Page 109 of Knightfall
Connor shrugged. “It could. Though Sedara always has access to this type of chain. So, it could mean them too.”
I held up the chain and stared as it dripped blood onto the floor. “If this is elven chain, then Wyle’s death wasn’t an accident. If it is, someone controlled him and I think it means my mother’s security spell activated.”
What’s that?
“She had spells created that ensured anyone who betrayed royal secrets … would explode.”
Everyone turned to stare at the puddle that used to be the castle mage.
“What secret did he give up?” Connor asked.
I looked grimly at each of my husbands. “I don’t know.”
Chapter Thirty
We left Wyle’s tower a somber group.
Ryan joined us at the base of the stairs. He saw the trail of blood my skirt left on the stairs behind me.
“Not mine,” I reassured him. “Quinn, fill him in while we walk through the spelled passages back to my chamber.”
I fell back as we walked, thinking. Planning. I’d hoped to use Wyle to help solve my problems. But clearly someone had anticipated that move. Or used Wyle for their own devices. There would be no easy path ahead for me. No one would just bow down, roll over, and confess everything I wanted to hear.
Unless …
I grabbed Connor when we were halfway through the secret passages snaking along the castle walls. I handed him the elven chain. “Can you get that cleaned up? And then maybe test it? See if it makes the wearer do whatever you want.”
Connor gave a little grin. “We can test it right now. Hey Quinn, come back!”
Quinn stopped walking. He’d been ahead with Ryan. But he returned to us.
Connor said, “Your Queen commands you to kneel.”
Quinn raised an eyebrow at me.
I sighed. “Just briefly, if you don’t mind.”
Quinn knelt.
Connor grabbed the bloody chain, ready to slip it over Quinn’s neck.
Declan grabbed the chain and yanked it back. “No! Don’t!”
We all turned to look at him.
He rubbed his bloody palm off on his breeches, saying “I think we need a little more research into those chains. I’ve never heard of them traveling outside Sedara. I know they use them in interrogation. I don’t know much about them, to be honest. I don’t know how much is written. But logically … I mean, the chains wouldn’t be incredibly useful ifanyonecould control them, would they? Your enemy could just grab them and turn around and use them on you. I’m pretty sure they’ve got some kind of magical code to activate them.”
“Sard!” I clenched my fist.
“Whoever controls these chains controls the wearer completely?” Connor asked Declan.
“I … I’m not sure.”
“Mindandbody?”
Declan shrugged.
“Why don’t you and I go back to Wyle’s chamber and raid his library?” Connor suggested.
