32. Mia

Dorlok looksat me with something resembling respect. "Maybe I do know something."

"And maybe you wish to save your own hide by telling tales," Dolphus snarls.

I don"t know what"s gotten up Dolphus" ass, but his dickish behavior is getting on my nerves. "Leave us, Dolphus," I say, hoping he obeys my command like he does with Renowlf's orders. "I want to speak with Dorlok in private. I'll meet you outside when we're done."

Dolphus stands his ground. "As your protector, I cannot leave you alone with a prisoner who threatened your life."

"The bars will protect me from the prisoner. Besides, I think Dorlok and I have come to a new understanding. Isn't that right?"

"We have," Dorlok agrees.

I give Dolphus my best bitch stare until he finally caves, stomping up the dungeon stairs in frustration while muttering what I suspect are orc obscenities.

Turning back to Dorlok, I say, "If you know anything that can help Renowlf, now"s the time to share it."

The drunk"s eyes, two glowing embers in the dim light, lock onto mine. There"s a flicker of something there—uneasiness, I think. His trust in me is tenuous.

"If I tell you what I know, will you convince the king to spare my life?" he asks.

"Yes." I bite my lip, hoping my answer is the truth.

Dorlok narrows his eyes. "How can you be sure?"

"He"ll listen to me." The words come out with more confidence than I feel. "Just like he did last night when he wanted to kill you."

A pause stretches between us—a negotiation without words—before Dorlok speaks.

"There have been no murmurings among the villagers I associate with. Yet, I overheard the guards talking at the top of the steps when they thought I was still sleeping off the mead." His voice is low and urgent. "They said Bayliss has been gathering supporters from among those loyal to her line...that she had a plan to seize the thrown from King Renowlf."

A chill runs down my spine at his words. "Had a plan?"

"They said the human female—you—appears to have thwarted her plan and she has now called for your elimination."

My heart races at confirmation that Bayliss is out for blood. My blood. "Are the guards on Bayliss' side?"

"I do not know for sure, consort, yet it did not appear so. I sensed it was gossip they shared to pass the time."

If they weren't on Bayliss' side, why wouldn't they tell Renowlf what they've heard? "Did they name any names?

Dorlok shakes his head. "They just speculated that Bayliss must have someone inside the palace, someone in the king"s inner circle, on her side."

Any of the orcs I"ve had contact with in the palace could be working with that skank, and there are countless others I"ve never seen or met. I need to find Renowlf and tell him what Dorlok has shared.

"If you hear anything else, is there a way for you to get a message to the king?"

"Not from in here," Dorlok says.

Looking at his haggard appearance behind the bars of his cell, I almost feel regret for leaving him there. "If I could order your release, I would," I tell him. "But the guards didn"t even want to let me see you, so I doubt they"d listen if I said to let you go."

"I understand. Only the king himself can order a prisoner"s release."

"As soon as I find Renowlf I"ll tell him how helpful you"ve been."

I lift the hem of my robe and sprint up the stairs, briefly wondering why the guard stationed at the top is no longer there. My thoughts are jumbled as I consider what Dorlok has told me. Bayliss plans to kill me and seize the throne from Renowlf, and she's got someone inside the palace to help. I need to tell Dolphus.

When I get outside, the gruesome scene that greets me freezes me in my tracks. Dolphus is standing over the dead bodies of the two outside guards. His sword, still in hand, drips with fresh blood. The third guard is gone.

"What have you done?" I say, horrified.

His eyes blaze with hatred. "I have eliminated these traitors."

Traitors? Is that why they didn't tell Renowlf what they heard? Were the guards on Team Bayliss after all? "Dorlok told me Bayliss has a plan to seize the throne from Renowlf."

Dolphus sneers at me. "You believe what that drunken orc told you?"

"I, uh, don"t know. Maybe." His question makes me doubt what Dorlok said. Then again, it was Dolphus who called the guards traitors. I don't know what to think.

Dolphus retrieves his communicator and converses with someone on the other end. "Stupid human." He mutters as he wipes the blood from his sword and sheaths it. "You should have stayed inside the palace as Renowlf commanded. Come."

He takes off at a brisk pace, and I hurry to follow, trying not to stumble. "Was that Renowlf? Where are we going?"

Dolphus doesn"t even spare me a backwards glance. "You'll find out soon enough."