Page 91 of The King's Man 2

“You have become... obstructive.” He knows it was me who transfused the king’s blood into the wyvern. “Akla has been very good. She’s told me all about how you snuck out of the royal city with my nephew.”

My heart skips sickly. What does this mean for Quin? What should I do? What would Quin do?

Act.

I raise my chin. “I’m a green-sashed mage, of insignificant family. Why would the ruler of this kingdom sneak around with me?”

The high duke combs his beard again, muffling a sinister laugh. “You claim she’s lying?”

“Only that she’s mistaken.”

Megaera steps forward sharply but the high duke holds up a hand. “You are indeed bold. Akla, bring him in.”

Megaera stares hard at me and then pivots to the doors. I hold back a hard swallow and try to determine how badly injured Akilah is—from this distance, and without the aid of magic. Her back shudders on every intake of air. Breathing is painful for her.

Another figure enters the nave, and I sag.

“I take it you recognise the capital’s high judge?”

The judge bows to the duke and fixes his gaze on me. “That’s the brat who dared challenge me.”

“And who,” the high duke asks, looking right at me, “was this brat with?”

“Your nephew interceded.”

“Are you sure?”

“He showed me his face. Threatened me.” The judge scowls and turns back to the high duke, falling to his knees. “I deserve punishment. I have now learned that this boy is an Amuletos. Years ago, I executed an Amuletos for using banned spells during the rose-ring outbreak. He begged me at the time to spare the rest of his family; he had once saved my sister, so I conceded. This shows how wrong I was to do so.”

Anger and pain leak out of me. The high duke smiles smugly. I try to suck it back in, but I can’t.Grandfather...

I squeeze my eyes shut. River at the guillotine. Grandfather under the same blade.

“Rise. You made reasonable decisions and showed mercy. No punishment. Aklo, see the judge out.”

As the judge bows again, the duke’s eyes flash with the promise of terror, and then he lets it go and laughs. “My nephew thinks he’s clever, but you’re only clever if you get away with it.” He pauses for dramatic effect. “If his father were here, he’d be truly disappointed. Let’s get to the exam, shall we?”

Akilah is shoved onto the floor, where she sprawls and slides to my feet.

I crouch and cradle her face, checking her pulse, her pupils, combing her loose hair gently off her forehead. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

She whimpers, weak from mistreatment, and tries to cup my cheek. Some of these bruises are... at least a week old. I tighten my grip on her cold, clammy body. “What happened?”

“Out camping with Lucetta...” Her eyes well up. “She’s alright. She’s alright for now.”

Anger is hot and fiery in my throat, the back of my nose, my ears. I want to throw up. I want to be strong and safe and shield Akilah.

“Touching reunion.”

I rest my head against Akilah’s and steady my breath. Lashing out will only be a faster route to death.

“Chiron,” the high duke barks, “we shall begin.”

Chiron, who has watched on in shock, snaps forward and bows deeply.

The high duke lifts his voice, and it echoes along the gallery. “Extract the subject’s lovelight and transplant it into me.”

I pull my forehead from Akilah’s and glare across the luminarium. “The lovelight is connected to the soul. If it’s forcibly removed, it’s torture.”

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