by Andrea Boyd
He bowed low in front of me. “Your Highness, I hope all is well in the kingdom.”
So much had happened since his departure, but it was nothing I cared to mention. “Reilly, I am glad you made it back safely. All is well here. How was your trip?”
My mind raced ahead wondering how the subject of Reagan’s presence would be explained. So far, I had not had to lie to anyone. The rumors had done the job in our favor. I had not even revealed it to Owen and I would prefer not to have to explain things to Reilly either.
“Everything went well. Did you wish to go over my meeting with King Farris tonight?”
“Of course not. Take the time to rest, and we will have a meeting tomorrow morning, as usual.”
He glanced over at the two sitting at the table. “Gwen, I hope you are well.”
“Very much so, thank you for asking.”
“And this must be your cousin that I have already heard so much about. Nic, is it?”
Reagan seemed completely at ease with this lie. He briefly nodded his head. “Glad to meet you, sir.”
“Well, I will not keep you from your game. It has been a long trip, and I will retire now. Goodnight to you all.” Reilly gave another bow and was gone, leaving me to breathe a sigh of relief. He was my advisor. If he had figured out who Reagan was and I commanded him to keep it secret, I believe he would, but I preferred not having to say anything at all.
We had a meeting the next morning so he could tell me and Owen all about his trip. I explained that Eamon and Garrett had made a trip out to the fort and would have to be caught up on his report later. Honestly, there was nothing of much interest to remark. We had always been in good standing with that kingdom. King Farris did not have King Coman’s ambition which made him easier to work with. Still, these visits probably helped to keep the relations between us going smoothly.
My longing to be with Garrett had only grown stronger with each passing day. Gwen must have noticed my distraction. She suggested we get some practice time in with bow and arrow while Reagan worked with the warriors. The archery range was set up on the northern side of the castle away from the stables and barracks. There were gardens divided into sections by hedgerows with benches throughout.
Normally we would take a couple of girls from the castle to fetch arrows, but today it was just the two of us. The peace felt there in the garden had its effect on me. Gwen seemed to sense my need for quiet. Neither of us said a word as we made our way to the end away from our targets to get into position. We both pulled an arrow from our quivers at the same time and were about to take aim just as it became apparent that we were not alone.
“I had no idea, or I would never have left for Dermot.”
“That is beside the point now. Are you sure he is the king’s son?”
Who could Reilly be talking to? Was the person with him saying that Garrett had a son? How could that be? I was not usually inquisitive enough to listen in on the private conversations of others, but they had my attention now. If I had been taken in by Garrett, I felt I had a right to know. I eased closer to the hedges, and Gwen followed.
“Yes, I am sure. You can see for yourself. He is probably out on the practice yard right now. They have him dressed as a commoner and have taken measures to disguise him, but I am sure he is King Coman’s son. I can make sure he stays dead if that is what the king wants, but it may take me a few days.” I should have known Reilly would recognize Reagan. He probably spent more time in Gilvary than anyone else from my kingdom.
I could feel my heart beating out an angry tempo in my head. I had been betrayed by my own advisor. This man had been privy to all plans made for the betterment of my kingdom while he had been strategizing with my greatest enemy. Now he was planning the demise of someone within the shelter of my castle, my husband’s own brother.
“Allow me to send a pigeon first to see how he wants to handle this.”
Gwen and I had started creeping around the hedgerow as soon as the unknown person had begun to speak. We had come around to face the two men by the time Reilly had made his vow to kill Reagan. My double-crossing advisor stood as soon as he saw us. His companion had been standing with his back to us, but he had whipped around with his sword drawn at Reilly’s reaction. I did not recognize the other man, but that did not matter. He had been caught conspiring with a traitor here within the gates of my castle.
“Gwen, I have Reilly. If our visitor tries to run, shoot him.” I made sure my voice was loud enough for them to hear my threat.
Reilly never said a word, and his eyes never left my face. His friend held his sword up higher over his shoulder like a club. He lifted his chin, his lip curled with contempt as he spat out his words. “Come on, Reilly, draw your sword. Surely we can take out these two girls, and no one would be the wiser.”
“Kiagon, you are in the presence of the queen of Aisling, and I promise you, she means business. I must warn you that both of these young ladies are well trained in the use of a bow. If you have any sense at all, you will put down your weapon.”
“That is all the more reason to keep it. The king wants her dead, and I intend to be the one to do it.”
Kiagon made a run toward us, and Gwen’s arrow met its mark right in the middle of his chest. He had swung his sword as if he had expected it to make contact with the arrow before it hit. He looked down in surprise at the red blossoming from his chest just before he fell back on the ground dead.
All color drained from Reilly’s face, but he never took his eyes off me. He eased his hands up slowly with his palms facing outward. “Queen Brianna, you have been holding back on that bow for too long now. I promise to go with you willingly, but if you do not mind, I would like to make it there alive. That will not happen if you accidently let loose of that arrow.”
“You let me worry about that, and remember I have Gwen for back up. Now turn around and head for the castle. Keep your hands where I can see them, or I might think you are going for a knife. I can promise you that if I suspect that is your intention, I would shoot you first and find out if there really had been a knife afterward.” My arm was shaking, and I did release the tension once I was out of sight behind him, but he did not need to know this.
When we came to the front of the castle, one of the warriors on guard there sounded an alarm and more came running. I told them where to find the body of the one Gwen had shot and sent a group out to make sure the rest of the grounds were secure. I stayed with Reilly until we were down in the dungeon and he was locked up before giving out instructions to Simon, the captain of the warriors here at the castle.
“I want six trustworthy men over the job of guarding this man. They can take shifts, two guards at a time, and I want them on the outside of this chamber. No one is allowed to question or even talk to this prisoner. Either Agata or Gwen will bring him his meals. They are to be escorted in and out, but that is the only contact anyone is to have with him. If I find out that anybody has broken these orders, they will be hung for treason. Do I make myself clear?”
Simon was a big, burly man. I had to bend my neck back just to look into his face. I believe I may have seen fear in his eyes for the first time ever. It was not every day that one of the royal advisors was locked up and was not even to be questioned.
“It will be as you say, Your Highness.”
I turned back to Reilly. I had never been that angry or disappointed in anyone before. “If I find out that you have tried to make conversation with anyone without my saying so, I will gut you like a fish and leave you here to die a slow agonizing death. That little conversation you were having out there with your friend, not a word of it is to be repeated to anyone until I give you permission. Do you understand what I am saying?”
He had been sitting on the bench in his cell with his elbows resting on his knees, studying his hands that were clasped in front of him. He jerked his head up at my threat, and his face drained of what little color he had left. “Yes, Your Highness.”
I was not sur
e if I could carry out that threat, but I meant to instill fear in him. I needed to know what Reilly knew of King Coman’s plans, but I could not take the chance of Reagan’s identity being uncovered. I honestly was not sure how to proceed. If I questioned him alone, I would be taking a chance with my life, and if I allowed a guard to be present, I was taking a chance of Reagan’s identity getting back to Coman. Hopefully this would hold until Garrett and Eamon made it back. Lord, please let it be soon.
Twenty-two
EAMON SHOWED UP the very next day. I was glad to see him, but when he came into the room, I automatically searched behind him for Garrett. I knew something was wrong when he walked up and took my hand in his.
“Brianna, I came back as soon as I could to let you know that Garrett has been captured. I did not want to send that message by pigeon carrier.”
“What?” It could not be true. It felt as if all the heat had left the room causing my lips and hands to tremble. My body was already responding to Eamon’s words even though my mind had not caught up to what he was saying.
“We made it to the fort without mishap. We questioned the prisoners. They did not tell us much, and their stories did not match up. We had planned to try again the next day, but in the morning, Garrett, the two prisoners, and two of our warriors were missing. I helped in the search all the next day then came back here to tell you what had happened. I am so sorry.”
I was stunned. I could not think. “What do you think happened to him?”
“Unfortunately, I think that at least two of our warriors are traitors. I believe they and the prisoners took the king in the middle of the night. Our men are still searching. I have sent a group of them to Gilvary to see if they can find him there.”
I would not cry. I would NOT cry. I took the few steps to the window overlooking the ocean, effectively turning my back on him until I could get better control of my emotions. Still, when I finally felt that I could speak, my voice was barely above a whisper. “It seems we cannot trust anyone, Eamon. Reilly was found to be a traitor while you were gone. He is down in the dungeon awaiting questioning right now.”
“Simon told me. He was at the barracks when I came in. Tell me everything that happened.”
I started the tale with Reilly’s arrival back from Dermot and went all the way through to my giving orders that he speak to no one. All the while, there was a corner of my mind occupied by the loss of Garrett. All of my feelings for him that I had not been sure about before were trying to fight their way to the surface now, but I pushed them back down. I would have to wait until later when I was alone to sort it all out.
I offered to allow Eamon to rest from his journey, but he wanted to start the questioning immediately, so we made our way down to the dungeon. Garrett just had to be all right. If they had wanted him dead, they would have killed him in his sleep. Would they not?
Reilly was sitting on the bench in his cell, right where I had left him. He had always taken great pride in his appearance, but as he sat there with his clothes wrinkled and his thin hair uncombed he looked as if he had aged five years over night. He glanced at us when we came in and then stared at the wall as if to ignore us.
“The time for answers is at hand, Reilly. I want you to tell me and Eamon everything you know.”
The defiant glare he gave me then was so different than the fear he had revealed when first shown to this cell. “I was instructed to speak to no one, remember?”
“Yes, until I told you otherwise, and now I am saying for you to speak.”
“I am afraid that choice is up to me now, Your Highness.” The way he said Your Highness sounded more like a taunt than a title.
I looked around the room for a weapon. I was so angry at that very moment, I felt as if I could beat the answers from him with my bare hands.
Eamon gently took hold of my arm and spoke in his soothing, fatherly tone. “You should go up to your chambers and rest, and allow me to take care of this. I know the last couple of days have been hard on you.”
I deflated right then. Tears welled up in my eyes. I could see Reilly studying me from the corner of my vision. I could not stand for him to see the raw emotion that must be showing on my face. I turned and ran from the dungeon. I did not stop running until I made it to my bedchamber. I had passed Gwen in the hallway, and I still did not stop. She tried questioning me, but I just told her not now and kept going.
I threw myself across the bed I had shared with my husband. My body shook as the room filled with the sound of my sobbing. Garrett was gone. He had been so sweet and free with his love for me, and I had given him nothing in return. What if I never saw him again? What if he had died never knowing how I felt about him? Coman may have already murdered one son and attempted the life of another. And he hated Garrett. My mind conjured up every worst-case scenario imaginable, and I allowed it for a time.
Gwen came up later with a supper tray. I refused to eat, but I did allow her to braid my hair. She spoke words that were soothing and hopeful as she ran her slender fingers through my hair, and they washed over me like a balm for my soul. Agata came in with some calming tea while Gwen was working on my hair. She did not have much to say, but I could see the lines of worry written in her face. She loved Garrett and had started to think of him as one of her own just like she did me.
Both of them fussed over me and helped me get ready for bed. Agata pulled the covers up to my chin, giving me a motherly kiss on my brow, and then the two of them left. I fell into an early sleep and surprisingly had sweet dreams that were more like memories. They were all of Garrett holding me in his arms. It took a few minutes after I awoke the next morning before I remembered that he was gone. Then the tears threatened to start all over again, but I refused to allow them this time.
I pulled from the years of training that my father had put me through in preparation for this position. I would not lock myself away in my chambers or give in to any emotion that would allow weakness to creep in. I had my moment, and now it was over. I got dressed and went downstairs for breakfast. I just hoped I would be able to keep food down.
Eamon was there nursing a large mug of coffee when I entered the dining chamber. We were served breakfast as soon as I sat down. “Good morning, Brianna. I hope you slept well.”
I looked across the table into the haggard face of my beloved advisor. Just like Reilly, he looked as if he had also aged overnight. Fear and possibly guilt had eaten away at Reilly’s features, but Eamon’s had a different story to tell.
“I slept better than I would have thought possible. Forgive me, but it looks as if you did not sleep at all. Are you all right?”
“I am perfectly fine, considering. You are correct, however, I did not get any rest. I only just came from interrogating Reilly.”
“Did you find out anything?” I know it was selfish of me, but all I really wanted to know was if he had said where Garrett was. I was too afraid to ask outright, but I leaned in, anticipating his answer.
Eamon rubbed his hand over the stubble on his face. “All it took was some alcohol, and the man confessed to everything.”
I sat up straighter in my seat. This was not what I expected his opening line to be. “You forced him to drink? I did not want to imagine Reilly being tortured, well, at least that is how I feel this morning, but, . . . you know what, never mind. What did you find out?” What did I care what methods Eamon had used on the traitor.
“The only thing I did was provide the drink, and he did the rest on his own. You should brace yourself. Nothing I have to say will be pleasant.”
“I would not expect it to be.”
“I am sorry to say that his betrayal goes back to the time of your father’s rule. Brianna, Reilly is in part guilty of your father’s death.”
I gasped several times trying to work my way around the shock Eamon’s words had caused. I had expected bad news, but not this. “How can that be possible? My father died a natural death. There was a healer here to declare it so. What you are saying
does not make sense.”
I did not want this to be true. I did not want to think that my father had been murdered, especially by one of his own advisors, someone he trusted. Niall Reaner had been a good man and a great leader, one who had not deserved murder.
“Calm down. Take some deep breaths while I explain. It seems that Reilly had started slowly poisoning Niall, causing his declining health, and then that so called healer finished the job. You remember how your father became ill and the healer just happened to show up? Well, it turns out that Coman sent him.”
“Why? Why would Reilly do such a thing?”
“Reilly has been conspiring with Coman for years trying to bring his obsession of combining the kingdoms to life. They are both likeminded in thinking that all of Kearnley should be under one rule, and apparently Reilly thought Coman was the man for the job.”
I pushed my plate of untouched food away from me. All pretense from before was now gone. Eamon allowed me to sit there quietly with my face in the palm of my hands while I absorbed what he had just told me. Until hearing this news, I did not realize how much easier it had been when I thought my father had died of natural causes. To find out that he had been murdered . . .
I finally looked up at Eamon. “Can we not use Reilly’s testimony to bring charges against Coman?”
“I doubt those charges would stick since it would be the word of your advisor against that of a king. We have no proof. Reilly says that even if we did torture him, he will not testify against Coman. He is afraid of him and for good reason. The punishment for treason is hanging, but it is better than what Coman could do if Reilly tried to testify against him. Coman has already proven that his reach is well into your kingdom. Reilly knows this. I am sure the only reason he was so willing to be captured by you was because he believed he would be rescued.”
