Eli gave the servant a winning smile as he followed Josef out the door. The guards fell in around them, setting the pace as they walked up the stairs toward the royal suite.
A larger than usual squad of guards lined the gallery leading up to his mother’s door, all of them at full attention. Josef pushed his way through, opening his mother’s door with a rough jerk.
The queen was waiting for them. She was dressed and sitting on her chair at the center of the raised platform at the far end of the room, Lenette at her side, as always. There were several nobles in the room as well, all of whom Josef knew he should probably recognize. But he’d never been good with remembering court officials, even back when he was actually trying, so he dismissed them and focused on his mother. Queen Theresa looked more tired than ever. Her papery skin was almost gray against the harsh black of her dress and veil, but her eyes were as sharp as knives, and they pinned Josef to the floor.
“Where were you last night?” she asked the second the door closed behind Eli.
“Asleep,” Josef said.
The queen arched her eyebrow. “Asleep? All night?”
Josef crossed his arms. “All night. Why?”
For a split second the queen looked relieved, and then the scowl was back. “Finley is dead.”
“Dead?” Josef said. “How?”
“Stabbed,” the queen answered. “Someone, or several someones, broke into his mansion last night. His honor guard is dead, as are most of his servants, his son, and, of course, the duke himself.”
Josef frowned. “Was there a fight?”
“Adela is investigating as we speak,” the queen said. “In the meantime, why don’t you tell me.”
The room filled with whispers as the nobles began to talk. Josef ignored them.
“How should I know?” he said.
“You were with the duke a few hours before he died,” the queen said. “You had an argument, a loud one, after which you left. What did you talk about?”
“Nothing of consequence,” Josef said. “He told me he was going to be king, and I said go ahead.”
The queen’s eyes narrowed. “Really? That’s all?”
“That’s all,” Josef repeated firmly. “I didn’t kill him, if that’s what you’re implying.”
The queen’s fingers tightened on the arms of her chair. “The report said the guards died with swords in scabbard, killed by a blow to the back of the neck from a long blade. Finley was heir to the throne of Osera, guarded by the best the country can offer. So either his guards were killed treacherously by someone with enough rank to avoid a challenge, or they were taken out by a master swordsman before they could draw. You are both, so you can see how suspicions could rise.”
Josef rolled his eyes and reached over his shoulder. He drew the Heart with a flourish, slamming the point into the wooden floor at his feet. All around the room, people began to shout. The guards drew their swords and encircled the queen. Even Lenette shrank back against her mistress, but Queen Theresa just watched, her eyes hard as iron as she glared at the large chunk that was now missing from her floor.
“Blow to the back of the neck?” Josef said, turning the Heart so everyone could see the size of the blade. “This is the only blade I keep that could be considered long. If I struck someone across the back of the neck with this, I would take their head off.”
The queen sniffed. “Are you saying you’re not clever enough to hide a murder weapon?”
“I’m saying I had no reason to kill Finley other than he’s an ass,” Josef answered. “And if I was going to kill him for that, I would have challenged him openly and had the pleasure of thrashing him in front of everyone.”
“That, at least, I agree with,” the queen said with a long sigh. “You can put away your iron bat, Thereson. I don’t think you killed Finley, but the fact remains that the heir to the throne of Osera is murdered, and I have to determine how, by whom, and why.”
Josef slid the Heart back into place on his back. “Easy enough,” he said. “We’ll go investigate.”
“You will do no such thing,” the queen snapped. “I said I don’t think you did it, but that does not remove you from these matters. You are still under suspicion, and until my people get to the bottom of this, you will remain in your rooms where I can keep an eye on you.”
“What?” Josef shouted.
“I don’t see why you’re surprised,” the queen said, her voice rasping. “You were the one who chose to pursue a life of violence. You cannot now turn and condemn us for judging you by it. Our country is on the brink of war, and the people have just lost the man they thought would be their king. Now more than ever, Osera must be united. Lawful. Its throne without reproach.”