Page 71 (1/1)

She ry and struggled to control her fury At long last, there was a jingle in the lock and then it was opened The Alderuests with hi man, richly dressed with Dahomeyjan finery He was tall, well-built, and quite handso his arm was Hillel, but he would not have known her true name Then Dieyre entered followed by Colvin

Lia tried to ht of the iron chains slowed her considerably She cary to see his face yet tor to hide an a at the torches, nodding to the kishion, and looking rather pleased with hi loom "Where is he? Where is the man whoar hi man said icily Lia’s heart started to churn orry

The kishion nodded and unlocked the cell door There was a grunting noise, the sound of a blow and then Martin was thrown in front of the young king

His face was puffy and bruised, dark with clotted blood He treainst his chest Martin raised his head to look at the young king, his eyes burning with hate

The young king stared back at hi last," he said stiffly "My father’s murderer" His face knotted with fury His hands clenched Hillel’s arm "Is he the one, ht you to Pry-Ree?"

Hillel looked at Martin shyly, demurely "Yes" She turned her face away, as if she could not bear to look at him

"Colvin," the young king said next, looking back at the earl "You can vouch for his identity? Do you recognize him? Is he the Aldermaston’s hunter? He is the one who led you into the trap?"

Colvin was also wearing Dahonize his costu look He gazed down at Martin pityingly "His name is Martin I do know that he served the Aldermaston of Muirwood, but I do not know if he serves hi released Hillel’s arm and crouched before the prostrate hunter He seized a thick handful of Martin’s hair and jerked his head up, to meet his own There was fury in his voice, pure hatred in his eyes "You murdered my father It was your arrohich he was slain I have seen the arrow, you filthy wretched You served Prince Alluwyn of Pry-Ree Then Muirwood It is all part of the plot to dethronerie hi last" He cast away Martin and turned to the Alderrounds are under your authority, allows for this ed Now"

Lia’s heart lurched with dread No!

The Aldermaston of Dochte had a look of sympathy on his face, as if he understood the deep pain that the young king had felt losing his father early to awith growing horror

"Hanging is not the punishuilty are burned We do not shed blood"

The young king’s expression was cruel "Even better," he said "Dieyre, see it done Fetch me to watch the execution Thus will all traitors in my realm be punished"

"As you command," Dieyre said with a flourish

It was that moment when the Medium whispered to Lia It was in that ," she said, speaking boldly, pressing her face against the bars

Their eyes turned to hers, even Colvin’s She saw his expression of shock and then immediate torment His focus had been on Martin He had not seen her in the shadows of her cell until she had spoken The look of anguish on his face tortured her

The young king turned curiously at being addressed by a prisoner

"Who is that?" he whispered to the Aldermaston

Before he could reply, Lia spoke out boldly "I a, you cannot punish this man for , looking into his eyes She licked her dry lips "You cannot punish hi, it was I who killed your father It ith a hunter’s bow and a Pry-rian arroas at the battle of Winterrowd,I was there, near the hillock where he fell I confess it,The truth of my words can be established by Lord Price, the Earl of Forshee He kneas there And I told hi He cannot speak a falsehood Ask him, if you doubt my word Ask him"