Rhodri held up his hand to stop whatever was about to tumble out of Borit's mouth. As the two guards roughly helped up the Commander and found him a new seat, the king smoothed out the crumpled paper.
Not that he needed to. He was pretty sure he knew exactly what it was.
Ethyn tossed the boot to Aiden before joining Rose in covertly peering over the king's shoulder. His eyes opened wide, and Rose gasped.
"This is the document which Kaarel forced me to sign. It names my successor and binds Rose to whoever's name is on it." Rhodri peered over the paper at the Commander. "Why and how do you have this?"
Borit stared evenly forward. "I took it away from Kaarel's man by bumping into him. I had planned to dispose of it as soon as I was able, but I have been tied up, fighting, or injured since that time. I leave it in your hands."
'Not that you have a choice,' Ethyn rolled his eyes.
"Why did you not mention it when we discovered you?" Rose questioned his defense.
"It did not occur to me," Borit answered. There was a flash of disdain that he quickly hid. "Have I answered all your questions? I would like to lay down and rest for an hour or two, then I will be happy to assist Your Majesty with anything the palace requires."
"No!" Rose answered before the king. "I have so many questions. You haven't yet answered for what you did to my parents! My birth parents." The princess became animated. "Father, I have the documents that show Borit likely burned down the village where my parents lived. And then he altered the report after his accomplices mysteriously died. I had the books in my room for you to see before things went wrong. Do not let the Commander go anywhere until you have seen them." Rose pleaded.
"I look forward to seeing those reports myself, Your Highness," Borit's voice held no fear. "I am most interested as to their contents."
Rose's heart sank. The Commander's confidence could only mean one thing.
Caitlyn came back after what felt like an eternity. "The books are no longer there." The lady's eyes were puffy.
"That is a pity," Borit pouted.
"Fed or Ingrid must have taken them while we were hiding," Rose offered. "I can recount what was inside!"
"I believe you will tell me what you think you saw, my dear, but that is not exactly the same as being able to examine the evidence myself." Rhodri rubbed his head. "It is no small thing to accuse someone whom I have trusted with my life for years of treason. It goes against my very soul. And to not have any definitive evidence…"
"Please take your time." Borit furrowed his brow. "Is your headache coming back, Your Majesty? I do hope you have been keeping up with your medicinal treatments."
"Actually, this is the best my head has felt in a very long time." Rhodri chewed his lip, astonished at the revelation. "I supposed my mind has been so occupied that it hasn't had time to hurt."
Rose felt a nudge against her conciousness. Why had Borit jumped to medicine while the king was trying to make his decision? Something wasn't right, and she wanted to find out what.
"I remember that when I was in the kitchen the cook was making you some special tea. I am afraid it was spilled before it made it to you. Perhaps we should call for some now before all the excitement finally ends." Rose cut her eyes to Borit.
She could see a small twinkle in his eye which only grew when the king replied. "Perhaps you are right. Lady Caitlyn, would you call a servant and have the cook make some of my special tea...assuming he is not wounded," Rhodri added the last part with a grimace.
Ethyn shot Rose a curious glance over the king's head. It was very strange for Borit and the princess to be on the same side.
"Caitlyn, if the cook could deliver the tea himself, I would be most grateful. I want to thank him for not turning you out when you appeared in his kitchen." Rose blushed slightly.
"Yes, Your Highness." The brunette curtsied and left the room.
While they waited, the Commander took the opportunity to press his case.
"I do appeal to your reason, Your Majesty," Borit opened his hands. "What possible reason would I have for plotting with Kaarel and King Willric?"
Rhodri frowned. He had been so busy considering if the man was a traitor that he hadn't thought about the why.
Rose cleared her throat lightly and whimpered. She touched the cut on her neck.
Rhodri abandoned his line of thought and took her daughter's hand. "Sit down, my dear. Take my seat. Are you unwell?"
"No no, my father. It is just… This cut on my neck is becoming unbearable. I am beginning to wonder if the blade was tinged with poison," Rose touched the small cut lightly and winced.
"I will send for the doctor to look at it immediately!" The king's tone brooked no argument.
"Thank you," Rose cleared her throat again.
One of the guards outside was dispatched to fetch the doctor while Rose was finally brought a seat by the doting Ethyn. In truth, she could have sat at any time, but part of her worried that Borit might try to act quickly and hurt the king.
Now that Borit thought he was getting his way, he had relaxed slightly. At least for now, the princess felt that her father was safe.
Rhodri fussed over Rose until the doctor arrived, making any further plea by Borit fall on deaf ears.
When the doctor entered, the king's relief was palpable.
"Come and look at the cut on Rose's neck. It is irritated. Do you think that there is any chance that the blade used on her was poisoned?" The king spoke so that his daughter did not have to.
The physician brought a small bag of tools and put them on the king's large desk. Carefully, he looked at the princess and dabbed at the wound.
While he was treating the cut with something that stung terribly, another knocked at the door.
In came Caitlyn and the cook with a tray in his hands. His body shaking, he approached the king and held out his platter as he bowed his head low. Rhodri took the tea, but it was so hot that he set it on the desk to cool.
Rose stayed the doctor's hand for a moment. "Thank you for not throwing Caitlyn out of the kitchen when we arrived earlier today. We were trying to escape the soldiers."
"Your Highness? Oh!" The cook dipped his head over and over. "I had no idea Lady Caitlyn visited earlier today or that you were with her! Forgive me!"
"No need for forgiveness. But perhaps some of that tea will help my throat as well. What do you think, doctor?" Rose touched the wound lightly.
"Tea might make you feel better, but it will do nothing to heal the external wounds." The physician shared his medical knowledge freely.
"That is too bad. I know how much your special medicinal tea has meant to my father. Perhaps you can make a recipe for me as well for my general health when this is all over." Rose indicated the cup on the desk.
The doctor's face contorted in confusion. "Medicinal tea? What medicinal tea?" He narrowed his eyes at the cook. "What exactly is that?!"