smile. “What else did he say? About these enemies?”
“Nothing specific.” Though trying to appear disinterested, Lydia could tell her mother was concerned. “Just that you may need protection from people in high places.”
“I see.”
“But Mother, that’s ridiculous! You don’t oppose the King! I mean, I know you’re not his biggest fan, but that doesn’t mean anything. Does it?”
“No, dear. There’s nothing to worry about.” Aprina sighed. “Tenen is just teasing you, that’s all.”
“Well, it isn’t very nice.” Stoically, Lydia tried not to fidget with her fork. “He scared me.”
“I’m sorry, dear.” Reaching out, Aprina took her daughter’s hand. “Let’s talk of something else now, all right?”
***
Meanwhile, in the King’s residence, Perno was telling a very different tale to the monarch. Preoccupied with military matters, the King had been unable to see his spymaster until now.
“She plans to poison me?” Incredulous, the King mentally flung a goblet across the room. “Are you sure?”
“Quite, my Lord.” Perno shrugged. “It would appear Aprina’s plans are proceeding more quickly than Your Majesty anticipated.”
“Indeed they are.” The King threw up his arms in frustration. “The battle in the Outlands remains in doubt! If we suffer defeat there, my enemies may be emboldened to act at once!”
“Indeed, my liege.” Perno allowed himself a grim smile. “That they would.”
In truth, Perno knew nothing of any poisoning plot, either by Lydia’s mother or anybody else. As far as he could tell, Aprina was now a loyal member of the royal household.
But that hadn’t always been the case. Years ago, when she was much younger, Aprina had spoken very openly of her opposition to the King’s rule. This was a time when she’d been involved with a group of troublemakers who thought it exciting to stir up trouble.
The monarch had never forgotten, nor forgiven, her impolitic outbursts. It was foolish talk, completely abandoned with the birth of Lydia. Yet this brief, vocal phase had readily allowed Perno’s more recent vilification of Aprina within the monarch’s mind. By this point the unsuspecting King fully accepted Aprina in the role of fervent enemy, bent on his own removal from the Throne.
Such scapegoats were entirely necessary in Perno’s line of work. After all, there was always some sort of treachery at work within the castle walls. Periodic arrests, like the one he was now engineering for Aprina, were essential for keeping everyone on edge, reminding everyone of the King’s ultimate authority.
In fact, Perno had made certain Prince Tenen was aware of the accusations against Aprina. The young upstart was getting too comfortable for Perno’s liking. Better to make sure he, and all the other royals, understood the price of treason, both real and imagined.
Now was just the time for such a lesson. For as the King himself just observed, if the royal army suffered defeat in the Outlands, his own position might become quite tenuous. And if the King was deposed, Perno himself would surely fall as well.
“Arrest Aprina. But do it gently, and quietly, when she’s alone,” the King commanded. “For the good of the Kingdom, I must act!”
“And her daughter?” Perno tried his best to appear troubled. “Do I arrest her as well?”
The King considered. “No,” he finally instructed. “It would look like a vendetta. And Tenen has already asked my permission to marry the girl.”
Perno raised an eyebrow.
“It means nothing,” the King irritably sighed. “Lydia, is that her name? Well, she’s a pretty girl that would bear him many powerful sons. All the young royals would take her as a wife. So would I, if I was their age.”
“Even after her mother’s arrest for treason?” Perno cautiously asked.
“Tenen can keep her in line.” The King grunted, mentally causing the goblet to drift back over to a table top. “And anyway, she
“Nothing specific.” Though trying to appear disinterested, Lydia could tell her mother was concerned. “Just that you may need protection from people in high places.”
“I see.”
“But Mother, that’s ridiculous! You don’t oppose the King! I mean, I know you’re not his biggest fan, but that doesn’t mean anything. Does it?”
“No, dear. There’s nothing to worry about.” Aprina sighed. “Tenen is just teasing you, that’s all.”
“Well, it isn’t very nice.” Stoically, Lydia tried not to fidget with her fork. “He scared me.”
“I’m sorry, dear.” Reaching out, Aprina took her daughter’s hand. “Let’s talk of something else now, all right?”
***
Meanwhile, in the King’s residence, Perno was telling a very different tale to the monarch. Preoccupied with military matters, the King had been unable to see his spymaster until now.
“She plans to poison me?” Incredulous, the King mentally flung a goblet across the room. “Are you sure?”
“Quite, my Lord.” Perno shrugged. “It would appear Aprina’s plans are proceeding more quickly than Your Majesty anticipated.”
“Indeed they are.” The King threw up his arms in frustration. “The battle in the Outlands remains in doubt! If we suffer defeat there, my enemies may be emboldened to act at once!”
“Indeed, my liege.” Perno allowed himself a grim smile. “That they would.”
In truth, Perno knew nothing of any poisoning plot, either by Lydia’s mother or anybody else. As far as he could tell, Aprina was now a loyal member of the royal household.
But that hadn’t always been the case. Years ago, when she was much younger, Aprina had spoken very openly of her opposition to the King’s rule. This was a time when she’d been involved with a group of troublemakers who thought it exciting to stir up trouble.
The monarch had never forgotten, nor forgiven, her impolitic outbursts. It was foolish talk, completely abandoned with the birth of Lydia. Yet this brief, vocal phase had readily allowed Perno’s more recent vilification of Aprina within the monarch’s mind. By this point the unsuspecting King fully accepted Aprina in the role of fervent enemy, bent on his own removal from the Throne.
Such scapegoats were entirely necessary in Perno’s line of work. After all, there was always some sort of treachery at work within the castle walls. Periodic arrests, like the one he was now engineering for Aprina, were essential for keeping everyone on edge, reminding everyone of the King’s ultimate authority.
In fact, Perno had made certain Prince Tenen was aware of the accusations against Aprina. The young upstart was getting too comfortable for Perno’s liking. Better to make sure he, and all the other royals, understood the price of treason, both real and imagined.
Now was just the time for such a lesson. For as the King himself just observed, if the royal army suffered defeat in the Outlands, his own position might become quite tenuous. And if the King was deposed, Perno himself would surely fall as well.
“Arrest Aprina. But do it gently, and quietly, when she’s alone,” the King commanded. “For the good of the Kingdom, I must act!”
“And her daughter?” Perno tried his best to appear troubled. “Do I arrest her as well?”
The King considered. “No,” he finally instructed. “It would look like a vendetta. And Tenen has already asked my permission to marry the girl.”
Perno raised an eyebrow.
“It means nothing,” the King irritably sighed. “Lydia, is that her name? Well, she’s a pretty girl that would bear him many powerful sons. All the young royals would take her as a wife. So would I, if I was their age.”
“Even after her mother’s arrest for treason?” Perno cautiously asked.
“Tenen can keep her in line.” The King grunted, mentally causing the goblet to drift back over to a table top. “And anyway, she
Similar Books
