“Don’t tell me,” Viggo said, raising a hand. “I don’t want to hold any power over you.”
I crawled forward, desperate for his forgiveness. “I’m so sorry.”
After an eternity it seemed, he spoke. “You weren’t yourself.”
“I could see it all happening, but I couldn’t stop.”
My friend’s stiff shoulders and closed face had yet to relax.
“Did I hurt anyone?” I asked, gripping the bars between us. I’d never felt so far away from him.
“Only half of the guards I have at my disposal,” Viggo said with a grunt. “But they’ll live.”
I shuddered. “What did you tell them?”
“That the Lady Warrior’s drink had been spiked with an unknown toxin that made her paranoid and hostile. Bryn was there. He helped it sound convincing.”
“But he knows the truth,” I assumed. “Who else does?”
A door opened down the corridor and a somber Bryn joined us with his satchel a moment later. He glanced at me before addressing Viggo. “Is it safe?”
Viggo unlocked my cell by way of reply. Bryn stepped through and approached me like one would a feral beast. It hurt almost as much as the walls Viggo had built around himself.
“I’m going to dress your wounds,” he said slowly. “Can you stand?”
It took effort to rise because of the chains, but I knew I couldn’t complain.
“I’m going to need to remove the remains of your clothes.”
I tried for a smile. It made my face hurt. “I know, Bryn. It’s all right.”
“I’ll be just down the hall.” Viggo locked the door and pocketed the keys. “Shout when you’re ready to come out.” He retreated before I could say anything.
Bryn put his satchel down on the floor, face wrinkled in concern. “What happened last night, Asta?”
“It was the general,” I said miserably. “He can take control of my body with a few simple words. I don’t know how it works exactly, only that it involved days of pain and starvation and fire before it actually began taking affect.”
Bryn sucked in a horrified breath. “Are none of us safe around you as long as he’s near?”
My eyes stung with the coming of more tears. Would I never run out of those? I cleared my throat. “There is a phrase the general uses to break the trance and bring me back to myself. I don’t know if it will work if someone else says it but…”
“What’s the phrase?”
“That will be all, Asta.”
He ran a hand over his face. “The atrocities this man has committed…”
“Does the king know about last night?” I dared ask.
“He hasn’t been disturbed and won’t be until the end of this week,” Bryn said.
“When does General Halvar leave?”
“There is a counselor meeting at the end of this week that he’s most likely going to attend.” Bryn approached me and began loosening the laces of my dress. “They’re going to discuss the replacement of the counselors who have been murdered. It can only be assumed that he’ll be leaving shortly after. Lennart, Hemming, and Gabor will have to be without you until then.”
I gritted my teeth in frustration, hating the idea of hiding. But I had no choice after last night.
“The king should eventually be told,” Bryn said. “Perhaps it will persuade him to abandon his search for proof and simply incarcerate the general once and for all.”
“What if Halvar somehow weaseled his way out of it? What if the counselors questioned the king? What if the king’s sudden opposition to the Quest for Resources led to a debate that lasted long enough for the general to escape?” I shook my head. “We can’t act against him yet. His influence is too strong. Torvald is right to continue seeking proof.”
“Yes, I suppose,” Bryn grumbled.
The dress cascaded to the floor. The hoop skirt and the corset came next. For the second time since I’d met Bryn, I stood before him in nothing but my undergarments. If Dagmar knew, she’d have him castrated. My heart sank with dread at the thought of my handmaiden. “What are we going to tell Dagmar?”
Bryn crouched to search through his satchel. “We could tell her you’re having a particularly heavy bleeding and need to stay in bed this week.”
“She wouldn’t believe that,” I said with a sigh. “I had my monthly bleeding two weeks ago.”
He retrieved the medicines he needed and a rag, and stood. “Perhaps we could tell her you’ve been harboring feelings for the king this whole time and seeing him happily married is too painful.”
I snorted. “She would simply tell me to forget about my feelings and remember my job.”
“Hmm…” Bryn soaked the rag in two medicines and began patting my exposed wounds. “Well, the guards are under the impression that you ingested a harmful toxin last night. Perhaps we can tell Dagmar that you’ve fallen ill because of it.”
The medicine stung but I was prepared for it. “That’ll have to do. I’ll need your help convincing her.”
Bryn scoffed. “I think I’ll only hinder your efforts. You’re better off playing the part of the sick girl all on your own.”
I grudgingly agreed. “We’ll have to burn this dress. She’ll know something else happened last night if she ever sees it. Could you somehow sneak into my room and bring me another dress?”
“I’ll ask Hemming to do that. For whatever reason, Dagmar trusts the Defenders more than she trusts your friends.” Bryn rolled his eyes. “I suppose it’s because she thinks one of us is going to steal your virtue.”
My stomach turned. This mind trick of General Halvar’s proved that any of my nightmares could’ve actually happened, not just the ones I could remember as facts. “I’m not so sure I have any virtue left to steal.”
The hand with the rag paused before it could touch the wound along my shoulder. I regretted speaking. I didn’t know where to look so I stared down at my exposed toes. A door was thrown open down the hall and quick footsteps were heard leaving the dungeon.
Bryn dropped his rag and ran to the bars. “Viggo, don’t!”
All we heard was the door swinging shut with a bang.
I found it very hard to breathe all of a sudden. “What will he do?”
“Are there any guards down here?” Bryn swore and gripped the bars. “Can anyone hear me? It’s Brynjar! Please, come let me out of this cell!”
“Bryn,” I said sharply. “What do you think Viggo will do?”
“He was devastated enough after you attacked him last night. This new knowledge could very well send him over the edge.” Bryn raised his voice again. “Hello! Is anyone there?”
“I’m here, Master Brynjar,” came a faint voice. Soon footsteps and a guard followed.
My friend smiled in relief. “Thank the Heavenly Masters. Do you have the keys to this cell?”
The guard cast a wary glance my way. “Is it safe?”
“Yes, yes, she’s doing much better now. Please, let me out. I’ve just remembered I have an important errand I need to run right this minute.”
“Bryn, let me come with you,” I said, walking as far as the chains would let me. “I can help.”
The guard unlocked the door and Bryn hurried out. “You’re not properly dressed and there’s no time to waste. I’m sorry.” He turned to the guard. “Contact Defender Hemming and have him bring some clothes for Lady Isa. And be discreet.”
“Yes, sir.”
Then Bryn dashed out of the dungeon.
Hemming held a key and a bundled up dress while staring fixedly at the floor. I snatched the key from him first. Once my wrists were free of the shackles, I bent down over my ankles.
“Lady Isa, are you sure you’re well?” he asked, still averting his eyes.
I relieved him of the dress. “Yes, the toxin has worn off.” I wrapped the skirts around my waist and tied the laces. “Master Brynjar was in here a little bit ago and pronounced me healed.”