We have received information that Princess Nerra has the scale sickness, Earl Fontaine said.

What? Rodry demanded from the side. How dare you make such a claim!

He stepped forward as if he would fight the man, and on another occasion, King Godwin would have let him. Instead, he had to raise a hand to stop his son, because to do anything else would be to go against the most powerful men in the kingdom.

Thats enough, Rodry, Godwin said. He looked to Earl Fontaine. Do you have evidence of this claim?

A boy saw her in the woods, the earl said. Her arm bears the mark of the illness.

A boys word? Greave said from the side. Where is this boy? The laws do not permit someone to be condemned on the basis of rumor. I will show you the places in the legal tomes, if it helps.

For a moment Godwin was grateful for his sons time in the library, but he knew it wouldnt be enough.

Sure enough, Earl Fontaine spoke again. The truth is easy enough to establish, my king. Let us see your daughters arms. If the mark is not upon them, I will bow down and beg her forgiveness, but if it is… then this is a serious matter; one that has been kept from your nobles.

You dare to demand that? Rodry asked. Should my other sisters strip for your amusement? Should I?

King Godwin wished he could stop this. He stood to do just that, but he could hear the voices speaking up around the hall…

…trying to hide it…

…all helping her…

…why wont they check? Does he already know?

He knew then that he couldnt dismiss this. To do that would be to confirm in the minds of his nobles that he and his other children were all in on the secret of Nerras illness.

Even so, he tried. If there is no evidence of this claim, then we must dismiss it as the foolish rumor that it is. I will not have my daughter treated like this.

With respect, your majesty, Earl Fontaine said, we must insist.

Insist? Godwin shot back. He knew he shouldnt. You wish to insist?

He knew he shouldnt be doing this, that it put the rest of his children in danger. Arguing made it look as if he had been a part of hiding his daughters illness, which of course he had been, but showing that to his nobles risked bringing his whole family down. They might rebel. They might kill all of them. Even so, he was willing to stand there and deny them, for Nerras sake.

Its all right, Father, Nerra said, stepping forward. Apparently, she understood what was at stake too. She pulled up her sleeve before Godwin could stop her. Here, is this what you want to see?