The two loyal bodyguards stepped away as the boy bowed deeply. “Your Majesty! Sorry I had to put you through this! It was the only way I could provide evidence of the traitors surrounding you.”

Quercus was both amazed and saddened. Only five minutes ago, he had been enjoying the feast, feeling glad that he could give back to his people some small reward after a summer of hard work in the scaffields. His right-hand man had assured him that the country was safe. Every word was like bark stripped from a branch to reveal a different, starker truth underneath. “Who are you? How did you find out about this plot?”

“I am one of your subjects, my lord. You should see for yourself how we live, clinging to the edge of Hellebore. A sewage worker’s lot is a hard one.”

The boy had lost his respectful tone. But Quercus could hardly complain. His life had just been saved. “I’ll never criticize a plumber again. The way you took on those two” — he paused—”common criminals was ingenious!”

The two bodyguards watched in awe as the wooden cage suddenly withdrew into the floor again, leaving Salix unconscious on the ground. Flo had already taken a pile of the cloth napkins from the table to try and staunch the flow of blood, though Salix didn’t deserve her care.

Ark didn’t have time for compliments. “I was working on a clogged toilet at the Councillor’s house when I overheard Grasp talking with the secret envoy of Maw. They would take this country of Arborium and reduce it to a slave factory for wood and gas.”

Shock was piled on shock. Quercus ran his fingers through his gray hair, pacing up and down. The boasting of Alnus and Salix suddenly made appalling sense. “This is terrible news. You must tell me everything.”

Ark looked to the outer doors as if he expected trouble. “There is no time for explanation. Your failed assassins were dogsbodies, but they are backed up by great force. As you have already heard, your commander is no longer loyal to you. Your rule has let the country fall into disarray.”

“How dare you?” said the King, his cheeks suffusing with anger.

Ark’s green eyes turned cold. “I have stared into the heart of a mealworm, ridden on the back of a raven, and slipped past your guards like a ghost. I do dare.” A chill descended into the room as Ark’s words rang out. “Something true has been lost. Are you willing to fight to regain it?”