Page 68 of Esperance

A loud thud came from the bedroom, making Amryn startle again.

Carver dug in his heels. “I’m not leaving Amryn here alone.”

He couldn’t quite make out her expression, but he could feel her gaze burn into him, and it suddenly occurred to him that she might be more nervous about being nearhim.

Before anyone could respond, yet another person strode into the room. This time, it was Argent, with Jayveh and their bodyguards behind him.

Argent’s eyes bounced between Zacharias, Trevill, Carver, and the guards who were tearing apart the suite. “Do I dare even ask?”

The high cleric shoved a finger at Carver. “We believehekilled Cora.”

Argent’s eyes flew wide. Then he coughed on a weak laugh. “That’s insane.”

Zacharias’s face flushed, while Trevill sighed and said, “I simply said Carver should be questioned.”

“I already gave my account of that morning,” Carver said, his patience wearing thin. Especially because Amryn had taken a step away from him, and that space felt like a widening gulf.

“Yes,” Trevill said. “But you failed to mention that you may have had a grudge against Ivan.”

“What?”

“Ivan was called to go to Harvari, but he never went,” Trevill said. “I learned this after consulting with the high cleric, who also shared a letter written by your own cleric that said you were deeply affected by the war.”

“What does that have to do with anything?” Carver snapped.

It was the high cleric who answered. “You may resent the fact that Ivan didn’t suffer as you did. Or—perhaps more likely—you might look upon him as a traitor deserving of punishment. A punishment you decided to mete out by killing his wife.Retributionhas come for you,” he quoted sharply. “Did you leave that message for Ivan to find?”

Carver couldn’t believe this. The sheer insanity of it made him want to laugh, but he couldn’t manage it.

“Youdidlose your temper and attack Rivard,” Trevill said.

He barely swallowed a curse. “I did. But I didn’t kill Cora.”

“You obviously have some issues with your temper,” Zacharias pressed. “Now, we must search your rooms to determine if you have weapons.”

“Carver didn’t kill Cora,” Argent said firmly. He turned to Trevill. “If you have questions you must ask, then ask them. But do so carefully. You’re accusing a decorated general in the empirical army, and my life-long friend.”

“I realize that, Your Highness,” Trevill said, deferring at once to the prince. “And I do not make this accusation lightly. I simply want answers.”

“Fine,” Argent said. “But the hostile manner of this interrogation cannot continue. You’re upsetting Amryn.”

Carver glanced toward his wife, who indeed looked a bit sick. The guards were still searching the room, and her fingers danced near her pocket, her nerves obvious.

Jayveh instantly stepped forward and threaded her arm through Amryn’s. “I’ll take her to our rooms,” she said.

Trevill nodded, accepting this.

The high cleric looked less than thrilled. He was used to having the run of Esperance, but in this scenario, he had little power; the emperor had put Trevill in charge of the investigation, and Argent was still the empirical prince—no matter the high cleric’s speeches about leaving all titles behind while in these walls.

Amryn resisted Jayveh’s gentle pull. Her eyes flicked to Carver, but just as quickly cut away. “I can stay, if it will help.”

Carver wasn’t sure if she wanted to helphim, or Trevill.

The chancellor shook his head. “I may have questions for you later, but it would be best if you left with the princess.”

Amryn pursed her lips, but this time she didn’t resist Jayveh’s pull toward the door. She did glance back at Carver once, her green eyes nearly impossible to read.

As soon as they left—a bodyguard following them—another thud sounded from the bedroom.

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