Page 139 of The Forgotten Queen
Dannyn nodded. “They have to let you go now that they have Doctor Von and Stoddard.”
“You know, Stoddard’s the one that killed Dad. It wasn’t a heart attack. He poisoned his blood with some kind of drug.”
Dannyn pressed her hand to her chest. “What?”
“I’m sure Doctor Von helped with that too,” Kase said. “Those two worked together on everything.”
Dannyn shook her head, still reeling.
“How’s Mom?” he asked.
“She’s an absolute wreck. Thank goodness for those butterflies, or I don’t think she’d get out of bed each day.”
He frowned, hating the fact that he was adding to his mother’s stress.
“Have you seen Sydria?” Dannyn asked.
“You mean Seran?” Marx sighed, walking over to his bed and sinking down into it.
“Did you know who she was?”
“I didn’t figure it out until the night Dad died, and even then, I didn’t know for sure. It was only a guess, a theory.”
“They’re saying you knew all along, that you’re the one who made the arrangements with Stoddard, not your father,” Kase said.
Marx dropped his head into his hands. “I know what the charges are.”
“Why are you letting them think that?” Dannyn asked.
He looked up. “I haven’t really had a chance to change anyone’s mind. I went from Cristole Castle to this jail cell.”
Dannyn lifted her brows. “But you’re going to tell them tomorrow that it’s all a big misunderstanding, right?”
“Yeah. I’ll tell the Council my side of the story and hope that some of the rulers believe me.”
“Now that we have Stoddard,” Dannyn said, “I’m sure you’ll be fine. He’s clearly the one to blame for all of this. Him and Adler.”
“I asked if I could testify at the trial,” Kase said.
“And are they going to let you?”
Kase shook his head.
“Why not?” Dannyn pouted.
Kase shrugged. “Since Bryant is the hosting king, he gets to decide how the proceedings go. Apparently, there will only be a few testimonies.”
Dannyn gave a reassuring smile. “That’s probably a good sign. They must already know you’re innocent, and they don’t need to hear anymore.”
Marx nodded at his sister, trying to keep her optimism intact. But he knew the truth. These trials weren’t like pre-Desolation trials. There wouldn’t be a lawyer or anyone there to help represent him. A person wasn’t innocent until proven guilty. Every testimony and piece of evidence wouldn’t be exhausted. The hosting king decided the format. He had the final say.
Unfortunately for Marx, King Bryant was the hosting king.
“What about Seran?” Dannyn asked, pulling him away from his worries.
“What about her?”
“Are you going to talk to her tomorrow?”
