Gathering Darkness

The king placed his empty goblet on a table and paced back toward the stairs leading to the throne. “Perhaps you’re right.”

A small victory. But it was a true surprise.

“Besides,” Magnus said, gaining confidence “the people of Auranos would find it strange if you were to annul my marriage to the princess so soon after presenting such a pleasant facade during our wedding tour.”

The king searched Magnus’s face, making him feel self-conscious, like a child caught behaving naughtily. “Have you developed feelings for Cleiona?”

The question was laughable, especially given his recent and deeply unpleasant altercations with the princess. “She’s a means to an end. That’s all she’s ever been to you or to me.”

“She’s become a problem.”

“When has she not been a problem?”

“A former lord of Auranos,” the king began, “claiming absolute loyalty to me, came forth earlier today to alert me that he witnessed Princess Cleiona meeting with Jonas Agallon two weeks ago in a local temple. He was at the temple to pray to the goddess when he saw the rebel leader enter the building, followed by the princess. They then spoke in private, he says, for several minutes before leaving separately. If this information weren’t so crucial I might have had him executed on the spot for waiting so long to come forward.”

A welling sense of unease closed up Magnus’s throat. “And you believe this lord?”

“I’m inclined to consider the possibility that your wife has been feeding inside information to rebels in an attempt to destroy us, yes.”

“And you have what proof? The word of a man who would wait two weeks to say anything?”

“It’s enough to make me doubt her innocence.”

Magnus wasn’t blind about Cleo in this regard. He was all eyes and ears when it came to that scheming girl.

Jonas Agallon. That name, always that name. Magnus should have killed him when he’d had the chance.

“Has she confessed to any of this?” he asked.

“She hasn’t been interrogated yet. In fact, I want you to be the one to question her, Magnus. Immediately.”

The request was ludicrous and set Magnus’s stomach churning. “You’re telling me you’d like me to casually stroll by her chambers and bring up the subject of rebels over tea? Or perhaps I should wait until this evening when we’re seated for dinner at Lord Gareth’s daughter’s wedding?”

“She won’t be attending the wedding. She’s currently being detained in a private cell in the dungeon.”

Magnus went quiet. Of course she was. A traitor and a spy, even only a suspected one, wouldn’t be allowed to roam about freely.

He wasn’t sure why this had taken him by surprise—he’d never trusted the girl himself—but this? To think that she’d been in contact with Jonas without Magnus suspecting a thing . . .

Or perhaps his father was just being paranoid, reaching for answers and accepting ones that were lighter than air itself.

The king put his hand upon Magnus’s scarred cheek, holding his gaze fiercely. “I want you to show me your strength today—a strength I already know you have. A strength I know we share. We are together in this. Do whatever you must to wrench the answers I need from her lying tongue, but in the end, it really doesn’t matter if she chooses to stays silent. Suspicion of rebel leanings is enough to warrant a death sentence. I’ve ordered Cronus to execute her immediately after you finish your interrogation. We’ll finally be free of her.”

A heavy silence washed over the room. Magnus struggled to find his voice. “Execute her? Is that completely necessary?”

“Yes, it is. The citizens of Auranos will mourn, but they’ll come to understand that when it comes to treason, this is the only decision we can make.” He patted Magnus’s arm. “Go with Cronus. I have faith in your abilities and your strength, my son. Your future—all of our futures—hang in the balance.”

And with that, the king left the throne room. Magnus stood there for a moment, reflecting on what had been said, what had been commanded of him.

“Your highness?” Cronus prompted.

The king had issued an order. There was no room to argue. “Let’s not delay. We can be finished with this by the time the wedding guests arrive.”

Magnus had never interrogated a prisoner before, but he’d seen it done. He’d witnessed the effects of torture. In most instances, it took very little to make prisoners spill every secret. For some, the mere threat of pain was enough for them hand over their own mothers if it would save them from any amount of suffering.

Another guard intercepted them as he and Cronus headed toward the dungeons.

“Captain,” he said to Cronus, holding up a piece of parchment. “A servant found this. I thought you should see it immediately.”

Cronus took the parchment and scanned the message. “Has anyone else seen this?”

“No, sir. I brought it directly to you.”

“Your highness,” Cronus said, turning to Magnus. “You need to read this.”

Magnus took the parchment from Cronus and began to read. His heartbeat quickened and his stomach sank further with each word.

Alexius and I are eloping. Please know that I’m fine, but don’t try to find me. All is well. Better than well. I’m happier than I’ve ever been, so please don’t be angry with me. I love Alexius more than anything in this world and it was meant to be this way. I promise to return as soon as I can.