possibly been on the brink of learning that Amryn was a traitor.

He had no idea what he was supposed to be feeling right now, but when he saw servants wrapping Rivard’s body, Carver only felt cold.

As he and Argent climbed the steps up to the next floor, Carver whispered, “Rivard knew his killer. They walked right up to him. There were no signs of a struggle; they struck before he realized the danger. He didn’t have a chance to fight back.”

Argent exhaled slowly. “This is bad, Carve.”

It was.

---