Page 217 of The Priory of the Orange Tree

“Tharian.” Margret joined Ead the door. “Tharian, it’s Meg.”

“Meg—” A muffled oath. “Margret, you must leave. Crest has had me locked in.”

She clicked her tongue. “That sounds like a reason to get you out, fool, not to leave.”

Loth glanced down the corridor. If anyone opened the door to the guardhouse, they would have nowhere to hide.

Ead knelt beside the door. When she flexed her fingers, the fire drifted to hang beside her like a corpse candle. She studied the keyhole and used her other hand to slide a hairpin from her curls and into the lock. When it clicked, Margret eased open the door, careful not to let the hinges creak.

Inside his chamber, Sir Tharian Lintley stood in a shirt and breeches. Every taper in the room had burned to a stump. He went straight to Margret and cupped her cheek with one hand.

“Margret, you must not—” Catching sight of Loth, he started, and bowed in his soldierly way. “Saint. Lord Arteloth, I had no idea you had returned. And—” His stance changed. “Mistress Duryan.”

“Captain Lintley.” Ead still held her flame. “Should I expect you to try and arrest me?”

Lintley swallowed.

“I wondered if you were the Lady of the Woods herself,” he said. “The Principal Secretary’s retainers told stories of your witchcraft.”

“Peace.” Margret touched his arm. “I don’t yet understand it, either, but Ead is my friend. She returned at great risk to her life to help us. And she brought Loth back to me.”

A look from her was all it took to soften Lintley.

“Combe ordered us to arrest you that night,” he said to Ead. “Is he in league with Crest?”

“That, I do not know. His morals are questionable, to be sure, but he may not be the true enemy.” Ead closed the door. “We suspect Her Majesty is being held against her will. And that we have not much time to reach her.”

“I have already tried.” Lintley looked as if all hope had forsaken him. “And I shall be banished for it.”

“What happened?”

“Rumor had it that you were in league with King Sigoso and had returned to him, but it was so soon after Lord Arteloth vanished, I sensed a deliberate attempt to make Her Majesty vulnerable.”

“Go on,” Ead said.

“Her Majesty had not emerged from the Queen Tower since the White Wyrm came, and there was no light from her window. Dame Joan Dale and I demanded entrance to the Great Bedchamber to reassure ourselves she was well. Crest had us stripped of our armor for disobedience,” he said bitterly. “Now I am confined here.”

“What of the other Knights of the Body?” Margret asked.

“Three are also here for protesting.”

“Not for long,” Ead said. “How many retainers would we face, should we make our move tonight?”

“Of the thirty-six retainers Crest has at court, I would guess that about half are armed. She has several knights-errant, too.”

The Knights of the Body were among the best warriors in Inys, hand-picked for their skill. They could defeat a rabble of servants.

“Do you think the others are still loyal?” Ead asked.

“Absolutely. Their first allegiance is always to Her Majesty.”

“Good,” she replied. “Muster them and go after Crest. Once she is apprehended, her retainers will lay down their arms.”

They stole out of the chamber. Ead broke the locks on three other doors, and Lintley whispered the plan to his soldiers. Soon they stood with Dame Joan Dale, Dame Suzan Thatch, and Sir Marke Birchen.

“There are not many guards outside the armory.” Ead offered Lintley one of her own blades. “Retrieve your weapons, but I would advise against armor. It will make you slow. And loud.”

Lintley took the blade. “What will you do?”

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