Page 152 of The Fae Kings' Bargain

“What is it?”he sent the chamberlain.“You are not normally here at this hour.”

Worry tinged Feref’s reply.“You and King Mehl will need quick preparation, for you’ll want to go downstairs at once. Sir Macoe wishes to make a few arrests before the courtiers finish their meals.”

Toren shoved his hair out of his face, but unfortunately, visual clarity did not bring mental understanding.“The captain of the guard intends to arrest nobles, yet he went toyouinstead of me or Mehl? If I didn’t believe in both of your loyalty…”

“He, ah…tried to reach you telepathically earlier, but you did not respond to the mental nudge,”Feref explained.“It seems he completed his interrogation of the latest prisoners earlier than he’d anticipated.”

Wincing, Toren tried to recall if he’d detected Macoe’s attempt at contact, but no, he’d noticed nothing. Not only had he been occupied with more pleasurable pursuits, his magical senses were a little blunted while his energy was still renewing. Ah, well. It was unfortunate, but hardly a catastrophe. He gestured at Mehl to follow him as he stood.

“It seems Macoe has discovered something,” Toren said. “Ria, if we are to allow rumors to flow as they will, you should rest here. But it isn’t my intention to exclude you from important matters. I’ll happily abandon that plan if you wish to accompany us.”

She rolled into the spot where he’d just been and curled the blanket around herself. “No. I would rather remain here, especially since the rumors are to our benefit.”

Toren nodded, and Mehl leaned over to kiss her brow. She wiggled a little, burrowing more deeply into the covers. Toren smiled. Her eyes were already half-slitted with exhaustion, and he couldn’t help but watch for one precious moment as she let herself drift off. Then the two of them quietly left their wife to sleep. They had gods-knew-what to prepare for, and it would take Feref’s particular magic to get them ready to appear downstairs in time.

There were already several servants waiting in the dressing room. Resigning himself to discomfort, Toren allowed Feref and the servants to spring into action. As soon as a formal robe was dropped over his head, the worst of it started, three servants descending upon him to twist and pull his hair into braids. But he’d long ago learned to block out the twinges of pain.

Nor did he pay attention to the rest of the clothing and accessories the chamberlain selected, not even the crown being affixed to his head. Instead, he connected mentally with Macoe.“Forgive me, Captain. My magic was consumed during our spell, and I needed rest to recover it. I didn’t sense your attempt at communication.”

Better not to mention what form his “rest” had taken.

“Feref thought that might be the case,”Macoe replied.“The servant, Col, broke first, but Rencis made his own confession soon after. Both claim to have been hired by Duke Hesslefyn, Col through Miss Kleren Ogewn and Rencis through Lord Eorge Poberie.”

Toren’s brows rose in surprise. That a sitting duke was implicated in treason should have been the most shocking, but Toren struggled to move beyond Kleren. As House Ogewn was quite small and held little power, two of their four daughters had sought work in the most prestigious positions they could find. The eldest as a governess for the Poberie family at their estate near the Centoi border—and Kleren here in the palace as the royal seamstress.

Kleren had taken leave three months prior, presumably to visit with that same sister.Near Centoi.Though there was a chance that both Col and Rencis had thought to take advantage of her departure to implicate her in this crime, Toren suspected that was not the case. For one thing, the two families had both been listed on Ber’s note—as had Col. Only Rencis was a surprise in that regard.

“Your Majesty?”Macoe sent.

“Sorry. I was debating the matter.”Toren tapped his fingers against the smooth fabric of his robe.“I’ve seen Lord Eorge around the palace, but Kleren is not here. Is there another Ogewn present at dinner?”

“Baron Ogewn himself.”

Toren smiled.“Good. Mehl and I will join you shortly. Be prepared to arrest Duke Hesslefyn and Lord Eorge. Put them on the second level of the dungeon. Baron Ogewn and any other members of these three families present at dinner will be detained in the Guest Towers while we investigate their possible involvement. All others from these three houses who are currently outside the palace are ordered to remain under house arrest until their names are cleared. The servants on my brother’s list should also be detained.”

“Very well, Your Majesty.”

As Feref held out a long, green overrobe, Toren closed the connection with Macoe and then stood. The time for watching was over. Confining these families in the Guest Towers, well-known for housing nobles who were under suspicion of treason, would make a pointed statement that would ripple across the kingdom.

There would be no more reprieve.

Chapter69

A Dinner to Remember

Though they’d yet to reach the dining room doors, Mehl knew by the lull in sound that dessert was being served. It was always like this near the end of the meal, when the best of the gossip had been dispensed and the weight of prolonged formality began to chafe. Inevitably, the already quiet courtiers would fall nearly silent as the servants swept away the previous course while others brought the final plates.

Tonight, a grim-faced Sir Macoe stood in front of the doors, two guards at his back and others waiting along the wall. “Your Majesties,” Sir Macoe said softly. “Shall we?”

Toren gave a tight nod. “Absolutely.”

Mehl settled his hand on the jeweled hilt of the dagger at his belt—more ostentatious than he preferred but less noticeable at formal events. After the earlier attack, not even Feref had protested the inclusion of a weapon. Mehl refused to waste time taking out a concealed knife if more trouble occurred.

“I’m prepared,” Mehl said.

Sir Macoe nodded. Then snapping to attention, he pivoted on his heel and gave the order to advance. The two closest guards opened the heavy double doors, and the other warriors marched in after. Unlike usual, the captain entered in front of Toren and Mehl, only stepping out of the way once the guards were in place.

After a brief hush, the room erupted into sound. Startled cries punctuated the scrape and squeal of wood-on-marble as several of the nobles jerked to their feet. No one seemed certain what to do, since the monarchs never entered the dining room last.Never.As he and Toren strode up the central runner, some of the courtiers fumbled to their knees near their chairs. Others lowered their heads toward their plates, one poor man smashing his nose into the creamy dessert.

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