The Blood Knight - J. Gregory Keyes [225]
“Leave us for a moment, Cazio,” Anne said quietly to the man.
The swordsman nodded and vanished back through the doorway.
When he was gone, Anne’s features softened, and she rushed forward, meeting Muriele halfway as she rose.
“Mother,” she managed to choke out, and then she dissolved into tears as they wrapped their arms around each other. Muriele felt strange, almost too stunned to react.
“I’m sorry,” Anne gasped. “Those things I said to you. I was afraid they would be the last.” She broke into deeper sobs, and months of isolation suddenly distilled in Muriele. Endless days of suppressed hope collapsed.
“Anne.” She sighed. “It’s you. It’s you.”
And then she was crying with her daughter, and there was too much to say, and not enough. But there would be time, wouldn’t there?
Against all odds, they had time.
Leoff wiped tears from his eyes and tried to compose himself; it was nearly noon.
So much depended on such little things. Did Robert’s executioner have any mercy in him at all? Probably not, and in that case, his night’s work was in vain. Even if Ambria’s murderer took a small pity on him, so many other things had to go right. He had to slip the wax into Mery’s ears unseen and not have her protest or wonder aloud why he had done it. He had to be allowed to stand near Areana so he could cover her ears at the crucial moment.
Even if he managed all of that, he wasn’t sure it would work. Some sound would enter their heads regardless of how well he prepared. It might be too much.
It suddenly occurred to him that if he could find a needle, he might be able to pierce Areana’s eardrums in time.
But it was beyond thinking about now, for he heard boots thumping in the hall.
A moment later his door opened, and even the poor plan he had arranged fell into disarray.
For there stood Robert Dare.
The prince smiled and drifted into the room, glancing around it with a sort of mock interest. For a single, beautiful moment, Leoff thought the usurper had countermanded the executioner, but then Mery and Areana were escorted in by the killer, four guards, and Lord Respell.
“Well,” Robert said, shuffling through the papers on Leoff’s desk, “you do seem to have been busy.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Robert looked surprised. “Oh, it’s Majesty now, is it? What brings that on?” He glanced over at Mery and Areana.
“Oh, right,” he said, tapping his head with his index finger.
“Please, Your Majesty.”
“Oh, please yourself, you simpering dog,” Robert snapped. “I am in no mood to grant clemency. Noose is my man. How would he feel if I gave him authority to make decisions and just snatched it away from him, eh? Well, that’s not how you breed loyalty, is it?”
“Let it be just me instead,” Leoff said.
“No,” Robert said. “You’ve work to do for me, remember? Unless you’ve finished.”
“I have done a great deal, but I am not finished yet,” Leoff said. “And I still need helpers.”
“You will have to make do with half the staff,” Robert said. “But here, before you make your little decision, why not perform some small piece of this for me. I’m told the three of you make very pretty music together. Wouldn’t you like to do that one more time?”
Leoff blinked. “Of course, Sire. And perhaps if it pleases you—”
“If it pleases me, then I shall take no further steps in disciplining you,” Robert snapped.
Leoff nodded, trying to make his face into a mask.
“Very well,” he said. “Mery, Areana, come here, please.”
They came. Mery seemed puzzled but not particularly concerned. Areana was white and trembling.
“Leoff,” she whispered.
Leoff pulled up the piece. “Let me add a few quick notes,” he said. “I think Your Majesty will enjoy this best if you’ll just give me a few seconds to confer—”
“Yes, yes, go ahead.” Robert sighed. He walked over to the window and peered out, his brow furrowed.
“They’ll be here soon,” Lord Respell said uneasily.
“Shut up,” Robert said.