"It's not impossible," Alle said, pursing her lips as she thought. "If they're convening at Guarov's request, it doesn't mean they all agree. There are four others on the Council. Lord Dravan, Lady Casset, Count Suphie and Dame Nuray. Nuray is trouble-there've been rumors for years that she's a spy for Trevath. The others are wild cards. It's been said that they all have ties to other kingdoms. Dravan's reputed to have ties in Dhasson-which might not be a bad thing, since King Harrol is Tris's uncle."
"We'd heard that Lady Casset feeds information to King Staden," Macaria put in. "And that Suphie is Eastmark's puppet."
"Suphie is a troubling man," Alle said. "He's not of Eastmark, but he does a lot of business there, supplying weapons and mercenaries. They say he's not a forgiving person." "And we still don't know who father's spy is," Kiara added. "Or whether he or she could be of any help. Goddess! The last thing we need is word of the rumors getting back to Isencroft." "One problem at a time," Cerise counseled. "First bells isn't far away. You need to eat, my dear, to replenish your strength. Then you must dress for high court, and remind them that not only are you Margolan's queen and mother to its heir, but heir to the Isencroft crown as well." She
laid a hand on Kiara's arm comfortingly. "I have no doubt that you can face down this enemy as confidently as you've ridden into battle-although perhaps it might be best to leave your sword behind this time!"
The time to meet with the Council of Nobles came far too quickly. Alle accompanied her. Cerise followed, resolute that she must be in attendance as a precaution, although Kiara suspected it was to make certain that the Council never forgot that the queen they sought to judge also carried the heir to the throne. Crevan led them through the narrow hallways of Shekerishet. Ammond and Hothan, Kiara's regular guards, followed and two new guardsmen, the men who had accompanied Crevan, joined them. Kiara drew herself up to her full height. Though she hated the discomfort of formal court regalia, she understood its power. Her dress was heavy with brocade and velvet, sewn with pearls and gold thread. Its high bodice accentuated her gently swelling belly. The neckline was modest-almost matronly by court fashion. At her throat hung a pendant nearly the size of her palm, the four-headed dragon seal of the heir to the Isencroft throne. The crown of the queen of Margolan glittered in Kiara's auburn hair. She said a silent prayer to the Lady, as she did before going into battle, and found herself wishing for the clean demarcations of a war fought with weapons instead of words. Six nobles stood as Crevan opened the door to the meeting chamber. They made perfunctory bows in greeting as a servant ran to pull out a chair for Kiara, which she refused.
"Why have you summoned me?" Kiara's voice had an edge to it, the same tone she had often heard King Donelan use when he wished to remind an errant noble of his station. A glance around the table confirmed Alle's guess at the nobles in attendance. White-haired Lord Acton Kiara recalled from the wedding, and Lord Guarov, with his features coldly impassive, was equally memorable. Dame Nuray's looks hinted at Trevath blood, making her easy to identify.
A blond woman sat stiffly to Nuray's right, with an expression that might have been impatience or boredom; Kiara guessed her to be Lady Casset. Of the remaining two men, one had a rough manner, as if he were more at home on the front lines of a battle than with the pleasantries of court. Count Suphie? If so, Kiara's hopes of persuading him on the basis of her kinship to King Kalcen died. Suphie was an older man, easily Donelan's age, meaning that he would have been a supporter of her grandfather, King Radomar, and likely to have shared his disdain for Viata's outland marriage. The last man, Lord Dravan, looked old enough to be her
grandfather, but his light blue eyes were sharp and his angular features bespoke intelligence. Wild cards all of them.
"There is no way to put this delicately," Lord Guarov said, although nothing in his manner suggested he was prone to doing so, regardless. Guarov was a slim man with hawk-like features and long-fingered, soft hands that made it clear he had never toiled. He had dark eyes that seemed to constantly scan the horizon for potential threats, and the punctiliousness of a bookkeeper. "Credible rumors allege great impropriety, Your Majesty. It is said widely at court that you and Master Bard Carroway have betrayed the king's trust, and your wedding vows. To do so is treason."
Kiara glanced around the table. Dravan and Casset looked clearly uncomfortable. Nuray leaned forward intently, as if watching a drama. Suphie crossed his arms and leaned back, scowling. Acton's anger was clear in his face. They may be obligated to go along with this, but some of them don't like it, Kiara thought.
"Is Margolan governed by rumors?" Kiara replied. "In Isencroft, such serious charges require witnesses. Pray tell, have you any to your charge?" One hand rose to finger the crest at her throat, a reminder, in case any there had forgotten, of her own rank. The other hand fell to rest on her belly, silently underscoring her status as the mother of the heir. "On more than one occasion, Bard Carroway has been seen to enter the queen's rooms," Guarov replied, with a tone as if that settled the matter.
"And did your 'witnesses' bother to tell you than on both occasions, Lady Alle, my healer Cerise, and Macaria, my personal bard, were already in the room and remained there until Carroway left? We were never alone, at any time."
"The rumors do not allege that you were alone, m'lady, but rather that you engaged in treasonous conduct."
Kiara felt her cheeks redden with anger at the implication. "Is it your intention to call the heir to the Isencroft throne a whore who performs for an audience?" She could see the others wince at her plainspokenness.
"I did not use that word, m'lady."
"You didn't need to."
"The fact remains-"
"You have no facts," Kiara cut him off. "Only lies and rumors. Show your 'witness.'" "I've promised him protection."
"To make accusations without risk?" Kiara's voice was scornful. "This isn't Nargi, where an angry scullery maid can concoct a charge of magery and have even a high priest burned alive."
"It's the charge of this Council to protect the interests of the king."
"I rode beside Martris Drayke to take back the throne from the Usurper," Kiara said coldly. "I fought beside him against Foor Arontala and the Obsidian King. Bard Carroway also risked his life to put Tris Drayke on the throne. Our loyalty is absolute." "Or opportune." Heads swiveled toward Count Suphie. "After all, you were betrothed from birth to that same usurper, and broke that covenant to become his brother's lover. So technically, this is the second instance of adultery."
Kiara fixed Count Suphie with a hard glare. "The betrothal contract averted war between Eastmark and Isencroft. My uncle, King Kalcen, rescinded the charges against my mother when he took the throne. Technically," she said, emphasizing the word through gritted teeth, "that dissolved the reason for the covenant with Jared."
"We're willing to accept that it is not your fault, m'lady," Guarov said in a placating tone. "You're new in our land, and our ways may be different to you. Bard Carroway, on the other hand, has a.. reputation, of which you might not have been aware. Don't be ashamed to tell us that he forced you, and we'll have the means to clear your name." "Old scandals reach even new ears," Kiara replied disdainfully. "Your friend Lady Nadine preyed on the bard as a boy, earning her Bricen's banishment. Now you offer me a bargain that is no bargain at all-to admit guilt and sacrifice the king's loyal friend. Was this what you meant by having your servants send a shroud and burial oil as a gift for the child I carry?"
"A woman is never so tempted to betrayal as when she is pregnant-it's well known liaisons can be made without the. inconvenience. of an unexpected 'souvenir.'" "Guarov, that is enough!" Lord Acton rose to his feet, leaning heavily on the table for support. "I came to this table reluctantly, and only because I feared you might make a spectacle like this. By the Lady! Stand down and let this pass."