41. Alfred

Chapter forty-one

Alfred

O nce the room was cleared, I turned toward Justin. "So, what do you think? Should we execute them?"

"Father! Of course not." Justin caught grinning and amended his words. "No, sire , I do not . . . Do you?"

I put my head in my hands and mumbled. "No, son, I do not think so either, but I have no idea what to make of their story."

Wilfred's chair creaked as he leaned forward. "Sire, all our evidence pointing at Melucia is circumstantial. Added together, it appears damning, but there is no direct link, and we have no witnesses. I hate to admit it, but I believe them."

Danai rose. "Your Majesty, the Sheriff may be right. Mage Dani is certainly well known and deeply respected. Perhaps their Gifted were taken and brought to Irina's Seat—but we know ours were taken across the mountains into Melucia. We know the Triad was involved, despite their best efforts to cover their tracks. We have their seal. This changes nothing."

Danai shot Wilfred daggers, as if daring him to disagree.

Justin stood and placed a hand on my shoulder. "Father, what if they're right? What if the Children took Jess, and Mother, too? Can we ignore what they said just because it doesn't fit with what the men of Council claim to know?"

I sat back and stared up at Justin. Then I reached up and gripped his arm but spoke to my Councilors. "Sheriff, Chancellor, I'd like to have breakfast with my son . . . and think."

Finally alone in the inn's great room, I turned to Justin. "It is just you and me. What do you think we should do? This is your mother and Jess we are talking about. If you wore the crown, what would you decide in this moment?"

Justin sat and fiddled with his fingers so long I thought he might not answer. "Father, I know Chancellor Thorn has been with you for years, but I don't like him. Something about him makes me want to bathe, and I don't trust him. Jess despises him, too. She always has."

I nodded slowly. "I understand where you're coming from, but there is value to be found in unsavory places. Danai has an underground network that gives me insight into a very different side of our kingdom, and that is useful. As King, you need to know everything, not just what you like or want to hear— especially those things you do not want to hear. "

I let my statement hang before giving Justin a conspiratorial grin. "Son, sometimes a king has to do things no one expects. Information is more powerful than any weapon, and right now, our information is at war with itself. I agree with you that none of this makes sense. What do you think we should do when that happens?"

Justin thought a moment before surprising me. "Find a new source of information."