Page 70 of Esperance

“That wouldn’t fit the timeline of Cora’s death, though.” Trevill’s expression was grim. “I’m sorry, Carver. I had hoped to be less dramatic about all of this. But with no real leads, and after conferring with the high cleric and learning of the potential grudge you might bear toward Ivan, I needed to follow up with you.”

“I understand.” He didn’t like being a suspect, but he understood Trevill’s need to find the murderer. Just as he understood how desperate the high cleric must be feeling. If the peace at Esperance failed, he would be the one the emperor held accountable.

Carver still thought the man was insufferable.

Argent tapped his booted toes against the floor, his arms still folded. “High Cleric, call off this search, or I will.”

Zacharias’s mouth firmed into a harsh line. He signaled to the guards, and they began to right the furniture they’d upset.

Carver focused on Trevill. “If you have questions for Amryn, I want to be in the room. If that’s not possible, Argent will be present.”

“That can be arranged,” the chancellor said. “And I assure you, something like this won’t happen again.” He looked pointedly at the bald man standing beside him. “Will it, Zacharias?”

The sour expression on the high cleric’s face was severe as he said, “No, it will not.”

Chapter 19

Amryn

“Ican’t believe they’d think Carverkilled Cora," Jayveh said as she and Amryn walked the cobbled path of one of Esperance’s gardens. The princess’s bodyguard trailed behind them, saying nothing. He hadn’t protested when Jayveh had insisted they go for a walk instead of retreating to the princess’s room, but he did watch them closely.

Amryn had been fairly quiet since leaving Carver. The room’s chaotic emotions had clashed violently against her. Not to mention she’d been sweating profusely since the high cleric had burst into the apartment.

Von’s journal was still in her pocket.

For a terrifying moment, she’d thought it had been found missing, or that somehow the high cleric had figured out she was an empath.

The fact that he thought Carver was a murderer had come as a relief. Then a shock.

That was a feeling worth analyzing. After all, he was the Butcher. Saints knew he’d killed before. And yet, she couldn’t imagine him murdering Cora. It didn’t match the Carver she’d been getting to know.

“It’s utterly ridiculous,” Jayveh continued. “He would never do something like that.”

Amryn glanced toward the princess. She meant every word. Conviction thrummed the air around her, and her eyes flashed with righteous anger.

“Carver and I haven’t always gotten along,” Jayveh said. “But he’d never hurt a woman. Certainly not murder one in cold blood.”

Amryn’s nature was to usually remain silent around those she didn’t know well, because there was always a risk she might say something that would give away her deadly secret. Truthfully, it was a miracle that she seemed able to talk so easily to Carver.

A miracle, or a curse that would get her killed.

But Jayveh seemed intent on becoming her friend, and the rebels had asked her to get close to the princess. Besides, she wascurious to know more about Carver.

“You mentioned that you grew up with Argent,” Amryn said slowly. “Did you know Carver as a child, too?”

“I met them both when I was six years old. Argent was nine, and Carver was probably ten. But I wouldn’t say I grew up with them.” She exhaled slowly before continuing. “As you know, my father used to be the king of Xerra. That meant we spent a couple of months every year at the capital, in the empirical palace.”

Amryn nodded. She knew that the kings and queens of the kingdoms had to go to the palace whenever the emperor summoned them. Torin usually asked Rix to come with him, which meant Amryn was especially lonely, cooped up in her room most of the time they were gone.

“Those visits were endlessly boring for me,” Jayveh said. “Especially because my older brothers didn’t like it when I tried to play with them. They didn’t want me tagging along after them. But then I met Argent and Carver, and those visits to the capital became something I looked forward to. Argent and Carver were older than me, but not as old as my brothers, and they were kind and played with me.”

Melancholy slipped over Jayveh, rearranging her features as she continued more slowly. “Everyone knows my father’s crown was taken by the emperor, but few know why. That was an unexpected kindness the emperor gave our family.” She glanced at her bodyguard, but he’d drifted back, giving them some semblance of privacy.

Jayveh still lowered her voice. “During one of our visits to the palace, when I was nine, my older brothers attempted to assassinate Argent.”

Shock blasted Amryn. “What?”

Jayveh’s sorrow was mixed with pain, regret, and a muted echo of old anger. “Argent was only eleven years old. My oldest brother, Yeffah, was sixteen, and Aven was fourteen.” She shook her head. “I knew Yeffah had been arguing with our parents a lot before we went to the capital, but I had no idea what those fights were about. I didn’t know what he and Aven planned. None of us knew, until it happened. They failed, obviously, but the damage was done. The emperor had no choice, really. He had to take my father’s crown, and he gave it to my uncle. Aven was imprisoned. And Yeffah . . .” She swallowed hard. “Yeffah died in the attempt.”

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