A pair of Weapons led Colin from the throne room, followed by a dismissed Sperren and Destarion.

Laren could not believe they were let off so easily.

“Speak, Captain,” Zachary said. “You look . . . concerned.”

“They all could have received the death penalty. Easily. But you did not choose that for them.”

“It may be that I have. Destarion will find the north perilous, and I expect those judging Harborough and Colin to be very harsh. Condemning them to death all at once—men who were known to be very close to me—would raise questions I’d rather avoid regarding my close call with death and the validity of my marriage, among other things. I also took into consideration that they’re essentially good men who thought they were doing what was best for the realm, and depending on how things go for them, I may yet call on them. You can not simply replace all those years of experience, and I believe we’ve a trying time ahead of us.

“Now, to my Lady Estora . . .”

Estora stiffened, her knuckles whitening as she gripped the armrests of her chair. “I understand,” she said, “if you wish to invalidate the marriage contract.”

He gazed hard at her. “That could be easily done under the circumstances. My lady, you were placed in an untenable position, and it was your cousin who set these events in motion. You were made a victim in this. However, I find it grievous you saw fit to relieve Captain Mapstone of duty and place her under house arrest.”

“My lord,” Laren said.

He ignored her. “Laren Mapstone is closer to me than any blood relation has ever been. She practically raised me.”

“Zachary,” Laren tried again.

“Furthermore, she is apparently the only one who trusts my judgment.”

“Moonling!” That caught his attention. “Queen Estora placed me under house arrest for my protection.”

“Say again?”

“She knew my opposition to the conspiracy placed me in danger from Lord Spane and the others, so she placed me out of reach. It certainly made them happy I was not out there contradicting them and turning the whole messenger service against them. You know what a disaster that would have been.”

He nodded slowly. Messengers on the loose carrying the truth to all corners of the realm—it would have caused problems on a grand scale for the conspirators.

“She also,” Laren continued, “wished to protect me from you.”

“What?”

“I offered her my fealty, to help her, but she believed I’d be better off away from the turmoil because we all knew you’d be angry if—when—you recovered, and she did not want you finding fault with my conduct.”

“I would know better,” he reflected, “or at least I hope I would.”

“You do have a temper,” Laren said. “Though you don’t show it often.”

He raised an eyebrow at her, then turned back to Estora, gazing at her with new respect. “I thank you then, for looking out for Laren, who supports me even if I apparently have a temper.”

Laren smiled.

“I know how much you value her,” Estora replied. “And I thought perhaps I should need her in the coming years, as well.”

He nodded gravely. “Though this has not been an auspicious start to our marriage, I am not inclined to invalidate the contract. I can’t imagine the havoc that would produce, and we’ve enough to worry about between Blackveil and Second Empire without adding to it.

“Also, between confessing to me and updating me on the realm’s affairs, Colin told me you came up with a clever strategy to trap Birch and his forces. With the loss of some very able advisors, it looks like I’ll be making use of your keen thinking.”

“Karigan is the clever one,” Estora said, gazing at her knees. Laren sensed a subtle intensification in Zachary’s regard. “I just used her example.”

Laren learned that Estora had been inspired by Karigan’s actions in the fall when the Rider had rescued her from kidnappers. Karigan had disguised herself as Estora, then created a diversion that led the kidnappers away on a merry chase, allowing the real Estora to escape without harm. It had been a dangerous plan on Karigan’s part, but it had worked.

Estora modified the plan to fit the situation in the north. Birch used trained soldiers to raid small, underprotected civilian settlements. She ordered the settlers of a few villages to evacuate and replaced them with Sacoridian troops—well trained and well armed—but had the soldiers disguise themselves as civilians in such a way that they appeared to be yet another underprotected settlement ripe for the plucking. Their watchers would alert them to Birch’s movements so they wouldn’t be taken by surprise, and they were instructed to carry on like settlers so all would appear normal to Birch’s scouts.

A trap meant that Sacoridia’s troops didn’t have to chase Birch’s all over the north, although there was a troop that continued to do so to maintain the illusion so Birch would not suspect anything. Estora was apprehensive, but anticipated positive results.

While Estora explained the plan, Zachary, who had already heard the details, nodded off where he sat. Laren called over Fastion and Willis to assist the king to his apartments.

“I will walk on my own,” Zachary protested when they lifted him from his chair. When they set him down, he did leave under his own power, pausing only to kiss Laren’s cheek. She hugged him fiercely, but carefully so as not to hurt his healing wound.