“She came out of the cell. She wanted me to stay behind and escort the monks to the kitchen after they were done giving last rites.”
“Why?”
“She didn’t say.”
“Did you ask?”
“No, sir. As a man-at-arms, it is not my place to question the orders from a member of the royal family.”
“I see, but were you pleased with these orders?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“I was fearful more assassins might be in the castle, and I didn’t wish the princess to be out of my sight.”
“In point of fact, wasn’t Captain Wylin in the process of searching the castle for additional threats, and didn’t he make everyone aware he felt the castle was unsafe?”
“He did.”
“Did the princess explain to you where she was going so you could find her after performing your duty to the monks?”
“No.”
“I see. And how do you know the two you escorted to the kitchens were the monks? Did you see their faces?”
“Their hoods were up.”
“Did they have their hoods up when they entered the cell?”
Hilfred thought a moment and then shook his head. “I don’t think so.”
“So, on a night when her father is killed, she orders her personal bodyguard to leave her unprotected and to escort two monks down to the empty kitchens—two monks who decided suddenly to pull their hoods up inside the castle, hiding their faces? And what about the murderers’ possessions? Where were they?”
“They were in the custody of the cell warden.”
“And what did she say to the warden concerning them?”
“She told him she was going to have the monks take them for the poor.”
“And did they take them?”
“Yes.”
The lawyer softened his address. “Reuben, you don’t strike me as a fool. Fools don’t rise to the rank and position you have achieved. When you heard the killers escaped, and the monks were found chained in their place, did it cross your mind that maybe the princess had arranged it?”
“I assumed the killers attacked the monks after the princess left the cell.”
“You didn’t answer my question,” the lawyer said. “I asked if it crossed your mind?”
Reuben said nothing.
“Did it?”
“Perhaps, but only briefly.”
“Let us turn our attention to more recent events. Were you present during the conversation between Arista and her uncle in his study?”
“Yes, but I was asked to wait outside.”
“To wait just outside the door correct?”
“Yes.”
“Therefore could you hear what transpired inside?”
“Yes.”
“Is it true the princess entered the archduke’s office, where he was diligently working at locating the prince, and informed him that Prince Alric was clearly dead and that no search was needed? That he would make a better use of his time…” he paused here and turned to face the nobles, “…
There was a decidedly unpleasant murmur from the crowd, and a few of the court whispered and nodded to one another.
“I don’t remember her using those words.”
“Did she, or did she not, indicate the archduke should stop looking for Alric?”
“Yes.”
“And did she threaten the archduke, insinuating she would soon hold her coronation, and once she was queen, he might find he was no longer the Lord Chancellor?”
“I believe she did say something to that effect, but she was angry—”
“That will be all, sergeant-at-arms; that’s all I asked. You can step down.” Hilfred began to leave the witness box when the lawyer spoke again. “Oh, I’m sorry…just one last thing. Have you ever seen or heard the princess cry over the loss of her father or brother?”
“She is a very private woman.”
“Yes or no?”
Hilfred hesitated. “No, I haven’t.”
“I am prepared to call the cell warden to corroborate the testimony of Hilfred if the court feels his account of the events is not truthful,” the lawyer told the magistrates.
They conferred in whispers, and then the chief magistrate replied, “That won’t be necessary; the word of the sergeant-at-arms Hilfred is recognized as honorable and we will not question it here. You may proceed.”
“I’m sure you are as perplexed as I was,” the lawyer said, addressing the bleachers in a sympathetic voice. “Many of you know her. How could this sweet girl attack her own father and brother? Was it just to gain a throne? It’s not like her, is it? I ask you to bear with me. The reason should become quite clear in a moment. The court calls Bishop Saldur to testify.”
Eyes from the gallery swept the room looking for the cleric as the old man slowly stood up from his seat and approached the witness box.
“Your grace, you have been in this castle on many occasions. You know the royal family extremely well. Can you shed some light on her highness’ motivations?”
“Gentlemen,” Bishop Saldur spoke to the court and judges in his familiar warm and humble tone, “I have watched over the royal family for years and this recent tragedy is heartbreaking and dreadful. The accusation the archduke brings against the princess is painful to my ears for I feel almost like a grandfather to the poor girl. However, I cannot hide the truth, which is—she
This brought a round of whispers between the spectators.
