Page 65 of The Queen's Crown
Markis made his way over to Sabine. “What are you doing here?”
“I brought her,” Lottie answered. “We’re here to have some fun. You can join us.”
Markis didn’t look Lottie’s way—he kept his focus on Sabine. “Do you have guards with you?”
She nodded. “Sit so you don’t attract attention.”
He plopped on the chair, running a hand over his face, revealing dark circles beneath his eyes.
A guy who looked about twenty-five came over and asked Lottie to dance. She joyfully agreed and jumped up to join him.
“I actually need to talk to you,” he said, his voice low so no one nearby would overhear.
Sabine leaned toward him.
“I’ve been asking around,” Markis mumbled.
“And?”
“All evidence points to a professional assassin from Carlon.”
She nodded, trying to process the information.
“I also think someone in the palace hired him.”
Shock filled Sabine, and her pulse quickened. “Why do you think that?” If it were someone in the palace, then Sabine was definitely in danger.
“A lot of people don’t want a union between Bakley and Lynk.”
“Including the people in Lynk?” She assumed everyone would welcome the union since it meant bringing large amounts of food to the people here in this kingdom. And then it dawned on her. “It has to be someone wealthy or powerful.”
“Exactly. Someone who doesn’t want the king to succeed. At least, that’s what I think based upon my limited investigation.”
It was more than Sabine had managed to come up with. “Which means I probably met the person the night I was introduced to the court.” A shudder rippled through her at the thought of having danced with the man responsible for her sister’s death.
“My guess is the assassin didn’t even know who he was working for. He was paid handsomely and disappeared after. It was a job for him and nothing more.”
“We have to find out who hired him.” Which would be infinitely more difficult.
“Yes,” Markis replied, looking at her with his brows raised. “And the person who hired the assassin is probably upset you took your sister’s place.”
“Do you think the person will hire the assassin again?”
Markis shrugged. “Who knows?” He leaned on his elbows, rubbing his forehead. “You will need to continue to be extra cautious.”
Glancing around, Sabine said, “I should leave.” There were so many people in the tavern that any one of them could easily pull out a knife and stab her.
“You’re probably safer here with the servants than you are walking the halls in the palace with the nobles around.”
She grabbed her drink but then set it down, remembering it hadn’t been through a food taster. “Why are you here?” she asked, wanting him to distract her before she panicked.
“I’m here for the gossip. Servants see and hear things others do not. Then when they have a little alcohol in their system, they tend to talk. If I can piece together enough conversations, enough clues from the servants, I can come up with a list of possible suspects. At least, that’s what I’m hoping for.” Markis yawned.
“When’s the last time you slept?”
He shrugged. “There’s work to be done.”
“You need to take care of yourself, so you don’t get yourself killed trying to protect me.”
