Read Online Master of the Dance by T C Southwell - Free Book Online
Authors: T C Southwell
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Blade, and this is for your ill treatment of my queen."
Trelath's mouth worked as he strived to call the guards, but the daggers lodged in his heart and lungs robbed him of the power of speech. Blade watched him die, only pulling the daggers out when Trelath's eyes glazed and he slumped to the ground. Since he could not wipe them on his victim's clothes as he usually did, he sheathed them and drew Dravis' weapon from his belt. He pushed the ornate dagger into one of the wounds and checked himself for blood, wiping a little off his fingers with his handkerchief.
Satisfied, he walked back along the path and past the guards, who bowed. As he retraced his steps to his rooms, he reflected that it was fortunate Cotti soldiers held their princes in such high regard. It might be time-glasses before the men plucked up the courage to see why Trelath was still in the garden.
Back in his rooms, he summoned Olan and ordered a bath, then stripped off the disguise. When the servant returned with drudges laden with hot water, Blade gave him the clothes and ordered him to return them to Dravis' rooms. The servant looked doubtful, but left with the items. Lying back in the tub of hot water, Blade experienced the euphoria that usually followed a successful assassination, which the extreme tension of his escape had denied him the night before.
Kerrion was eating supper with Minna and Kerra in his private quarters when Jadar brought him the news of Trelath's death. The elderly advisor looked upset, wringing his hands. Kerrion glanced at his wife, who picked at her roast fowl without expression, then at Kerra, who met his glance before turning her attention back to her grilled fish. The King assumed a suitably shocked and tragic aspect when he turned to Jadar again.
"Was it another assassination?"
"No, Sire. It seems that Prince Dravis is to blame this time. He was seen meeting Prince Trelath in the gardens, shortly before the Prince's body was discovered."
Kerrion frowned. "That does not mean that Dravis killed him. The assassin could have done it after he left."
"His dagger was found in Prince Trelath's body, Sire."
"I see." Kerrion wiped his mouth with his napkin. "That was exceedingly stupid of him."
"Indeed, Sire. Perhaps he panicked."
"Maybe. I suppose they could have argued, and Dravis killed his brother in a fit of rage."
"The guards heard no argument."
Kerrion glanced at the advisor. "You suspect something else?"
"It is possible that the dagger was left there to place the blame on Prince Dravis."
"By someone who looked exactly like Dravis, I suppose."
"Possibly, Sire."
"It seems more likely to me that Dravis was responsible. Is there enough evidence to convict him?"
Jadar nodded. "Yes, Sire. Unless Prince Dravis can prove that he was elsewhere at the time."
"Then question him, Jadar. You have my permission."
Jadar bowed. "As you wish, My King."
The advisor left, and Kerrion dismissed the hovering servants and turned to Minna. "Even if Dravis has an alibi, which I doubt, he is going to have a job refuting the evidence against him. Until Blade came here, this time and last, getting rid of my brothers was an impossible dream, but he makes it ridiculously easy."
She smiled. "That is because he is the best."
"I will not argue with that, my love. Now all I have to do is gather my remaining brothers and tell them what I want in return for their lives."
"Then it becomes more dangerous. If one of them should call your bluff..."
Kerrion shook his head. "I doubt that. Apart from Dravis and Endor, all the ambitious ones are dead. And if one of them does pluck up the courage to defy me, he will die before he can testify."
"Which will make the courts doubly suspicious."
"But lacking a witness."
"Dravis will accuse you," she pointed out.
"True, but his credibility will be suspect. The judges will think he is trying to blame me for his crime, and I will make my other brothers testify in my favour, if necessary."
Minna
Trelath's mouth worked as he strived to call the guards, but the daggers lodged in his heart and lungs robbed him of the power of speech. Blade watched him die, only pulling the daggers out when Trelath's eyes glazed and he slumped to the ground. Since he could not wipe them on his victim's clothes as he usually did, he sheathed them and drew Dravis' weapon from his belt. He pushed the ornate dagger into one of the wounds and checked himself for blood, wiping a little off his fingers with his handkerchief.
Satisfied, he walked back along the path and past the guards, who bowed. As he retraced his steps to his rooms, he reflected that it was fortunate Cotti soldiers held their princes in such high regard. It might be time-glasses before the men plucked up the courage to see why Trelath was still in the garden.
Back in his rooms, he summoned Olan and ordered a bath, then stripped off the disguise. When the servant returned with drudges laden with hot water, Blade gave him the clothes and ordered him to return them to Dravis' rooms. The servant looked doubtful, but left with the items. Lying back in the tub of hot water, Blade experienced the euphoria that usually followed a successful assassination, which the extreme tension of his escape had denied him the night before.
Kerrion was eating supper with Minna and Kerra in his private quarters when Jadar brought him the news of Trelath's death. The elderly advisor looked upset, wringing his hands. Kerrion glanced at his wife, who picked at her roast fowl without expression, then at Kerra, who met his glance before turning her attention back to her grilled fish. The King assumed a suitably shocked and tragic aspect when he turned to Jadar again.
"Was it another assassination?"
"No, Sire. It seems that Prince Dravis is to blame this time. He was seen meeting Prince Trelath in the gardens, shortly before the Prince's body was discovered."
Kerrion frowned. "That does not mean that Dravis killed him. The assassin could have done it after he left."
"His dagger was found in Prince Trelath's body, Sire."
"I see." Kerrion wiped his mouth with his napkin. "That was exceedingly stupid of him."
"Indeed, Sire. Perhaps he panicked."
"Maybe. I suppose they could have argued, and Dravis killed his brother in a fit of rage."
"The guards heard no argument."
Kerrion glanced at the advisor. "You suspect something else?"
"It is possible that the dagger was left there to place the blame on Prince Dravis."
"By someone who looked exactly like Dravis, I suppose."
"Possibly, Sire."
"It seems more likely to me that Dravis was responsible. Is there enough evidence to convict him?"
Jadar nodded. "Yes, Sire. Unless Prince Dravis can prove that he was elsewhere at the time."
"Then question him, Jadar. You have my permission."
Jadar bowed. "As you wish, My King."
The advisor left, and Kerrion dismissed the hovering servants and turned to Minna. "Even if Dravis has an alibi, which I doubt, he is going to have a job refuting the evidence against him. Until Blade came here, this time and last, getting rid of my brothers was an impossible dream, but he makes it ridiculously easy."
She smiled. "That is because he is the best."
"I will not argue with that, my love. Now all I have to do is gather my remaining brothers and tell them what I want in return for their lives."
"Then it becomes more dangerous. If one of them should call your bluff..."
Kerrion shook his head. "I doubt that. Apart from Dravis and Endor, all the ambitious ones are dead. And if one of them does pluck up the courage to defy me, he will die before he can testify."
"Which will make the courts doubly suspicious."
"But lacking a witness."
"Dravis will accuse you," she pointed out.
"True, but his credibility will be suspect. The judges will think he is trying to blame me for his crime, and I will make my other brothers testify in my favour, if necessary."
Minna
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