Gabby sidled up beside Rudiger as he and Zandrue entered the throne room. “Is it true about Tianna?”

“That’s what Quilla told Borisin,” Rudiger said.

“Gods.” Gabby lowered her head, then shot it back up. “Wait, Borisin? She told your horse? You really can talk to it, can’t you?”

Rudiger nodded. “Yeah, I don’t lie about that.”

The throne room was a cavernous space when it was mostly empty. It took a couple minutes just to walk from the doors to the dais the throne was on. There were only a few others there. The King slumped in the Bear Throne, his crown sitting too far forward on his head. Ardon stood just behind and to the side of the King. Pastrin and Ned stood in front of the dais. They were holding hands, which was surprising given the proximity of the Queen—though the Queen wasn’t looking in their direction. She stood over Annai some distance away. The princess was seated on the steps of the dais, sobbing into her hands. A few Kingsguard, including Hang, were spaced out across the hall. There was no sign of Malef.

Zandrue hurried ahead of Rudiger. “Annai?”

Princess Annai looked up. “Zandrue!” She stood up and ran to Zandrue, throwing her arms around her. “Oh gods, Zandrue.” The two of them sobbed into each other’s shoulder.

The Queen walked slowly down the steps towards them. Rudiger bowed to her as he got close to them, but she paid him no attention. She spread her arms wide and put them around both Annai and Zandrue. She whispered something to the two of them, and they all three stood there awhile longer, crying softly.

Rudiger and Gabby joined Ned and Pastrin. “Where’s Malef?” Rudiger whispered.

“Where do you think?” Pastrin said.

Ned elbowed him. “Be nice, Pastrin.” He leaned towards Rudiger. “Malef is with Lady Plavin. Word is a warrant is being written up for her arrest, too. Malef’s...well, let’s just say he’s reluctant to believe the allegations.”

That made a certain sense. As much as Rudiger despised Lidda Plavin, he could imagine his own reaction if someone accused Zandrue of being a Darker and summoning a dragon. That said, he would probably believe the dragon part.

The next few minutes passed like an eternity. Zandrue, Annai, and the Queen continued to sob in each other’s arms. The King straightened his crown, only for it to slide down once more when he slumped again. Ned and Pastrin shuffled about on their feet. Only Gabby stood without any clear expression of emotion.

At last, the doors opened. Prince Thilin and Captain DeSeloön marched into the room, followed by several Palace guards, then two Kingsguard who had Barnol Friaz by each shoulder. They were practically dragging him behind them. At the rear came another group of Palace guards.

Zandrue, Annai, and the Queen separated, the Queen ascending back up the steps of the dais. She turned to face the group that had entered. Zandrue and Annai moved to the side.

Thilin stepped forward. He was the one Royal Rudiger had seen very little of during his time here—not counting Sinitïa and Cerus who weren’t here. Thilin was a big man—bigger than anyone else in his family, except maybe Garet. He was dressed in a military uniform. As Rudiger understood it, Thilin had been spending most of his time working with military generals to plan for the upcoming war with the Volgs, though Zandrue had spent a brief bit of time with him in Arnor City a couple weeks back.

Thilin bowed. “Father, Mother, I present you the traitor, Barnol Friaz.” He turned around, and the Palace guards moved aside to allow the two Kingsguard to come forward with Friaz. Thilin and Captain DeSeloön moved aside as well.

The Kingsguard took Friaz to the bottom of the dais, then shoved him forward so that he fell face first onto the steps. The Kingsguard backed away as Barnol crawled forward and up the stairs.

“Your Majesties, have mercy! Please!” He reached the top of the steps and clutched at the Queen’s forward foot, kissing it repeatedly. “Please, Annai. My daughter, Tianna. She’s...she’s gone. Have pity on me!”

The Queen stared down at him, a snarl on her face. “Mercy?” Her words were soft and barely discernible. “Pity?” She pulled her foot away from him.

He reached for the other one, but she kicked him in the face. He fell backwards with a cry, tumbling to the bottom of the steps.

“How dare you!” the Queen hissed, her voice rising. “You think you are deserving of any pity or mercy? You snivelling worm!”

Barnol scrambled onto his hands and knees, shaking. “But Tianna, Annai. She’s dead. Please let me mourn her.”

The Queen walked down the steps and kicked him in the face again.

Barnol Friaz wailed and fell over onto his back, his hands clutching his face.

“As far as I’m concerned, Tianna’s death is your fault, Barnol. You do not deserve to mourn the death of such an enchanted child.”

Barnol removed his hands from his face. His nose and lips were bloody. “I tried to stop them. I tried to save her! You must believe me. She was my only child. I loved her. I would never harm her. I tried to offer myself in her place, but they wouldn’t let me.”

The Queen sneered at him. “If you loved her as you claim, you would never have been a part of that disgusting cult. A Darker! In my own court!” She turned around and began back up the steps.

Barnol got back onto his hands and feet. “Annai, please.”

The Queen rounded on him. “The correct form of address is your Majesty! You do not get to address me so informally!” She moved towards him as if to kick him again. He curled into a ball, and she held back from following through. She bent down over him. “I trusted you. More than anyone. I valued your counsel more highly than even that of my husband and children. I stuck my neck out for you on multiple occasions, and this is how you repay me? You were my favourite cousin, and I can barely look at you now without being filled with shame at how you used me for such a fool.” She straightened up again, and ascended the dais steps.

“Your Majesty, I had no choice. They forced me to join. As a boy. I went out of my way to make sure they didn’t do that to Tianna.”

“Enough!”

Barnol went quiet. He prostrated himself on the floor, shaking.

The Queen didn’t turn around. “So there it is.” She was no longer shouting, but there was a quaver in her voice. “The confession we need. Until this moment, a part of me still foolishly hoped this would turn out to be some elaborate falsehood. That part of me would have believed Felitïa’s friends had somehow framed you. But for years and years, you have turned me against her. Even during the many years she was gone, when most thought she would never be seen again, you would occasionally bring her up, speaking words of poison against her, made me despise her. I never saw it until now, the fool that I am. Yet in the last couple months, I have seen nobility from her friends while you continued to counsel distrust. Now I learn the truth of you, I must question whether I have had my daughter wrong all these years. I don’t even know her. You will explain this to me.”

“Your Majesty, I...I had no choice. Believe me.”

“I have given you a command. Explain yourself!”

Barnol looked up from the floor. “Your Majesty, she is the Will-Breaker. They knew from the moment she was born. When the assassination attempt at her naming ceremony failed, they decided instead to poison your mind against her. They made me do it. You must believe me.”

The Queen turned around. “Assassination attempt? What assassination attempt?”

“It was defeated by forces unknown. No one ever knew it happened.”

The Queen snarled. “Except you, apparently. And you kept it from me like so much else. I have heard enough. Execute him.”

“No, your Majesty, please! Have mercy on me!”

Captain DeSeloön’s hand went to his sword, but he looked to Thilin and then the King first.

Thilin stepped forward. “Your Majesty, Mother, we need him to give us the rest of them.”

The Queen turned away, shaking. She continued to stand there.

“Annai, my dear?” the King said.

The Queen turned around again, her shaking under control. “Yes, Wavon, I’m fine. You’re right, Thilin. We can’t kill him yet.” She walked slowly down the steps to Barnol again. She spat on him.

Barnol trembled, but did nothing to wipe the spittle away.

The Queen straightened and peered down at him without lowering her head. “I offer you a simple choice, my Lord. You can give us your associates. All of them, including anything you have on Lady Plavin. Do that, and I will grant you the dignity of a beheading. Refuse and you will hang like a commoner.” She turned around, and ascended the steps once more. This time, she went over to her throne and sat beside the King.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Barnol Friaz began to whimper and sob. “Yes, yes, of course. I’ll tell you everything, and I thank you for your...your just and...and...merciful decision.”

The Queen ignored him and his continuing sobs. “Thilin, Captain DeSeloön, I leave further questioning to the two of you.” She turned her head to the King and took his hand. “Unless, of course, you wish to join in as well, my dear.”

The King shook his head. “No, I trust Thilin and the Captain to do a much better job than I ever could.”

“Very good, my dear.” She turned to Thilin and the Captain again. “I want a full list of names and activities. I want arrests to begin by the end of the day. If possible, also find out how we can gain control of this dragon, if it really exists. I don’t want it rampaging uncontrolled once its current controllers have been arrested.”

DeSeloön bowed. “One thing, your Majesty.”

“Go ahead.”

“Assuming he confirms the allegations against Lady Plavin, arresting a noble of her stature needs to be delicately handled. Without the proper paperwork…”

The Queen nodded. “I understand. See to it the arrest warrant is prepared as soon as possible. Bring it to the King to sign immediately it is ready, no matter the time of day or night. Until then, Lady Plavin is confined to her apartments. She is not to leave them for any reason. I want Palace guards, or Kingsguard if possible, outside her apartments at all times. Do I make myself clear?”

“Perfectly, your Majesty.” DeSeloön bowed again, then motioned to the two Kingsguard who had dragged Barnol Friaz in.

They came forward and took Barnol’s arms. They lifted him up, still blubbering thanks to the Queen, and dragged him away. Thilin, DeSeloön, and several other guards followed them out.

As the doors closed behind them, Gabby nudged Rudiger. “This is going to be an interesting place the next couple days. Poor Malef. I hope he recovers from this.”

“Zandrue, Rudiger,” the Queen said. “Please approach.”

Rudiger glanced questioningly at Gabby, who just shrugged. He walked forward and met Zandrue at the foot of the dais. He bowed and Zandrue curtsied.

The Queen waved them closer, so they started up the steps. As they reached the top, the Queen rose and approached them. She looked at each of them in turn. “Arnor owes you both a great deal for your role in bringing to light this conspiracy against the crown. If it weren’t for the two of you, there would be every chance we would fall to this dragon attack. We may yet, but that is neither here nor there. We are better prepared than we would have been, and that is the important thing. Also…” She shifted on her feet. “I...I, personally, owe you both an apology. I refused to trust you initially for no other reason than you were friends of Felitïa and Quilla. That was wrong of me.”

Zandrue curtsied. “I accept your apology, your Majesty, but may I say one thing?”

The Queen nodded ascent.

“I think you owe Quilla an apology, too. She was involved just as much as we were, more so even. If she hadn’t infiltrated the Darkers, we would never have known about last night.”

The Queen frowned and looked away for a moment. “You’re right, of course. Once she’s been rescued from their clutches, I will...apologise to her as well. And reverse her banishment, of course.”

“Thank you, your Majesty,” Zandrue said. She curtsied again.

Rudiger bowed. “I accept your apology, as well, your Majesty.”

The Queen smiled. “Excellent. Then we can move on to other business. Of course, there is the matter of Tianna’s funeral. The King and I have agreed she will be rewarded posthumously for her valiant effort to uncover her father’s treachery. We are still determining the nature of that reward, but we will announce it soon. We would also like to reward the two of you...and...Quilla as well, of course. A few things. First, you may each choose a boon, and if it is in our power to grant, you will have it. However, before you make any request, you should also learn your other rewards. We wouldn’t want you looking foolish by asking for a boon you are already going to receive.” She turned away and returned to her throne. “Please kneel, both of you.”

Rudiger and Zandrue looked at each other, then bowed. Rudiger took Zandrue’s hand and squeezed it.

The King stood up. He held out his hand. “A sword, please.”

The nearest Kingsguard came forward, drew his sword, and held it out to the King.

Rudiger leaned closer to Zandrue, and whispered, “Any idea what’s going on?”

Zandrue leaned her head against his. “I have a pretty good idea. Can’t wait for them to do this to Quilla, and you better believe I will hold the Queen to her word.”

The King stood in front of Rudiger, and raised the sword. He brought the flat of it down gently on Rudiger’s shoulder, raised it again, and brought it down on his other shoulder. “Rudiger Fonivan, I grant you the title of noble of Arnor. You and your descendents shall forever more be afforded all the benefits, rights, and responsibilities of the nobility throughout all of Arnor.” He lowered the sword to his side. “Rise, my Lord.”

Rudiger took a deep breath and rose.

The King craned his neck. “Ah,” he whispered. “Maybe bend over a little.”

Rudiger smiled and bent over.

The King kissed him on each cheek. “I am proud to call you my friend.” He moved to Zandrue and repeated the same process. “Zandromeda Armida, I grant you the title of noble of Arnor. You and your descendents shall forever more be afforded all the benefits, rights, and responsibilities of the nobility throughout all of Arnor. Rise, my Lady.”

Zandrue rose and the King kissed her cheeks.

The King then motioned for them to turn around. “My son and daughters.” He looked to Ned. “My Lord. I present to you all the newest nobles of our land.”

Ned and Pastrin clapped, and Gabby whooped.

Annai rushed over to Zandrue and hugged her. “Oh, I’m so happy for you, Zandrue.” She wiped her nose with a handkerchief. “I just wish Tianna was here to see this.”

The King returned to his throne, and the Queen rose again. “There is still one more thing before you may choose your boon.”

“I know what it is,” Annai said quietly. “I hope you accept.” She moved aside as her mother approached.

“This is entirely voluntary,” the Queen said, “but we hope you will agree. The King and I believe the two of you deserve the finest wedding possible.”

Zandrue’s eyes widened. “Wedding?”

The Queen nodded. “Indeed. That’s why we propose to fund your wedding for next month at the Cathedral of the Gods.” She looked to Patriarch Ardon. “Your Grace, you’ve been surprisingly quiet.”

Ardon stepped forward. “I admit I often interject on these occasions, but I have seen no need to today.” He smiled.

“You will, of course, preside over the wedding?” the Queen said.

Ardon bowed. “I would be honoured.”

The Queen looked back at Rudiger and Zandrue. “You will have the finest wedding and finest reception possible. Assuming you desire it, of course.”

“Well, we…” Zandrue began. “That is, I’m not sure...I mean, we’ve never even talked about it.”

Rudiger looked back and forth between her and the Queen.

“Your thoughts, Rudiger?” the Queen asked.

Rudiger had no idea what to say. He’d never even thought about this. Well, he’d had the odd stray thought, but given the life they led, it had never seemed something they could consider.

Zandrue took his hand. “Rudiger?”

He gulped. “Sorry. I’m just… Do you want to?”

Zandrue shrugged. “I don’t know. It seems...sudden. And it seems wrong to plan something so happy in the light of Tianna’s death.”

“Tianna would be very happy for you,” the Queen said.

“Or supremely jealous,” Zandrue said.

“She’d be jealous and happy,” Annai said. “Trust me, she’d want you to do it if that’s what you want.”

Zandrue raised Rudiger’s hand to her face and kissed it. “This is all so sudden. I never imagined myself ever doing something like this, but you know what? Let’s.”

Rudiger swallowed. “You really want to?”

Zandrue nodded. “I think so. Rudiger, will you marry me?”

The Queen cleared her throat. “Let’s do this properly, shall we? You can have complete say in the wedding itself, but grant me this one thing.”

Zandrue shrugged. “If we must.”

Rudiger took a deep breath. He couldn’t believe he was about to do this. He lowered himself to his knees, and raised her hand. He put his other hand on it, so he was holding it with both his hands. “Zandrue, I love you more than anything. Will you marry me?”

Zandrue smiled. “Fuck yes.”

The Queen groaned and rolled her eyes.

Rudiger rose to his feet and pulled Zandrue in close to him.

“I had to inject a bit of me into the proceedings,” she whispered.

“I gathered.”

She threw her arms around his neck as he lifted her up. They kissed amidst cheers and claps.