Page 9 of Stars May Fall

I shrugged. “They have nothing to do with me. I ordered them to disperse, but they are not my soldiers. They didn’t follow my order, so some of my battalion from Kasomere are keeping them under control for now, since you seem to doubt the ability of your city guard.”

Duke James stepped forward, smoothing one side of his straight black hair. “You don’t seem to understand the situation, General. These people may incite others to try to overthrow the king. The unrest is spreading. We could end up with riots.”

I didn’t move but crossed my ankles. “That sounds like a problem between the king and his people. Not me.”

Duke James tried to loom over my chair. “Not if they are saying they want you on the throne. They will rise up in your name.”

Behind Duke James, Annabelle gave me a nervous, warning look.

I cocked my head. “I don’t want the throne. And I am not leaving my house and my dying wife to sort outyourmess if you can’t controlyourcity.”

Duke James lifted an eyebrow. “And if she dies?”

I stood then, struggling to control my temper. “Then I will kill every last person responsible for her death—everyone who has helped Lord Lyrason.” He didn’t step back. There were now only inches between our faces.

Duke James would know I included him as culpable, but his eyes remained unflinching as steel. He spoke slowly and dangerously. “And does that include the king?”

I forced a cold smile. “I would be intrigued to find out.”

Duke James’s lips twitched slightly. “Then it wouldn’t just be the people outside who are considering treason, would it?”

I was sick of this. So sick of this. The power built and thrummed within me, and I let a little trickle enter my limbs, causing my weariness to vanish. I could kill this man with just a flick of my wrist, this man who had arranged the city guard to be absent when the halfsouls were released. He was as guilty of the deaths caused by halfsouls as Lord Lyrason.

I hated him so much I could taste it.

I opened my mouth but was interrupted by one of the guards escorting Lord Lyrason into the room. The older man took stock of the situation with frantic eyes before sneering at Lord Venerick. The younger man’s arm was still outstretched to Annabelle as if he still hoped she would come to him but had no other idea about how to achieve that. The poor man looked utterly out of his depth.

Lord Lyrason’s eyes widened as he pieced together what was going on. “No, no, if the king has sent Lord Venerick to retrieve his daughter, she can’t go. Princess Annabelle must stay. She can ensure my safe return more than Duke James. Kasten would happily kill him too. We need a royal to negotiate.”

I glared at him. “Shut up.”

Lord Lyrason turned to Duke James with pleading eyes. “Though it would make the most sense for me to leave here while my man works to save Sophie. I am of no use. You have the king’s authority, don’t you? You could escort me to the palace.”

Duke James gave the man a hard look, which surprised me. The two of them were normally so close. “The king said you must fix your mistake or face the consequences yourself.” Duke James’s eyes returned to mine. “Leave the rest of Adenburg out of this private quarrel. Make your battalion disperse the gathered people with force if necessary.”

I shrugged. “Fine. My soldiers will force them to disperse.” I didn’t need a civilian army to kill or destroy anything I wished.Not now. Lord Lyrason slouched against the wall as if from exhaustion.

I wondered if the king had sent Duke James on purpose because he knew the duke worked with Lord Lyrason. If Sophie died, he had neatly presented me with the two culprits and so minimized potential collateral damage. Throw some meat to the wild animal so it leaves you alone. He seemed to want this incident tied up nicely, whichever direction it went. Smart and ruthless.

I summoned Sir Luke and gave orders away from listening ears for him to pass to Sir Chase. The rabble on the street wouldn’t go far. There was too much rage after what Lord Lyrason had done to the Red Men, catching them and releasing them as halfsouls. But I had no intention of leading a rebellion. Instead, I asked them to organize rallying points and meeting places. That way the unhappy civilians would still feel involved and, therefore, be more inclined to follow orders.

Duke James’s expression was still hard. I gave him a small, cruel smile. “You do realize things are over for you, don’t you? Both you and Lord Lyrason. If Sophie dies, you’re dead. If Sophie lives, you’ll be tried by the court. The truth is out now. The king won’t be able to ignore it or cover it up.”

Duke James said nothing, though his eyes darted to Lord Lyrason whose expression alternated between anger, frustration and fear. His anger wasn’t directed at me either. I suspected it was because of the king’s refusal to save him or help, which made me increasingly convinced of the king’s involvement.

A new thought struck me. What if Lord Lyrason had only been doing this on the king’s orders, only to be discarded when found out? What if the king was the instigator all along? If that was the case, this was far from over.

And Lord Venerick was the Lord High Chancellor, and so, in charge of the justice system. I didn’t know him at all, butif he was friends with Lord Lyrason and Duke James, he could influence the courts. He didn’t look like a villain, though. More like a startled mouse surrounded by cats, completely confused by the conversation and insinuated threats. A strange match for Annabelle, who was definitely a cat. But I knew all too well how dangerous it was to judge people on appearances.

Lord Venerick’s soft, whispered voice was loud in the silence. “Annabelle, my dear, please, let’s go.”

Lord Lyrason flashed angry eyes at him, not bothering to hide his scathing dislike. Interesting. I supposed he was angry that he wasn’t the one engaged to Annabelle. Venerick didn’t seem like an impressive competitor to lose to. “She stays. The general won’t hurt his half sister. Nor will the king harm his daughter.”

I paused, following his train of thought. Did he expect the king to attack this house and kill everyone inside to cover up his complicity in the plans? Everyone with knowledge of it was here or in the grounds. But that was ruthlessness to the extreme.

I frowned and looked to Lord Lyrason. “What do you mean?”

Annabelle’s blue doe eyes were wide. Venerick moved a step closer to her as if in protection, one hand on the hilt of his rapier. He didn’t look like much of a fighter.

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