As the dark-haired woman went to obey orders, Silver struggled against the remaining guard. He chewed against the cloth blocking his mouth. Rose leaned forward trying to understand the muffled words.
Borit gave the Guardian a sharp look, and Silver fell silent.
"Does he have you so enthralled in this fake relative story that you still trust him over reason, Your Highness?" the Commander scoffed.
Rhodri seemed to be studying the girl's reaction as well. The creases on his face made him look years older than he was.
"I'm not enthralled. But I do think we should give him a chance to speak on his own behalf. This is an inquiry after all. Let us inquire." Rose's plea was to the king, but it was Borit who answered.
"Then inquire we shall. Who else did you see in Rynnlee beside Silver."
Rose knew better than to out any of the people she had come to know and love. Although Borit might not be able to enter the village, he could take note of whoever she listed and find a way to make them suffer.
Anyway, the princess did not feel like the Commander was looking for a laundry list of suspects. Each question he asked had a very distinct point.
"I told you that I met a lot of people from my past," Rose said airily. "I cannot easily mention all of their names."
"What about someone from your present? Did you happen upon a new acquaintance there who you had previously met at the palace?" Borit cut his eyes toward the princess and watched her face pale. It filled him with deep satisfaction.
"I...I..." Rose was spared her answer as the door to the king's chambers opened.
A second figure was escorted into the room. Due to his position in the court, he was not in chains—yet—but he had been disabused of his sword. The air in the room suddenly grew tense.
Ethyn tried to keep his face neutral, but one look at his friend bound and gagged lit an angry fire in his eyes. He bowed before the king.
"Your Majesty," he said evenly.
"Sir Samberg. I suppose you realize that you are here for an inquiry. I am afraid I have some difficult questions for you." King Rhodri adjusted the circle on his head.
"Anything for you, my king.' Ethyn answered easily. Had he not sworn to protect the throne?
"Are you from Rynnlee?" Rhodri did not give the young man time to get comfortable. It was only in discomfort that most people unwillingly revealed their more personal thoughts.
"I am not from Rynnlee. I was born on the Samberg estate." The knight kept his back straight and his head held high.
"Have you ever been to Rynnlee?" Rhodri continued. "Do not lie to me. I can easily find out this information without you."
"I lived there for many years as a child. They are the people that took in a poor orphan and kept me from dying. I have only spent a week or two there at a time since my training began. So I cannot say that I have lived there in over three years." Ethyn held his shoulders squarely against the questions.
He had done nothing wrong by living in the village.
"And were you in Rynnlee when the princess was there?" Borit asked with a vicious gleam in his eye.
Ethyn's eyes shot to Rose. She opened her mouth but Rhodri placed his hand on her arm.
"Let the man answer for himself." The king looked sternly at his daughter. He had seen her silent coaching out of the corner of his eye. He could not have her intervene further.
"I saw the princess in Rynnlee, Your Majesty. I did not know she would be there and did offer to take her home." Ethyn left out that it had been decided that someone else should take her home to avoid this exact conversation.
"Did you not find it odd, Your Highness, that your long lost brother and the knight you just met were both from the same town? More than that, they were close friends..." Borit stood up and began to pace slowly around the two prisoners.
"Not if the Fates designed it to be so." Although she believed her words, her argument sounded very thin. If only Hanna were here to vouch for the situation!
"The Fates? Ha, is that what these liars told you? The Fates are dead, if they were ever alive at all. Isn't it far more likely that Silver orchestrated the whole thing? Sir Samberg is a brand new knight. He knew he had no business courting a princess. Why would this fraud press so hard to get to know you unless Sir Samberg had an agenda and a timeline?"
"Ethyn didn't want to have feelings. It just happened..." Rose felt a noose tightening around her with every word she uttered. Though really, it was the Guardian's and knight's necks who were on the line.
"I am sure that is what he told you. Few things are more attractive than a reluctant lover to a princess who only has people fawn over her." Borit's words stung, probably because they had some truth to them.
Rose had been drawn to him because he was different, but she refused to believe it was manipulation on Ethyn's part.
However, the commander plunged forward with his ever growing accusations. "You see, Your Majesty. The two were working together to ensnare the princess into an attachment. Unfortunately for them, I uncovered the plot. My king, the Guardian planned to have Sir Samberg seduce the princess and then have a quiet coup by killing you and putting princess Rose on the throne. Together these two could easily direct the princess wherever they desired."
"Liar!" Ethyn could stand the indignation no longer. "You are the treacherous one. If anything, we were trying to protect her from your influence."
"By bringing her under your own?" Borit twisted the knight's words back at him. "Shouldn't Her Highness be able to think for herself?"
Ethyn pressed his lips together. "I believe the princess knows her own mind. She will do what she pleases despite any 'influence' that you think I may have."
"Really? Is that why you took her off all alone to the Falls of True Love and had your way with her?" Borit sneered.
Ethyn's face flushed. "It wasn't like that. All we did was kiss. Do not besmirch the princess's name like that!" The knight stepped toward Borit, ready to defend the lady's honor, when the soldier grabbed his elbow to stop him. Her other hand went to her sword.
As for Rose, she looked ready to cry. The princess knew once a lady's honor was questioned, there was nothing the girl could do for herself.
"That is enough, Borit. If I hear you say anything like that again, I will dismiss you myself." The king came to the princess's rescue.
"Of course, Your Majesty. I shall mention it to no one." Borit pretended to obey while still asserting his version as fact.
"Is there anything else?" Rhodri's mood was beyond repair. He was devastated.
Borit stopped his pacing and faced the monarch. "Only one thing more. I think these two are the source of the rumors of war with Lakyle. They were stirring up trouble just to have someone to blame when you died, My King."
"No!" Rose vehemently objected. "I received a communication from Prince Callum that trouble is coming."
"A communication?" Borit's face darkened slightly. "And who gave you this supposed communication?"
"Unless Ethyn has grey feathers and can fly, you cannot blame him for the message that arrived." Rose rolled her eyes at the Commander.
"Anyone can train a bird. How strange that the creature came to you and not to the aviary, don't you think?" Borit arched his brow in response.
Rose puffed out her cheeks. "You are on shaky ground, Commander. First you make a claim on my innocence and now you are going after my competence…"
"I only report what I see, I cannot help how you interpret it, Your Highness." Borit bowed humbly.
Rose was incensed by his answer, "Wait just a moment! How dare you...."
Borit spoke over her. "I dare only to tell the truth..."
"Enough," Rhodri boomed. "I have come to a decision."