“Gladly, Your Majesty.” Lord Howell stepped forward, an accusing finger pointed straight at Emry as he said, “We have all been deceived by this wicked girl !”

The chamber went completely still. Emry’s heart froze.

“Girl?” King Uther stared haughtily down from his throne, peering skeptically at Emry.

“I saw her, Your Majesty!” said Lady Elaine. “She was at the ball last night! And she seemed on very intimate terms with the Duke of Cornwall!”

No. Emry wanted to scream. Or drop through the floor and disappear. She felt as though she might faint.

“Is this true?” demanded the king.

“No!” she protested. “I was only trying to learn if the duke posed Arthur any threat—”

“That is not what I meant!” growled the king. “And how dare you refer to His Royal Highness as ‘Arthur’?”

Emry blanched. “I’m sorry, Your Majesty,” she said. She looked up at them all, her voice shaking as she confessed, “Yes, I am a girl. But please, you have to let me explain. I came to court in my brother’s place—”

“See?” Lady Elaine insisted. “She admits to impersonating a courtier!”

Emry’s stomach twisted. “No!” she said. “Please, let me—”

“She lost her father in service to the crown,” accused Lord Howell. “And it’s clear she’s come seeking revenge against the royal family!”

The room felt like it was spinning. This couldn’t be happening. Surely, if she could only wake up, she’d be back in her bed, with the guard practicing noisily outside her window.

The king raised his hand for silence. “You have done well to discover this girl’s treachery,” he told Lady Elaine, and the girl preened. Emry had always known Lady Elaine was spiteful, but this was a new low. And then the king leveled a harsh glare in her direction. “And you,” he said, his voice cold and hard as ice.

Emry winced. She had really done it. She’d been so worried about Arthur discovering her secret—and so relieved when he had taken it in stride—that she’d forgotten to worry about the king.

“Do you take me for a fool?” King Uther demanded. “You lied to me. You lived in my castle, enjoyed my hospitality, accompanied my son and sole heir to Avalon—all under a stolen identity! I have never imagined such treachery and deceit could happen under my roof!”

Emry cringed. “Please, Your Majesty,” she begged. But she doubted an explanation would make a difference. The king was furious, a vein throbbing at his temple, his face gone ruddy and his eyes ablaze.

The door to the Great Hall flung open, and Arthur entered. He was out of breath, as though he’d been running. Emry’s heart twisted at the sight of him.

“Father, this is a mistake,” he pleaded. “The wizard has committed no crime.”

“The wizard is a woman!” growled the king.