Page 67 of The Royal Throne
She forced herself to stand upright. “Yes, thank you. I can walk.” Her voice didn’t even sound like it belonged to her.
Near the archway to the courtyard, a handful of people were watching.
Lady Karmen pushed past several of the people and came to Sabine, eyeing her neck. “Are you all right, Your Majesty? You have a nasty bruise forming.”
“I am,” she replied, her voice raspy. It felt as if her throat were on fire every time she spoke.
Several guards were kneeling next to Erikin.
“Is he truly dead?” she asked.
“He is, Your Majesty,” one of the men replied.
While Sabine wanted to cover her face and mourn Erikin’s death, she had to be strong. Dozens of people were nearby watching her.
“Do we take the queen to the dungeon?” one of the guards asked no one in particular.
“You cannot arrest me for no reason,” Sabine said. It hurt too badly to speak, but she needed to make sure everyone knew what really happened. “Princess Lottie has been arrested for treason. The king found out, and he is furious with me. I’m sorry you all had to witness that spectacle.”
“The king just tried to kill the queen,” Karmen said, addressing everyone present. “That’s treason.”
Duke Vadil came forward. “The king ordered the queen to be taken to the dungeon,” he reiterated. “Do we know what she’s been charged with?”
The guards looked at one another, no one knowing.
“When is the princess facing trial?” he asked.
“Tomorrow,” Sabine answered. “You should all be receiving details shortly.”
Duke Vadil put his hand on Sabine’s shoulder. “Then I suggest everyone retire for the evening. If the king isn’t going to the dungeon, then neither is the queen. It looks like we’re going to have quite the day ahead of us tomorrow as all of this gets sorted out.” When no one moved, the duke started motioning for everyone to leave.
If Sabine went to her room, Rainer would find her. And if he found her, she didn’t know if she’d make it to tomorrow. His volatile behavior and aggressive anger frightened her. She’d been terrified when she faced the assassin back in Avoni, but at least she’d known who and what she was dealing with. Rainer, on the other hand, pretended to be one thing when he was another. There was something deeply disturbing and frightening about that.
Everyone left except for Sabine’s personal guards.
“Your Majesty,” one of the men said. “Shall we escort you to your room? Or a healer?”
The healer was probably the right place to go. However, Rainer would look for her there.
She didn’t know what to do. Tears filled her eyes—her neck hurt.
Lady Regina rounded the corner. “My queen.” She curtseyed. “May I please have a word in private?”
She nodded, unable to speak.
The guards moved a respectable distance away.
“I wish to offer you my rooms for the night,” Regina said. “We need to hide you.”
We. Sabine wondered if that included Felix and Cutler.
“Is that acceptable to you?” Regina asked.
Sabine nodded, tears streaking down her cheeks. When she turned toward her guards to inform them of her destination, Regina shook her head. “I’ll take care of it. Don’t try to talk.” Regina wrapped her arm around Sabine. “Guards, this way.”
For the first time in weeks, Sabine felt as if she had a mother taking care of her. She hadn’t realized how much she needed this comfort right now. She relaxed and let the older woman guide her through the palace, taking corridors and passageways she hadn’t been in before. Some of them were so narrow and dark she wondered if they were in the servants’ passageways.
They entered Lady Regina’s rooms from a hidden door. Regina ushered the guards inside as well. Then Cutler stepped forward and ordered the men to guard every door and entryway. Regina took Sabine into a small bedchamber, sitting her on the bed.
