Sienna Du’for's Arc

Chapter 29 of 30

Sienna stood in her sister's chamber with the crown at her belt and the poison book in her hand. She had the proof. She had no way out through the gate. She needed someone inside the walls who would carry the truth further than she could. She thought of the men she had known here. Most would run to Cecilia the moment they saw her face. One might not. Elk had come after her all the way to the grove a year ago, on her father's order, not her sister's. If he was back in the castle, he still answered to the old king. She went to Cecilia's wardrobe. She pulled out a purple gown with gold thread and pinned it fast at the waist. She bound her brown hair tight against her scalp and pulled one of Cecilia's blonde wigs over it. She fixed the tiara on top. In the mirror she looked wrong, but only if you knew. From ten paces, in a dim hall, she would pass as her sister. She left through the servant's door and walked the way Cecilia walked, chin up, quick clip of the heel. Two guards straightened as she passed. She did not look at them. She turned down the guardsmen's corridor and stopped at the third door. She knocked once and stepped inside before he could answer. Elk sat on a stool cleaning his sword. Bald head, braided beard, red cloak folded on the bed. He stood the moment the door opened and bowed his head a fraction. "Your Highness." "Close the door," she said, in her sister's clipped voice. He closed it. She pulled the wig off. His hand went to the sword hilt. He did not draw. "Elk. Listen." She spoke fast, before he could shout. "My sister has been poisoning my father. I found her book. Dates. Doses. Her hand." She held it out. "Read one page. That's all I ask." He did not take it. His eyes stayed on her face. "She means to execute me in the square and blame me for his death," Sienna said. "You served him. Not her. Read the page." He took the book. He read. His jaw shifted once. He turned a page. He read again. He closed the book and handed it back. "Where is she," he said. "Tied to her bed. Gagged." "The crown?" She touched the bundle at her belt. Elk sheathed the sword and picked up his cloak. "The east postern. I stand it at the seventh bell. I will walk you through it. After that I go to the king's physician and I bring him the book." "He'll believe you?" "He will believe the book." She let out a breath she had been holding since the cell. She put the wig back on. Elk opened the door and stepped into the corridor first, one hand loose at his side, and waited for her to follow.