At the pronouncement, Mage Wolfson reached out to the king, wailing, “No! I’m innocent!”
His words had no effect. Ronan plucked Wolfson’s wand from his hand. Two other mages grabbed Wolfson’s arms and dragged him out the door. The other wizards followed, most of them commenting that they’d never trusted Wolfson.
Perhaps I should’ve felt a little guilty that he was paying for my crime, but his fate was still better than the one he’d ordered for the villagers of Colsbury. I could muster no pity.
Mage Zephyr didn’t join the other wizards. When the rest had gone and only the marshal and king remained seated, Mage Zephyr stood, hands clasped behind his back. “Do you plan to let him live, Sire?”
The king hesitated. “If the attacks end, we’ll know Wolfson was responsible and acted on his own. Then he’ll stand trial for his crimes. This seems the most likely scenario. However, if the attacks continue, we’ll consider his innocence.”
Such a pronouncement was almost enough to tempt me to forgo removing any more marks.
“If the attacks continue,” the marshal said, “it may simply mean Wolfson has a partner.”
The king conceded the point with a nod. “That is a possibility as well.”
“Let’s hope the matter is closed.” Mage Zephyr drew nearer to the throne. “Whatever the case, you need to call, without delay, at least one new wizard to the council. Preferably two.”
The king rubbed his beard wearily and slumped in his throne. “It seems I was unwise in my other appointments, and now you ask for me to choose two more men?”
“Many talented wizards live in your land,” Mage Zephyr insisted. “The task won’t be difficult. If you take my recommendation?—”
The king lifted his hand to stop him. “Your previous recommendation lasted one day. The only thing of note Saxeus accomplished during his service was to nearly burn one of my guests to death.”
He meant Gwenyth. I liked King Leofric right then. He’d not only heard of her accident, he disapproved of Mage Saxeus’ actions. He’d called Gwenyth his guest.
I snuffed out the thought. I was working against him.
“Although,” the king went on, “perhaps Saxeus was still more worthy than the mages I chose. When they lost their marks, two killed each other and the third dissolved into a skeleton.”
“My lord?—”
King Leofric raised a hand. “New appointments will take some thought. I mustn’t make a hasty decision.”
The marshal leaned toward the king. “Your Majesty, you may not have time for lengthy deliberation. The attack on your wizards could be the first part of an attempt on your life.”
“I realize that,” the king said wearily. “And I’m sure every wizard worth his salt realizes that as well. They’ll be hesitant to take a position on my council now. They saw how easily their peers succumbed to an enemy.”
Mage Zephyr began pacing in front of the throne again. “Hopefully the matter is at an end, but if Wolfson has an accomplice...”
“All the more reason to be careful,” the king said. “I must investigate each wizard thoroughly. If my daughter ends up succeeding me, I need to ensure that those who protect and advise her are not just powerful men but honorable ones as well. As I choose the next wizards, I must think of Alfreda.”
He was thinking of his daughter instead of himself. I shut my eyes. How could I be part of this man’s death?
I didn’t stay longer to eavesdrop. I’d learned more than what I’d come for. The king didn’t suspect me. He wouldn’t add any other wizards to his council tonight. I should’ve been relieved.
Relief wasn’t among my feelings, however. Ronan knew Wolfson wasn’t the wizard who’d taken a wolf’s form last night. He would continue to search for the traitor.
CHAPTER 24
After I left the wizards, I dressed and went to the housekeeper’s room to check on Gwenyth. The door was open and the housekeeper absent. Gwenyth was alone, eyes open, staring at the ceiling.
My footsteps stuttered.She’s dead, I thought. But then she turned her head. I shut the door so we’d have ample warning if someone entered the room and pulled a chair over to her pallet. “How are you faring?”
“Mage Warison came by this morning and gave me a spell for the pain. Fortunately, it’s still working. All the physician offered was strong wine.”
She didn’t have to explain why she couldn’t take much of that. The risk of a loose tongue was too great. “It was kind of Mage Warison to remember you.”
She fluttered a hand in impatience, making it clear she didn’t want to expound on Ronan’s virtues. “I’m not sure when someone will return to tend to me. What happened last night? I’ve heard the servants whispering Redboot’s name but no one will tell me what befell him.”