‘Know what?’ A knot of fear for Lilla’s safety tightened in his throat.

‘During your long absence it has occurred to me that we do not know you northern folk. None of you. You suddenly appeared among us. But why? No one has yet given me a plausible explanation. And so now I find myself unable to trust you.’

Erlan snorted and put his hands to the neck of his tunic. ‘See here, the marks of my loyalty, Majesty.’ He ripped the garment clean open. The scars of the wolves’ claws were gouged like runes across his chest. ‘I was damn near eaten alive in your service,’ he hissed. He pointed angrily to the west. ‘You have an army waiting on your signal. And yet you say you cannot trust us!’

‘Your passion is obvious to all, Northman. But is your integrity, I wonder?’

‘If I had any grievance against you, why would I put in your hand the weapon of victory?’

‘I ask myself the same question. Even so, could it be that you take from the other hand a weapon equally potent?’

Erlan shook his head. ‘What do you mean?’

‘Your queen,’ replied Leo, ‘is now a prisoner in this palace.’

‘A prisoner? What have you done to her?’ he snarled.

‘The question is what she has done. The lampros Nikolaos was murdered the night before you left. Queen Lilla was heard arguing with him that evening. And an article of hers was found on his body. He had been tortured. His body mutilated.’

‘Lilla could never torture anyone. This is madness—’

‘There is another possibility,’ the emperor interrupted. ‘That she had accomplices. Men who immediately after committing their foul deed had cause to leave the city.’

Erlan nearly choked on this. ‘So now you accuse us of murder? We swore an oath—’

‘You had motive and opportunity. The means to cover your tracks.’

The man was either blind or a fool since he seemed unable to tell friend from foe. Then through the fog of his anger, Erlan remembered the plans. Of course! ‘I can prove our loyalty and our innocence. Here and now.’ His dark eyes cast around the other courtiers in attendance. ‘But alone. These halls stink of betrayal.’

Leo considered a few moments. ‘Very well. Clear the hall!’ he cried at last. ‘Everybody out!’

There was a brief hesitation before the guards and other officials filed out through the great double doors. ‘You too,’ Erlan said to Einar. The fat man shrugged and followed the others outside. Only Lord Katāros lingered.

‘Go on, High Chamberlain. I will give him this chance.’

‘I would counsel against it, Majesty,’ he replied. ‘No one can be trusted.’

‘Go,’ insisted Leo.

When the hall was finally empty, Leo led Erlan out onto an adjoining balcony. ‘So then, Northman. Speak.’

But Erlan didn’t speak. Instead he reached into his ripped tunic and pulled out the folded piece of parchment tucked inside his belt.