Kwenthrith manages to avoid me for the next week and a half. The only thing that keeps me from sending guards after her is the knowledge that, even if I don't trust her, Edeva's been safe under her care. Eva made appearances in town, wooing the people and growing more and more loved by them every time they see her. Lots of blessing infants, giving alms to the poor and making promises to hold their wealthy lords more accountable for their actions.

She told people about the Evermires spending the rest of their time until their estate is finished with the renovations in the Legio crypts. The announcement was met with cheers. Apparently the Duke and Duchess were not very well liked, and they were my closest allies. Hmm.

I push those thoughts aside as I walk the halls of the palace and find Gisela making her way towards the laundry rooms with a bag of clothes over her shoulder. She's humming a bit of a tune to herself, not giving a second thought to the big cloaked man walking in her direction.

"Gisela," I stop in front of her to get her attention.

She curtsies just a little so she doesn't have to adjust the sac she carries. "Your highness."

"You're not as ornery as usual, dear. I take it you like the new uniforms?"

"I no longer look like the bride of a vampire, which is a good start. And yes I am more comfortable."

She offers me a challenging look while waiting for me to let her continue on with her chores. I roll my eyes a little and grab the sac from her, setting it down to the side. Perhaps with anyone else I would punish them for speaking to me in that manner, but Gisela's different. I never had a sister, only brothers, and I barely remember them after all these years. So what if I spoil the girl every now and then? Though what I have planned might be considered a little more than spoiling.

"Come with me, I have a surprise for you." I hold my arm out.

"Uhm," she bites her lower lip similar to how Eva does, and I wonder who learned it from who. She makes no move to take my arm just yet.

I wait a little longer for her to complete her though before I mutter "Gisela?"

"I'm not in trouble, am I?" She finally asks, and I try my best not to look disappointed that she still fears me, even if she tries her best not to show it.

"No no, Gisela, nothing like that. Eva tells me your seventeenth birthday is coming up, is it not?"

"Yes, your highness."

"Alekso."

"I'm not going to call you by your name. I'm a servant girl, and you're the king. Kwenny is right, I need to be more respectful."

Since she does not take my arm, I choose to wrap it around her shoulder and usher her along. "You're my sister in law, Gisela. You can call me Alekso. You don't call Eva her highness, do you? She is not related to you by blood either. So if you can call her by her first name, you can call me by mine. If that is not sound reasoning, then I can just command you."

"You don't have to command me." she huffs. "If you insist I be so informal with you, no skin off my nose."

She manages a little smile, and it is infectious. I smile, too.

"Now then, your surprise."

We turn a corner, Gisela's body warming up the longer we walk in silence. She's nervous; my reputation for being a tyrant is eroding, but very slowly, and only thanks to Eva. I have not made much effort to look better in Gisela's eyes, but I think this may be a start.

The guards push open the doors to the throne room, and Gisela's joyful squeal echoes as she lets go of me to run in to Commander Anselm's arms.

"My girl!" He laughs while giving her a little spin. I swear he looks so much younger when he smiles, like Gisela's presence alone lights him up from the inside. The poor man never married, never had any children. Instead, he poured himself in to his work and then in to keeping me alive.

Gisela lost her father when she came to work here. It was by the man's request, sure, but I am sure it killed him to lose all three daughters, in three different ways, in such a short span of time. With Anselm not having a family, and Gisela being separated from what's left of hers, the two grew quite close in Ustria.

"I missed you, Commander!" Gisela hugs his arm tightly and kisses the armor on his bicep. "Eva said you had to stay behind in the north. What are you doing here?"

"Surely you do not think I would miss this for any reason?"

She tilts her head a little. "Miss what?" And then both of them look towards me.

"Forgive me, Gisela, but the surprise is two fold."

I recognize the look of suspicion in her eyes, as I've been wearing that same look all week regarding Kwenthrith. I don't wait to assuage her fears as I take one of her hands and bring it up to my lips.

"In two days, in this very room, Eva and I will be presenting you with the deeds to your new house."

Anselm smiles, giving Gisela's arm a little squeeze. "My new house?..." she mutters.

"Well yes, the Baroness of Rosecrest should live in Rosecrest for at least some of the year, should she not?"

Her eyes go wide. "Baro-Baroness?"

"No sister of mine, be it by blood or marriage, will be a servant in my household. In two days time, you are to be granted the title Baroness of Rosecrest. Come autumn or when you are ready, you will accompany your staff to Rose House. There, Commander Anselm has offered to help you with your new duties and responsibilities to me, until of course we can find an advisor who's to your satisfaction."

Gisela stares up at me, still dumbfounded, as if everything I just said is nothing but smoke surrounding her head. She tightens her hold on Anselm a little while her mouth opens and closes a few times.

"What... happened to the old Baron of Rosecrest?"

"You are the first," Anselm explains. "Rosecrest was once under the care of the Evermires. Now it will be under your care."

"I'm... I'm going to be a baroness... That's not possible, your highness! You don't believe in common people ascending to ranks of nobility!"

To my fellow noblemen, the platform for my rebellion was because Henry I was born a commoner, and no commoner should be able to become a king. It was a front for my revenge, but it got me what I needed to see it out. I have been king for twelve years, survived plenty of assassination attempts and small revolts in that time. While I eventually bought in to my own fake ideals, I never really cared for who ruled what. Eva has been a queen of the people despite her humble ancestry. I must admit I did not inherit a country in ruin; Henry did a decent job bringing Mercia out of my father's debts.

"You will have your patents, your titles and your credits. Anyone who questions you will answer to me, and after finding out what has happened to the Evermires, I am confident no one will question you."

Anselm gives her an encouraging hug, and the tears begin to flood from her eyes. "Does this mean... I can see my father again?"

"Rosecrest is a long way from Adrimar, but yes. I do not see why he can't visit you, or even live with you."

My hatred for Eldislav has long since faded. If anything the man should be honored as a hero. He protected the love of my life from me until fate dictated I was ready to meet her. I decide that the same day of Gisela's creation as Baroness, I will lift Eldis' ban from seeing his daughters.

Between then and now, you do have other business...

Yes, thank you for the reminder.

While Gisela trembles and cries tears of joy to Anselm, I hand her over a letter. "Next time you see Eva's body guard Kwenthrith, please hand her this. Do not read it, all right?"

She takes the letter with a distracted nod, and I take this moment to leave. Gisela will celebrate this great news with her friend, who will also protect her from any Evermire servant who might find this out and go to stop it. Then she will barely remember the letter until she sees Kwenthrith, and hand it over.

That will surely happen today. I make my way down to the crypts, and wait.

***

"Your highness?" I hear her voice in the distance. Kwenthrith. That traitorous wretch. That lying, scheming mage girl. I lean against the wall by the door, waiting for her to continue down the hall and in to the cell where I asked her to meet.

Well, where Eva asked her to meet, according to the letter Gisela gave her.

Kwenthrith is right to be cautious. I took a bit of a leap of faith in this plan. The gamble paid off, and soon I see the whip of a long, red braid as she walks past me in to the cell and looks around. "Hm. I must be early--"

She slowly turns to inspect the room, pausing in her tracks when she sees me. Confusion passes over her face at first, but it does not take too long for her expression to melt in to cold fear. She's right to be scared. I know her secret, that she's a rebel, and now comes the time to get her to say it out loud.

"Hello, Kwenthrith." I say calmly while pushing off of the wall.

"Hello, my king..." she replies.

I shake my head as I pull my cloak off and drop it on the ground behind me. "Am I that? Am I your king? Lately, I have my doubts that you believe what you say when you address me."

"Where is Edeva?"

"Kwenthrith, I am going to ask you a few questions. They are simple ones with simple answers. Should you speak plainly, honestly, our time here will be short. Do you understand?"

Her eyes narrow. To her credit, Kwen puts on a brave face and sets her hands at her sides. She may be a powerful elemental mage, but she is no match for me and she knows it. "Your highness, will you tell me what this is about first?"

I contain my anger, barely. "This is about your possible ties to rebel and loyalist guilds."

She nods, taking a shaky breath. "I understand."

Good. If she is compliant and confesses, I will just keep her in the cell and decide what to do with her later, and all will be well.

Kwen and I stand a few feet apart, eyeing each other with caution. I don't understand why she's looking at me so suspiciously.

"When did you first start working as one of the Duchess of Aelfort's ladies in waiting?" I begin.

"1073. I was thirteen." Her answer is quick, and I don't doubt her. She's only twenty one. She's still a girl. I doubt my feelings for a moment.

Just get the truth, for Edeva.

"So you were working for her when her husband was executed."

"Yes, your highness."

"Did the Duchess ever have any... ill feelings towards me?"

"None that she voiced to me."

"No, but I am sure you may have overheard something. No matter. Why did she send you to become Eva's ladies maid?"

Kwenthrith hesitates. That is all I need. My hand shoots out and pins her against the far wall by her throat. I only do this for a second or two, but it is enough to make her legs buckle so she stumbles when I let go.

"Why did she send you to become Eva's ladies maid?" I ask again.

After a mild coughing fit, Kwen straightens but but does not dare look me in the eyes. "Because I take care of those I serve, your highness. Lady Aelfort had faith in me and felt I would make Eva comfortable in her new home. She knew I would protect her."

My eyes turn black. Partial truth. She is hiding more from you. Uncover it.

I sigh. "Kwenthrith. I thought you understood you were to be honest with me."

"I am being honest." She pulls her hair from her face and takes a breath.

"Why else did Aelfort, wife of an executed traitor, send one of her ladies to care for Eva Delsor, daughter of the former king?"

Another moment of hesitation affords her nothing good. I lack the patience, and wait for her to notice the heat in the room. When she recognizes what I am doing, my glowing red eyes being the first hint, she tenses.

"Because Lady Aelfort was in love with the former queen, Winnifred." Kwenthrith finally relents. "She told me that she promised to do everything to protect Winnifred's only daughter. She went to great lengths to help Eldislav keep her hidden. She paid a lot of kingsguard for their silence. When Eva was discovered anyway, and subsequently forced to marry you, I was sent to protect her from you... or heal her if you hurt her."

I growl. Or Kazaxon. One of us growls, and it causes Kwenthrith to flinch. "That is why your mage abilities were kept hidden."

"Yes. However nice and gentle you think you are now, you were the Tyrant King before, and the Duchess did not believe that Eva would be safe with you.""

"What else do you know, Kwenthrith? If Aelfort knew how to hide Eva from me, she must know all the rebel cells that have been plaguing my rule?"

"She refused direct connections to rebelling against you, your highness. For the sake of her children. They fear you."

"That does not mean that you refused them, does it?"

Kwenthrith furrows her brows. "I was never part of rebellions, your highness. I knew enough of what Aelfort was doing with Edeva, and that was it."

... She speaks the truth, Alekso.

I sneer. "Impossible! You are the one who hired the assassin to take out Gisela, do you deny it?"

"What!?" Kwen gasps, sweat beading on her brow and starting to drip down her nose and temples.

It is true, Alekso. She is not the traitor you seek.

"The assassin needed a way to get in to the palace. You provided that way in. You didn't need Gisela dead, you just needed the message to be made clear, that Edeva was not "fixing me" fast enough. Knowing her sister was in danger, she would do whatever you asked of her. She is too gentle, and you of all people know that."

"Your highness!"

The room is stifling now, and while the heat doesn't bother me, Kwen is becoming drenched in sweat, her breathing heavy and labored. Her eyes frequently dart towards the open door, but to reach it would mean passing me, and we both know I have no intention of letting her go without her confession.

"Things will go much more smoothly if you just confess, Kwenthrith." I snarl.

"I have nothing else to confess!"

My arms cross over my chest, regaining composure as I let out a little sigh. "Who did you meet in the abandoned building that day before going out to market?"

"..."

The room heats up. "Kwenthrith. I know you told Eva I gave permission to go to town, even if I did no such thing. I was there in the throne room." At first Kwen does not make the connection; she just stares at me while trying to figure out where I was that morning while Eva was playing with Kazaxon. Then, of course, realization strikes her. "Yes, girl, I was the demon you saw. I am the demon standing before you now, and I will rip you to shreds if you do not tell me what I want to know."

Just to prove a point, I wiggle my fingers at her. Though Kaz is annoyed I am pressing on with my questioning, he begrudgingly exposes his claws. The color drains from Kwen's face.

"We... We met with a rebel. Eva didn't believe the assassin was really working on their behalf, and so I looked in to it. I found a man, and we met with him to brief us on his findings. According to him, the assassin was not working with any of the large rebel groups he ran in. Many do not know Gisela is related to Eva. Based on that information, we believe someone is using the rebels as a scapegoat. We don't know who or why, yet... We have been looking in--"

I do not give Kwenthrith another second to speak her lies, and I do not bother having Kazaxon confirm it. I grab her by her shoulders and lift her up in to the air, sending a massive wave of heat directly in to her skin. The air around her ripples for just a moment, and she screams as my fingertips singe her flesh.

As much as I enjoy violence, you should stop, Alekso.

"Do you take me for a fool!?" I roar. "You did not meet with anyone to try and find an alternative reason to assassinate Gisela! You probably tried to turn Eva against me! She has not said a single word about whatever it is you both were up to. She has kept it hidden from me!"

"We don't have enough evidence to b-back our theory!" Kwenthrith cries. "Eva wanted to figure this out and tell you when it had merit!"

Enraged, I throw Kwen across the room. She slides down the wall, the sleeves of her overcoat are burned right through, and I can see the marks my fingers left where I burned her. "More lies!"

I am warning you, my friend. She is not the traitor.

I stalk back to her, and before she can scramble up to avoid me, my hand is wrapped around her throat again. I send more heat in to her as I squeeze, letting her know how fucking serious I am. "Tell me what you want with Eva!" I demand. "What is it you rebels want her to accomplish that she is not doing fast enough! Is it my Legio Mortis? You want it destroyed? Do you no longer wish to give tribute to the crown? To serve your lords? Do you wish me dead!? Answer me!"

Kwen can't answer me. I'm choking her and burning her at the same time. "You will not take my Eva from me! You will not turn her against me! She is mine, do you understand? MINE! I will crush every last rebel who tries to come for her! I will destroy anyone who seeks to manipulate her! I will send my undead to break whomsoever thinks they can take what is mine!"

"Alekso!?"

The instant I hear Eva's voice, my fingers unclench, releasing Kwenthrith just as her eyes start to turn red. She falls to the ground, a shaking, coughing heap with singe marks on her neck. The room smells like burning hair and skin, and is many degrees hotter than the air in the hallway. Eva doesn't care. She rushes inside and falls to her knees between her bodyguard and me. Gisela comes in shortly after, kneeling beside her sister.

"I-I'm fine," Kwen's hands are glowing; a green aura on her palms and the pads of her fingers. I watch the black and red skin heal before me, though she is slow due to how exhausted my attacks must have made her.

Gisela helps Kwen to her feet, and Eva stands as well. Her back is turned to me. I daresay she's trembling more than anyone else here, despite being unharmed. I try to be angry that my interrogation of Kwen was interrupted, but I can't. Now I just feel guilty. How much of this did Eva see? "Edeva," I begin, reaching for her.

As my hand touches her shoulder, Eva spins around and moves away from me. At first I worried she was shaking with anger, but the look in her eyes says otherwise. It is far, far worse.

She is terrified.

Her gorgeous crystalline eyes are enormous, filling with more tears by the second. She looks more frightened than when she first met Kazaxon. More than our wedding day.

"You were torturing her," she whispers.