His father had told him nothing of the kind.
But the Regent did not know that.
The man’s eyes flashed.
Fear.
Then anger.
The Captain saw it.
So did the Queen.
The Regent pointed toward the Prince.
“Arrest him.”
No one moved.
“I said arrest him!”
The Queen slowly stood.
Her eyes remained on the seal.
When she spoke, her voice was barely above a whisper.
“This went to sea with the King.”
The courtyard held its breath.
She looked at the faded cloth.
“I wrapped it myself before he sailed.”
The Prince stared at the Regent.
The Queen’s face went pale.
“If this returned to the palace…”
The Captain removed his helmet.
Something inside him seemed to collapse.
The Queen turned toward him.
“What?”
He looked at her.
“My Queen…”
“What do you know?”
The Captain swallowed.
The entire courtyard waited.
“I saw the King.”
The Prince’s heart stopped.
“When?” the Queen demanded.
The Captain looked toward the Regent.
“Four years ago.”
Chaos erupted.
The Queen descended the steps so quickly two attendants stumbled trying to follow.
She struck the Captain across the face.
The sound echoed between the stone walls.
“You saw my husband alive?”
The Captain did not defend himself.
“Yes.”
The Prince stood frozen.
The Queen struck him again.
“Where?”
The Captain looked down.
“At the western gate.”
“When?”
“After midnight.”
The Regent stepped backward.
The Prince saw.
“Stop him!”
The Regent spun.
Two guards moved.
But three others hesitated.
That moment was enough.
The Regent shoved a courtier into their path, kicked over a ceremonial brazier, and ran toward an archway behind the throne.
The Prince grabbed the bow.
The Queen shouted.
“Take him alive!”
Guards pursued.
The Regent disappeared behind the stone passage.
The Captain remained kneeling.
The Queen stared at him.
“Tell me everything.”
Four years earlier, the Captain had been lieutenant of the western gate.
A storm had struck the coast.
Shortly after midnight, three riders arrived.
One carried a wounded man beneath a dark cloak.
The Captain had nearly refused them entry.
Then the wounded man raised his face.
The King.
Older.
Bleeding.
Alive.
The Prince listened without blinking.
The Captain continued.
“The King ordered silence. He said enemies had infiltrated the court.”
The Queen’s voice shook.
“Why didn’t he come to me?”
“He tried.”
The Captain looked toward the hidden passage.
“The Regent arrived before he reached your chambers.”
The Queen went still.
“How?”
“I sent a messenger.”
“To me?”
“I thought so.”