Page 42 of Seven Ways to Kill a King
Cass was bloodsworn to the queen. It was no one’s duty more than his.
Ginger rolled her eyes heavenward before she returned her focus to her work. “Men are fools as often as they aren’t.”
Cass gave her no answer, because in that exasperated look, he saw and heard the fondness with which she complained of Hugh, and something else, something Cass did not want to tear open with Miri so fragile. Ginger had seen Cass and Miri close, acting as husband and wife. Ginger had known Miri was the daughter of the Lion Queen.
“Woman,” Hugh said from the doorway, “I’ve heated the water myself. We foolish men have tasks of our own. The lad can’t be your nursemaid all day.”
Ginger snorted but kept at her work, her long fingers dark against Miri’s too-pale skin.
Hugh gave Cass an expectant glower, and Cass reluctantly set the lantern near Ginger’s work.
Chapter 24
Cass gripped his brother-in-arms with all the strength in his body. Terric had lived. He’d saved Miri and saved them all.
“Easy, brother,” Terric said. “We aren’t safe yet.”
Cass drew back to look at him, grateful to the point of pain. The queensguard and those faithful to the dead queen had misled the kingsmen and fought on her behalf. They hadn’t known the assassin was Myrina, princess and daughter of the Lion Queen. They had only known they had a chance to rise up, and they had taken it with eager courage.
“We need to leave by nightfall. Will she be ready?”
Hugh spoke from behind Cass. “Wife says she’ll be fine. Beaten and sore to be sure but not badly injured.”
Terric’s gaze slid over Cass’s shoulder. “She needs to be certain. This will be no easy trip.”
“I know what’s at stake,” Hugh answered. He had, after all, risked his own neck. “And she knows her business around wounds. If she says it, I stake my life on it being the truth.”
Terric nodded. “Then we leave tonight.” He handed Cass a leather pouch. “Your horses will be ready, and we’ve managed to retrieve the things from your rooms. There is no evidence either of you was there.”
The only risk would be hearsay, and there would be more than enough of that floating about after the murder of a king. Cass tugged at the collar of his new jacket. Sarah’s estimation of his size was only a bit small. She’d brought Miri loose, soft, and layered gowns made of nothing that would irritate her wounds. Cass would ride with her, and Hugh and Ginger would be at their sides with a small party of loyal guards, while Terric and others misdirected the kingsmen.
Bells rang through the street outside their meeting place, and Cass startled at the sound.
Terric gave him a wry smile. “It’s not an alarm.” At Cass’s expression, Terric explained, “It’s a call to assemble. The queen’s first order of business was to seek vengeance on the woman she’s accused of being the source of the plot. The king’s mistress is being hanged for treason.”
“What of the sorcerers?” Cass asked.
“They have been busy examining the scene. Word is harder to find on the decisions of those…” Terric’s gaze flicked to Hugh then back to Cass. “We’ve no idea what they’re planning. I don’t expect we will anytime soon.”
“All the more reason to move right away.” Hugh crossed his arms, glancing toward the window, where passersby headed toward the castle to watch a woman hang.
Terric took hold of Cass with a firm grip on his forearm. “I will see you again. By the grace of the maiden.”
Cass locked his fingers over Terric’s forearm and squeezed back. “By the will of the gods.”
* * *
Miri joltedawake with the feeling she’d fallen. But she was not plummeting helplessly from a tower window. She was in Cass’s arms. His hair was cut short, and his neck was covered in a high-collared jacket embroidered with fine leaves. She breathed in relief then winced at the stab of pain in her ribs.
“You’re safe,” Cass whispered. “But we’ve got to move. Ginger is going to give you something for the pain.”
Her mind was foggy, but Cass was warm and his tone reassuring. She wanted to fall back to sleep, but they wouldn’t stop jostling her. She felt a warm palm slide beneath her neck, tilting her head upward. Her jaw ached, and her throat was dry.
“Here, my Myrina,” someone said softly. “Drink this.”
Miri drank then felt her brow draw together before her heartbeat took to racing in an unsteady gallop. Her eyes went wide, but she had to blink to clear her vision to see Cass’s frown as he looked at the woman before them.Ginger.Ginger had called her Myrina.
“Bean,” Ginger snapped, more to Cass than anyone else.
