Osian’s meagre hope of returning him to the tower unnoticed snuffed out.
He expected to find the full court and Council in an emergency session, but there was only Aldreda, Wystan, Demelza, Captain Radnor and Gelens. His and Meilyr’s boots echoed down the central aisle as he led them towards the dais.
‘My knights were in sight at all times,’ he began before anyone else could. ‘If you are about to suggest—’
‘This isn’t about that.’ Aldreda was terse, with the emptied look she wore when she had to concede to someone who outranked her. These days, that expression only came from one place.
She had spoken to their father. Dread crawled up Osian’s spine.
‘You see, we did make an arrest connected to the killing in the square.’ Gelens stood like a vulture at the edge of the dais, hands neatly clasped.
‘A killing that could have been prevented if that crownsworn were still in his cell,’ Osian said.
Gelens spread their hands. ‘The populace acted; to say such a thing was preventable is merely hubris. Nonetheless, I thought you might want your husband to be here for this.’
Aldreda glanced at Gelens, as though she truly hated this, even as she levelled her voice to hide it. ‘Bring them in.’
Through the doors, two crownsworn dragged someone in peasant garb and chains.
Osian had no time to truly recognise them. Any attempt at subtlety or concealment vanished with Meilyr’s stricken gasp, the hands that flew to his mouth in pained shock.
‘Well,’ Gelens said pleasantly, ‘good to know we have the right man.’
Celyn.Gods damn them, it was Celyn.
Celyn who was pushed to his knees at the foot of the dais. Celyn who only glanced up, before keeping his bloodied head down.
‘What reason do you have for arresting this man?’ Osian’s voice was rough to his own ears. Meilyr still had his mouth covered with his hands.
Gelens cleared their throat gently, counting off fingers. ‘Inciting unrest and sentiments against the Crown. Treason. Attempted murder. Murder. Should I go on?’
Meilyr snapped back into himself. ‘No! Celyn could not have—’
‘Now, that isn’t quite the truth, is it.’
Meilyr blanched, and Osian understood in the same awful beat.Damnthem. Damn them all. Gelens and Wystan and likely Captain Radnor had known for some time that Celyn had accidentally killed a crownsworn, but had waited for the perfect moment to spring their trap.
‘The bond-brother of our favourite suspect,’ Gelens said, ‘with the latest murdered crownsworn being one of two arrested for detaining – what was their name? Ah, Wade Bevan, yes. What a predicament.’
‘If you hurt my brother,’ Celyn began, hoarse.
‘I asked you to be quiet, remember? Good boy.’
Celyn’s hatred flared, but he glanced at Meilyr and lowered his eyes to the floor.
Damn Gelens. Gods damn them.
‘If he is to be accused,’ Osian said, ‘then he is to be treated as a lawful member of the royal family. He is the prince consort’s bond-brother, and by right—’
‘By right, he may be acquitted of any crime. Save a direct act of treason against the Crown.’
Osian bit back his surge of anger: a brutally well-practised action, which was almost not enough. ‘And what act of treason do you accuse him of?’
‘Attempted murder of a prince of Khaim.’
Osian looked at Wystan. ‘And when did this attempted murder…’
Oh.Aldreda’s pained silence. How could he not have realised?