“Silence!” the chairman banged his gavel, his black hat falling off his head. “I will have silence! To avoid confusion, from this point on, we will refer to the two men by their given names, Esek Nathak and Gidon Hadar.”
Achan’s eyes bulged. Well that wouldn’t be at all awkward. Now he was Gidon?
The chairman replaced his drum-like hat. “Sir Herut Pitney, Duke of Nahar. How do you cast your vote?”
“Gidon Hadar.”
The crowd clapped awkwardly, as if they too, were uncertain who that was.
“Sir Yagil Hamartano, Duke of Cela. How do you vote?”
No doubts there. Silvo’s papa would certainly have heard of his son’s humiliation at the hands of the stray squire.
“Esek Nathak.”
Sparrow leaned to Achan’s ear. “That these dukes would actually choose such a snake as their king… I cannot wrap my mind around this foolishness.”
Achan huffed a laugh. “Am I so much better?”
Sparrow grinned. “You are one hundred leagues better. You must know that.”
“I know nothing of the sort.”
The chairman straightened in his chair. “I, Sir Abidan Levy, Duke of Allown and chairman to this proceeding, do vote for Esek Nathak.”
Sparrow groaned.
The chairman said, “The vote is three to three. Lady Nitsa Amal, Duchess of Carm is not present. Lord Nathak is serving as her proxy as per Lady Nitsa’s personal message.”
Sparrow stood and strode toward the high table. “Lies!”
Achan straightened. What was the fool up to now?
“A forgery!” someone yelled.
“Nathak favors the pretender,” someone else called. “He should get no vote!”
Sir Gavin stepped forward and addressed the chairman. “My Lord Chairman, certainly Lady Nitsa could not have known of this matter. Her proxy might not be given so surely in light of the deceit Lord Nathak has wielded all these years.”
Lord Levy sighed. “Yet I see no other way. We cannot wait on this matter to send a messenger. Carmine is more than a week’s journey.”
“Surely you do not forget Lady Nitsa’s bloodvoice ability? Why not ask your mediators to contact her?”
Lord Levy’s chest swelled. “Surely you do not think me such a poor chairman to this Council, Sir Gavin. A page arrived with her letter of proxy before this meeting began. We have verified the signature as hers. We tried to bloodvoice Lady Nitsa for confirmation but she has not answered. I have no choice but to—”
“Is that not a sign of foul play? Lord Nathak has surely done something—”
“I have no choice but to accept the proxy at this time. I will send a Kingsguard squadron to Carmine after this proceeding to investigate. Today, however, my hands are bound. I must move on.”
“My Lord Chairman, if I might speak?” Sparrow now stood before the high table, head held high as if he were the prince himself.
Sir Caleb leaned against Achan and whispered, “What’s the lad up to?”
Achan shook his head.
Lord Levy raised his hand toward Sparrow, as if to say, “Why not?”
Sparrow cleared his throat. “Chairman Levy, my lord. I have information invaluable to this proceeding. I beg a private audience to discuss the matter.”
Sir Gavin turned to Achan, bushy white eyebrows raised in question.
Achan shrugged. He had no idea what Sparrow was doing. Maybe he had more information about Lord Nathak’s dealings with Macoun Hadar.
Lord Levy leaned forward to peer over the edge of the table. “What’s this?”
“Please, my lord,” Sparrow said. “A moment of your time to refute this…proxy.”
24
Vrell lifted her chin. This was the only way. If she did not reveal herself now, they would vote for Lord Nathak’s son. If the impostor were to take the throne, he might still seek Vrell’s hand. She shivered. All along, the man who had sought her hand had been a fraud. Thank Arman he had been exposed. She would do her part to see the impostor fail.
“Apologies, my lord!” a wheezy voice said from the grandstands.
Vrell turned to see an old man creeping closer. It was Master Hadar!
“My apprentice vanished this morning,” Master Hadar said. “I’ve been looking everywhere. Would someone please apprehend the runaway?”
Two Kingsguards rushed forward and seized Vrell’s arms.
“No!” She twisted back to Lord Levy. “My lord, I beg you! Do not believe his lies. I am not what he claims. I—”
One of the guards clamped a hand over Vrell’s mouth.
Master Hadar swept up beside her, Khai at his side. “Forgive me, my lord. This young stray is here without my consent. With your permission, I’ll remove him.”
Vrell thrashed and bit the hand covering her mouth. The guard did not flinch.
Lord Levy waved his hand in dismissal and banged his gavel. “Order please, and we will continue our vote.”
The men dragged Vrell toward the door, and she squirmed to look over her shoulder. Achan! Do not let them take me!
Achan stared, mouth gaping. What are you doing, Sparrow? Are you mad?
I must confess. I am not who you think I—
Lord Levy’s voice rang out in the chamber. “Lord Nathak, how do you vote?”
Vrell held her breath.
“I vote Esek Nathak the rightful king.”
The crowd erupted in a divided chorus of cheering and booing.
The guards dragged Vrell through the door, past the tributes to great warriors, across the great foyer, and into a small chamber on the first floor. It looked just like Master Hadar’s bloodvoicing room, empty but for a single wooden chair. They forced her to sit and bound her wrists and ankles with thin hemp twine.
She tried again, concentrating with all her strength. Mother?
There was still no answer.
She forced herself not to think about what might have happened to her mother and let her fear turn to anger. “Untie me at once!” Vrell yelled. “How dare you treat me this way!”
Master Hadar looked down his pointed nose. “A stray mustn’t speak to his master in such a manner, boy. Whatever are you thinking?” He motioned to Khai.
The weasel darted forward and uncapped a vial.
Vrell clamped her lips closed.
Master Hadar chuckled. “It’s not what you think, my dear. I know the âleh flower has no effect on your mind. This is something more…basic.”
Khai and the guard with the massive hands forced the liquid into her mouth. It was thin and tasted like bark. She tried not to swallow, but the guard covered her mouth and pinched her nose closed. She held off as long as possible, but as she ran out of air, she finally swallowed. The guard released her, and she sucked in a deep breath.
Vrell looked to her lap. Tears rained down on her tunic. She breathed in and out, calming herself, wondering what they had given her. She could not guess the ingredients from the taste. Her head spun, but that might be from the loss of air. She met Master Hadar’s gaze. “Why are you doing this?” She glared at Khai. “What did he tell you?”
“More importantly, my dear child, is what he told our newly elected king.”
Vrell looked from Khai to Master Hadar. Their faces blurred. “And what was that?”
“That he’d found His Majesty’s elusive love. We’ve made a negotiation. You for Achan. The prince was all too willing. It seems he was going to get rid of his squire anyway.”
Vrell wept from the injustice and from knowing she was about to pass out. They had given her some soporific. Her limbs tingled from its effect. “You cannot… Achan is…rightful… You cannot…locked up…serve your…ambitions.” Her eyes drooped.