I waited while he thought it over, my heart in my throat.
“What is the phrase the general uses to control you?” he asked at last.
“I lost the ability to control myself at the king’s wedding after the general said, ‘Will you do me a favor?’” The words felt heavy on my tongue. Heavy with power.
“How do you feel?” Bryn asked. “Any different than before?”
I shook my head.
“Hmm…” He grimaced. “All right. I’m going to try now.”
“I trust you,” I said to ease his mind.
My friend frowned. “No one should have that kind of power over you. Not even someone you trust.” He took a deep breath. “Will you do me a favor?”
I braced myself.
Bryn nodded at the pages on his desk. “Will you count those documents for me?”
I decided I wasn’t going to do it. Then I reached for them.
Bryn blanched. “That will be all, Asta. That will be all.”
I sank back in the chair, choked by discouragement.
“Well,” Bryn said, his voice higher in pitch, “the good news is: if anyone can put you in the trance, then anyone can get you out.” He cleared his throat. “Perhaps even yourself. Have you ever tried repeating the freeing phrase in your mind?”
I shook my head.
“We can start there. Practice saying both phrases out loud and in your mind. Perhaps hearing yourself say the words will diminish their power.” He tapped his fingers against his leg, thinking. “I could also make you some form of earplugs so that you can block your hearing whenever the general is near.”
“Can such devices be made? I didn’t think it possible,” I murmured.
“You can’t just leave, Asta,” Bryn said seriously. “Viggo would be tormented forever, and the knowledge that Halvar is still alive would haunt you for the rest of your days. You have to see this through to the end. I’ll do what I can when the general tries to turn you against us. I will knock you unconscious if I must. But these earplugs, if made correctly, will help. I know they will.”
I tried to be encouraged by his words but the fear remained. If I could save my friends by leaving, why risk staying? I took a deep breath and steeled my nerves. Because they’re my family now and I won’t be forced to run from them.
I sat on the porch steps, waiting for Hemming and Lennart. They would patrol the house tonight and tomorrow morning, Gabor would cover the afternoon and evening, and then we would all be on duty for the island’s anniversary celebration.
Everyone who lived on the hill had received a copy of the king’s decree today. Many of the counselors had come knocking on his door, demanding to meet with him. The good butler had been assigned the duty of rejecting every visitor. I tensed whenever I heard someone at the door, praying it wasn’t the general. Thankfully, Halvar didn’t try to speak to Torvald today. I had dared to venture out of the king’s home to speak to Master Philo about additional guards being posted around the king’s home and the security detail he had prepared for the anniversary celebration. Other than that and my visit with Bryn, I had remained indoors. I’d had nothing to do but pace, worry, and practice reciting those awful phrases in my head.
I would unleash my anxiety on Lennart. I was tired of wondering whether he was truly on our side or not. When I saw my replacements approaching through the twilight, I rose. Anger and helplessness already burned within me, but I seethed at the sight of Lennart loping lazily toward me. He reeked of suspicion and disrespect. I hoped he gave me a reason to hit him.
“Lady Isa, are you well?” Hemming asked when they were near enough. “You look flushed.”
“I’m quite well, thank you,” I said through my teeth. “Lennart, a word?” I grabbed him by the arm and dragged him around the house before he could reply.
“This scolding technique of yours is getting old,” he said.
I released him with a glare. “I know you abandoned your post to be with Lady Helka the night before last. How dare you leave your king defenseless in such a dangerous time?”
Lennart rolled his eyes. “He was safe enough with Gabor.”
I struggled to keep my voice low. “How could you possibly know that? He could be in league with the traitors for all we know!”
Lennart snorted. “Gabor isn’t nearly smart enough to—”
“Opinion,” I snapped, raising a finger. “Not fact. His allegiance hasn’t been confirmed, so he is still a suspect.” I jabbed him roughly in the chest. “What do you think Master Philo would do if he knew how carelessly you acted?”
Lennart pretended to think about it, rubbing his sternum. “Well, since he doesn’t know about the traitorous Holgarians plotting against our king, he would probably have a lot of questions for you.”
“How would Finley feel if—?”
Lennart’s eyes became cold as ice. “We’ll never know, will we? He’s dead, no thanks to you.”
I threw a punch at his face, only to be intercepted by Hemming.
He caught my fist and gently pushed me back, serious as I’d ever seen him. “What in Nua’s name is going on here?”
Lennart’s eyes became half lidded and he adopted his usual bored look. “Lady Isa is throwing a fit.”
I made a snap decision. “Lennart has been neglecting his duty to the crown. Viggo and I saw him walking with Lady Helka near Thistle Pub the night before last, even though he was scheduled to guard the royal couple with Gabor. Finley never would have stood for this and neither will I.”
Hemming threw Lennart a weary glance. “Is this true?”
Lennart made a face at him. “Does it matter? There’s no authority here that can punish me for shirking my duty for one night.”
“How can we be sure this is the only time you’ve done this?” I demanded. “You can’t be trusted.”
“She’s right,” Hemming said grimly. “And there is an authority who can punish you; King Torvald. I’ll speak to him in the morning and he can decide what’s to be done concerning you. Pray he doesn’t decide to dismiss you. There will be little work for you on the island when word gets out as to why you were asked to leave the royal hill.”
A vein began to throb in Lennart’s forehead. “I was with Lady Helka that night because I was trying to extract sensitive information from her.”
Hemming shook his head. “Now you’re just grasping at straws, Lennart. Nothing you say will make up for your lack of judgment.”
“You might have heard that Lady Helka has been entertaining guards in her quarters,” Lennart said to me. “Many guards. The things she learns from them during their time together might be useful to our investigation. I wasn’t able to learn much because that was our first encounter, but with time—”
“If I recall correctly, you said you weren’t good at interrogations,” I said, crossing my arms. “How did you manage to get any information from Lady Helka?”
“Don’t bother,” Hemming said before Lennart could reply. “She won’t believe you. Go home. I’ll come to call on you tomorrow when the king has a moment to see you.”
Lennart threw Hemming a nasty look. “I won’t be dismissed like a dog. You’re not my superior.”
“He’s been here longer,” I said. “That makes him your superior. If you can’t walk back to your quarters on your own, I’d be happy to have some guards escort you there.”
Lennart leaned forward to growl in my face. “Enjoy your little victory, Lady Isa. It won’t last.” Then he spun on his heel and stalked away.
“I assume I’ll be read in on what’s really going on later,” Hemming said out of the corner of his mouth.
I felt a pang of guilt for having excluded him from our investigation. But I was still uncertain whether I should tell him the truth or not. “Later, yes. We should have a handful of guards keep an eye on Lennart’s living quarters,” I said at last, “just in case he does something foolish.”