Ingrid allowed a ghost of a smile as she situated herself across the desk from the commander. She had his undivided attention, and any hint of threat to her person had disappeared like the morning dew.
"If you saw the princess, then you saw her new accessory…" Ingrid watched Borit's expression sour.
Rose always had Lady Caitlyn at her heels, but there was an extra person in her retinue.
"Ah yes, the brat had a young man with her. One of the new knights. Sir Samberg…if I am not mistaken."
The ant had barely been above Borit's notice. But he had been the catalyst for Sir Nuall's banishment, and that alone was what kept the young man in the Commander's mind.
"Yes, that is the one. The young warrior made quite an impression on both the king and the princess. He has been appointed Her Highness's personal knight." Ingrid smiled smugly.
"I don't know why you think that would make me happy. It's another palace urchin we have to watch out for, only this one has a sword." Borit was beginning to think that Ingrid had tricked him into leaving the jail to save the lunatic prisoner.
But the clever bandit wasn't usually one to care about others in that way. He decided to bide his time a little longer before carrying out his threat to break her.
"I am happy, Commander, because I recognize Sir Samberg, and I believe you should as well." Ingrid paused, her words daring him to solve the puzzle on his own.
Borit looked idly at his fingernails. "Do you mean he has been at the palace before?"
"I mean he has been to Rynnlee before…"
"RYNNLEE?!" Borit spat the word as if it were the vilest poison.
Ingrid gave a small nod. "When I tried to extort money from that sad pathetic village, a little boy was with Silver's gang. I didn't see him until the moment he released my dam before it was complete. The image of that child is burned into my memory. He is the reason I got caught."
While Silver and Rabert had been the ones to apprehend the beautiful menace, it was the boy's destroying of the dam that had ultimately changed the course of how everything ended. Ingrid never forgot a debt.
Borit tapped his fingers together, deep in thought. "You think this Sir Samberg is the same person as the boy you described."
"I know it," Ingrid gritted her teeth.
"I also had a run in with a boy. But he went by a different name…" Borit thought about the green-eyed youth who had brought a Fate to stop him in his tracks. "His name was…Ethyn!"
Borit hit the table with both fists as papers went flying. Hadn't the commander heard Rose call the knight by his first name repeatedly?
Ethyn was a common name though; three other knights had that same moniker. Still, the age was right and the features. And he had given no lineage to speak of at the knighting ceremony…now Borit knew why!
"Hiding in plain sight!" The commander banged his fist again, adding to the bruises already there.
"There's more. The princess and this 'Ethyn' have become romantically entangled. I believe that Her Highness went to visit him during her little disappearing act." Ingrid spoke every word as if it were a delicious morsel in her mouth.
"Do you have any proof of either of those claims? I cannot go off idle speculation." Borit knew better than to believe gossip, but he also did not think that Ingrid would make wild claims without a reason.
Ingrid spread her hands wide. "I cannot prove that she went to see him beyond the fact we know she was heading in the general direction of Rynnlee when your little gang caught up with her, and that when Sir Samberg arrived to have dinner with the king, he was already overly familiar with the princess."
"Hm," Borit grunted. It wasn't a lot to go on.
"As for the romance, that I can prove without a doubt. The two just got back from visiting the Falls of True Love together, and I have it on good authority that they kissed while there." Ingrid twisted her hair around finger and and gave a lopsided grin. "You owe me a bit of money for that last part. The soldier with that information would not easily part with what he saw."
"I'll pay all that and more. Ingrid I am so happy I could actually kiss you." Borit seemed genuinely elated for the first time since Ingrid had met him.
"Please don't…" The woman leaned back in her chair. She had no romantic feelings towards the dashing Commander. She brought the conversation back to the matter at hand. "So do you plan on killing the knight while he sleeps and make it look like an accident?"
Ingrid thought for a moment, then her eyes lit.
"Or we could frame someone else for his death. No! We could kill the king and frame him. His Majesty is asleep right now. We could make sure he never awakens and prove Sir Samberg is to blame!"
"You think too small." Borit chastised her.
"Regicide is a small thing?" The woman raised one eyebrow. Just how crazy was the commander?
"No, I suppose it is not. I need both him and the king alive. At least for now. I do wonder why Ethyn would risk being discovered by me in order to chase after the princess. Even if he has designs on the throne, it is a very bold move unless there is something I am missing…"
A thought sparked in Borit's head. 'Silver had a sister long ago. The princess is adopted…what if…'
"This is too perfect! Everything is coming together. Oh this is even better than I could have hoped!" Borit looked almost giddy. Of course he often was when planning another's demise.
An idea was forming in his mind. It was a way to get everything he wanted. To finally get the recognition he deserved. His mother had always told him that only he deserved to be king.
Except for the one time where she told him he was worthless. That had not gone well. 'I shall prove her right and wrong all in the same action!'
"Care to tell me our next move?" The woman folded her hands and tried to be patient. But the commander's grin was unsettling.
At least if she knew what he was grinning about, it might make a smidgen of sense. If Borit wasn't going to kill Ethyn or the king, then why exactly was he so happy?
"All in due time," Borit's smile faded. "I'll deal with them both, and catch the princess in the process. That boy did me a great favor without meaning to. His appearance makes what was found out in the fields make more sense…"
"What did you find?" Ingrid was beginning to be frustrated by the man's vagueness.
"A present for you, my dear Ingrid. I do like to keep my promises. You shall get it in the morning." Borit's teeth shone in the torchlight like a venomous snake, making Ingrid wary of any gift he might provide.
"Commander, I do wish you would speak plainly." Ingrid shifted in her chair. Borit looked ready to strike, but she did not think that it would be at her.
"And ruin the surprise? No, no. Sometimes the best part of the gift is how it is presented. I promise, Ingrid dear, You won't want to miss this…"