“These are Odin and Odessa. ” Tilda pointed to the one with the longer fantail flowing out behind it as it swam. “That one’s Odessa. Odin is the fatter one. Kasper got them for me on my birthday in February. ” She opened the cupboard below them and pulled out a cylinder of fish food. “They were smaller when I got them, but they’ve just kinda ballooned. Usually when I’m on missions, Kasper takes care of them, but I think he overfeeds them, which is why they’ve gotten so fat. ”
Kasper had followed us, and he rested his arms on the granite countertop, leaning forward. “Thanks, dear. ”
“Well, it’s true. ” Tilda shrugged and went onto explain the exact right amount of food to give the fish and how to properly care for them in case of some kind of fish emergency.
“I think I can handle that,” I said when she’d finished.
“Knowing that you’re taking good care of them and that you’re watching the apartment will give me one less thing to worry about,” Tilda said.
“Yeah, thank you, Bryn,” Kasper added. “And not to change the subject, but what ended up happening last night with you at the palace?”
After Kennet and I had had our conversation, I’d gone home, since the night already felt exhausting. I’d texted Tilda to let her know I was okay, so she wouldn’t worry, but I hadn’t said anything more because I didn’t want to ruin her wedding night with work talk.
“That’s right!” Tilda put her hand on her face in distress. “I totally forgot to ask you about that! What happened?”
“It was just … strange. ” I shook my head. “Prince Kennet came from Storvatten to personally thank the King and Queen for helping, and I guess he wanted to thank me too. ”
Kasper’s brow creased in bewilderment. “That is rather strange. ”
“Yeah, I thought so too,” I agreed. “Apparently, he’s the acting ruler now. ”
“What?” Kasper appeared as surprised as I’d felt when I found out. “I thought Lisbet was gonna get that. ”
“I don’t know exactly what happened, but Kennet is the King now. ” I shook my head. “He got rid of Bayle, which is good, but the trial with Mikko is still on, which seems bizarre to me. I mean, if Kennet is in control can’t he just make it go away?”
“Yes, unless he doesn’t want to make it go away,” he replied.
I chewed the inside of my cheek, taking in Kasper’s response. “He gave Mina a necklace of sapphires. ”
“Buying her loyalty?” Kasper asked, and I nodded. “The exact same way someone bought Cyrano Moen’s. ”
The way Kasper said that made something click in my brain. Pieces that hadn’t fit together started falling into place.
“When Ridley and I went down to find Linnea before, Mikko barely spoke to us,” I remembered. “Kennet worked as his liaison, and he kept saying that all the attempts at blocking the investigation were coming from Mikko, but how would we know that? Kennet could’ve just as easily been doing it himself. And Boyle refused to let anyone look at the records, so he could’ve easily fabricated evidence to frame Mikko. ”
“He planned the kidnapping of Linnea, and then he was involved in the investigation, so he could shift the blame however he wanted. ” Kasper straightened up. “And he wanted to shift it onto his brother. ”
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“He wanted Mikko in jail so he could get the crown,” I said, thinking aloud. “First he hired Konstantin to kidnap Linnea and make it look like Mikko either kidnapped or killed her. I don’t know how he got in touch with Konstantin, but if Konstantin and Viktor Dålig are working some kind of operation with hired hands and weapons, they needed financing. ”
“And we saw how well Cyrano Moen was paid,” Kasper added.
“Kennet told me that after he fired Bayle, Bayle had run off,” I said. “But if Bayle has been working with Kennet this whole time to make it all happen, it would make sense for Kennet to send him away before they could question him and find exactly how he was tied to this whole mess. ”
I’d been suspicious of Kennet since I met him, but I’d also been suspicious of Mikko and nearly everyone else I met in Storvatten, so it had been hard for me to decide how culpable he might have been.
I looked over at Kasper. “Kennet did it all, didn’t he?”
“I don’t know if we can prove it, but yes. I think he did. ”
“He’s here right now, celebrating with Evert and Mina,” I said. “And they should know. They probably can’t do anything, but they need to know they’re aligning themselves with someone who has connections to Konstantin and is helping to finance the attacks on our kingdom. ”
“Holy shit. ” Tilda expressed my sentiments perfectly. “Evert is gonna be pissed when he finds out. I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if he declared war on the Skojare. ”
She was right, and while that would have very negative ramifications for the Skojoare, it didn’t change anything. The King needed to know the truth.
“I have to tell him, and it’ll be better to do it before Kennet leaves,” I said. “Maybe he’ll just lock up Kennet, and we can avoid an all-out war. ”
I started to make my way to the door, since I didn’t have time to waste.
“Wait. I’ll go with you,” Kasper said, then he looked over at Tilda. “I mean, if it’s okay. ”
“You don’t have to. ” I shook my head. “I can do this alone. ”
He turned back to me. “I know you can. But we worked in Storvatten together. This is kind of our job, which means I should be there too. I want to help you make this case. ” Then he looked to his new wife. “As long as it’s okay with Tilda. ”
“The bed and breakfast will still be there in a few hours,” Tilda told him with a smile. “You should go and do this. It’s important. And besides, I wouldn’t mind a little more time to make sure I’ve packed everything. ”
“Thank you. ” Kasper went over to her and kissed her quickly. “I love you. ”
“I love you too. ” She watched us go with an anxious smile, and as we walked out the door, she added, “Good luck. ”
FORTY-ONE
recrimination
We stood inside the meeting room, under the cold gaze of King Evert’s coronation painting. Kasper stood rigidly beside me like a true member of the Högdragen, even though he was wearing a T-shirt and jeans instead of his uniform.
I had taken to pacing and chewing absently at my thumbnail. In my head, I tried to organize my thoughts and the best possible way to tell Evert about what was happening. It was important that he believe me, but it was also important that he didn’t react rashly and attack Storvatten.
When we’d reached the palace, Elliot Väan had been standing guard at the door. Fortunately for us, Elliot had been Kasper’s best man and was a good friend. Kasper managed to convince him to let us in and request that the King come and meet us.
The door opened behind us, startling me because I’d been deep in thought, and I turned to see Elliot holding the door open. A few moments later, almost as if she’d been deliberately trying to make an entrance, Queen Mina walked into the room. Elliot closed the door behind her, standing guard inside the room.
I wasn’t sure what Mina had been doing before Elliot summoned her, but she looked more regal than ever. The train of her white gown flowed out over a foot behind her. Her hair was done up in twisted braids nestled at the top of her neck, and she’d donned a silvery fur stole that complimented the sapphire necklace.
Her crown—a platinum tiara encrusted with diamonds, including a massive one in the center—sat atop her head. Whenever she wore it, she seemed to carry her head a bit higher, lifting her chin slightly. I wasn’t sure if it was to counteract the weight of the jewels, or if she was just putting on airs.
“Elliot claimed that you need to see the King urgently on important business. ” Mina walked around the table, eyeing Kasper and me with her cool gaze. She stopped directly across from us, beneath the painting of Evert. Inst
ead of sitting down, she remained standing and rested her hand on the tall back of the King’s chair.
“Yes, we did,” I said.
“The King is very busy. As you can imagine, with the impending war, he has much to do and can’t possibly take the time to meet everyone who wants to see him,” Mina explained in a tone far frostier than the one I was used to hearing from her, and I wondered if she was suffering from a hangover that was making her so cross. “He has asked me to see you and find out if what you have to say is as important as you believe it is. ”
I glanced over at Kasper, but he kept his gaze straight ahead. This already wasn’t going the way I’d hoped, and now I wasn’t sure what to do.
The Queen could be maddeningly night and day. Even without a possible hangover in play, she vacillated from warmth and kindness to ice queen on a regular basis.
Mina didn’t seem that open to hearing what we had to say, but I didn’t know how else we’d get to talk to the King.
“Thank you for taking the time to see us, my Queen,” Kasper said. “I know how busy your schedule must be. ”
“I’m often busier than the King, so let’s get on with this, shall we?” Mina drummed her fingers along the back of the chair in impatience, causing the many rings on her fingers to sparkle in the light.
“We have reason to believe that Prince Kennet Biâelse is behind the events in Storvatten, not his brother King Mikko. ” I plunged right in, deciding that we had a better chance of getting through to her if we played it straight.
Mina arched an eyebrow but her expression remained otherwise unmoved. “Is that so?”
“We have a great deal of evidence to back up our claims, and we’d be happy to go over all of it with you and the King,” Kasper said.
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“You’re getting ahead of yourself,” Mina told him. “I haven’t heard anything yet that would make me want to summon the King. ”
“In order to stage the kidnapping of Queen Linnea Biâelse three weeks ago, Prince Kennet enlisted the help of Viktor Dålig and Konstantin Black,” I explained. “As a result, we believe that Prince Kennet may be funding Viktor Dålig and Konstantin Black’s terrorist activities. ”
“Terrorist?” Mina nearly scoffed at the idea, totally overlooking the part where I connected Kennet to Konstantin. “Is that what you’re calling them these days?”
With war preparations fully underway, I was floored by the Queen’s response, but I pressed on. “They have used violence and fear by attacking our changelings, presumably to gain some sort of control over the Kanin, so yes, I would say that that’s an accurate descriptor,” I replied, matching her icy tone.
“Well, then, what’s your great evidence that Kennet is connected to Konstantin? How did they meet each other?” Mina snapped. “These are high claims you’re making, so what do you have to back them up?”
“We don’t know how they met each other yet,” I admitted. “But we know that Konstantin Black warned Queen Linnea of a plot against her, presumably because he and Viktor Dålig were hired to hurt her in some way. Possibly even kidnap or kill her. ”
“That proves that Konstantin was involved, but we already knew that. What more do you have to place blame on Kennet?” Mina persisted.
“He had the means to enlist Viktor and Konstantin’s help,” Kasper said. “He had access to all the same things as King Mikko, but unlike the King, the Prince had a motive—he wanted the crown. So he framed his brother to get it. ”
Mina pursed her lips and inhaled deeply through her nose. “You’re sure of this?”
I nodded. “I know he did it. And if you were to interrogate him, I think he’d eventually reveal his connection to Konstantin Black and Viktor Dålig. ”
“All right then. If you’re sure. ” Mina looked past me to where Elliot stood by the door and motioned to him. “Let the Prince in. ”
“What?” I exchanged a looked with Kasper.
Kasper swallowed, trying to hide his nerves. “This is highly unorthodox. ”
I’d expected the King to interrogate Kennet himself, most likely with the help of the Högdragen. With that kind of pressure, I thought Kennet had a good chance of caving and confessing what he knew.
But with just Kasper and me accusing him, I couldn’t imagine why he’d be honest in front of Mina.
“The Prince and I happened to be having lunch together when Elliot got me, and being the gentlemen that he is, the Prince offered to walk me down here,” Mina explained. “And now it turns out be very fortuitous. ”
“Your Highness, with all due respect, I think we should talk this over with the King first,” I said.
But it was already too late. Elliot had opened the doors, and Kennet entered the room with his usual swagger and walked over to join the Queen.
“What’s all this?” Kennet asked, surveying Kasper’s and my grave expressions.
“If you’re going to accuse a man of something, you must be prepared to let him defend himself. ” Mina looked at me when she spoke, and her grey eyes were hard as stone.
“Accuse me of what?” Kennet appeared unnerved for a moment—his smile faltering and his eyes darting over to me—but he quickly hid it under his usual arrogance.
I met his gaze and kept my voice even. “I think you were behind everything that happened in Storvatten. You pulled all the strings to frame your brother and get his crown. ”
Kennet laughed, and I wasn’t sure what exactly I’d expected his reaction to be, but he honestly didn’t seem upset. His laugh wasn’t one of nerves but his usual carefree booming one, like he genuinely found this whole scenario amusing.
“Bryn, you have made a terrible mistake. ” He scratched his temple and smiled sadly at me. “I didn’t pull any strings. ”
“You’re say you’re not responsible for what happened in Storvatten?” Mina asked Kennet, but kept her eyes on me.
Kennet shook his head. “No, of course not. ”
“Now we find ourselves in a terrible predicament,” Mina said. “You, Bryn Aven and Kasper Abbot, stand before me accusing an allied Prince of heinous crimes without any evidence to back it up. ”
“We do—” I began, but the Queen silenced me.
“He denies them all, and as a Prince, I will believe him over the unfounded word of two lowly guards,” Mina went on, and I clenched my jaw to keep from yelling at her. “But had I believed you, your claims could have easily led to a war with a peaceful friend. ”
I lowered my eyes and swallowed hard.
“Ultimately, that would’ve led to the deaths of many innocent people—both Kanin and Skojare,” Mina said. “Do you know what that means, Bryn? You attempted to cause the deaths of your own people and to hurt the King. ”
“That’s not at all what I meant,” I insisted desperately. “I was trying to defend the King and the kingdom. ”
“It’s too late. ” Mina shook her head and attempted to affect a look of sadness, but it fell flat given her cold expression. “The damage is already done. And so you must be punished. ”
“Punished?” I shook my head, not understanding.
“Yes, both of you, actually. ” She looked between Kasper and me. “You both attempted to commit treason. ”
“Treason?” I shouted.
“My Queen, there has been a terrible misunderstanding,” Kasper said, hurrying to defend himself.
“Elliot, arrest these two and take them to the dungeon until they can stand trial,” Queen Mina commanded.
“This wasn’t Kasper’s idea. It’s not his fault,” I tried to argue for him.
“Elliot, now!” Mina raised her voice, and he hurried to comply.
Members of the Högdragen had a pair of iron shackles on the back of their belts in case they needed to restrain someone, and Elliot pulled them out now. He walked over to his friend, giving Kasper an apologetic look before locking the cuff around his wrist.
&n
bsp; Then Elliot moved on to me, meaning to lock the other cuff around my wrist, but I pulled away.
“Your Highness, please, you have to listen to me,” I persisted.
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“I am the Queen. ” Mina sneered. “How dare you tell me what I have to do. ”
It was then that I realized my pleas were falling on deaf ears. There was no point in fighting, and I let Elliot arrest me.
FORTY-TWO
castigate
The iron shackle around my wrist felt like it weighed a hundred pounds. Kasper and I walked with our heads down, saying nothing because there was nothing to say. Another guard had joined Elliot, in case we decided to put up a fight, and the four of us walked in silence through the cold corridors of the palace.
I heard hushed whispers as we walked by, but I never looked up to see who was speaking. As defeated as I felt, my mind raced to figure out how to get out of the situation. My father might be able to leverage his position as the Chancellor to get us free, and while I normally hated nepotism, I didn’t want Kasper to spend years in prison for a crime he hadn’t committed.
Both of us would most certainly lose our careers, but if we were lucky we might not have to forfeit our lives. There was a chance King Evert might not act as harshly as his wife, so hopefully we wouldn’t end up in prison for life or exiled.
The highest punishment for treason was execution, but I had to believe it wouldn’t come to that.
When we reached the cells located in the dungeon below the palace, we weren’t the only ones in there. An old man with a long graying beard had gotten up from his cot to watch our arrival, holding on to the bars and pressing his emaciated, dirty face against them.
This was a long-term prison, which was why it only housed a solitary inmate. There was a jail behind the Högdragen dorms where everyday criminals were kept: thieves and tax evaders, drunks who needed to cool off, even the rare murderer.
The dungeon was for crimes against the kingdom.
The old man in the cell was unrecognizable from who he’d been when he was thrown in the dungeon over three decades ago, but I knew immediately that it was Samuel Peerson. In our textbooks, I’d seen pictures of him from when he’d been arrested in the 1980s. He’d been a young man then, protesting the King’s high taxation.
It had been under Karl Strinne’s reign, our current King Evert’s uncle. Karl had been a much stricter King than his two predecessors, and so even though Samuel had been a Markis—a Kanin of good breeding and the heir to a fortune—King Karl had imprisoned Samuel for publicly disagreeing with him at a meeting, calling Samuel “a traitor” and “an enemy of the kingdom. ”
And here Samuel remained, wasting away in a prison cell. His skin was pale with years of no sunlight, his eyes bloodshot, and a few of his teeth appeared to be missing.
Even though the Kings who followed Karl were more lax in their rulings, they had never pardoned Samuel Peerson. They wouldn’t undo the wrong that had been committed because they refused to undermine a King, even a long-dead one.