“Moran died at the Battle of the Heights.”

Reginald was confused.

“Moran?”

She tapped a finger on the table, then stopped herself doing that.

And she spoke. “I had a love once, Master Reginald. He was a good man. But he could not have me, for I caught the eye of the king. But that did not mean his life ended. He married. They made two daughters, but their firstborn was a son. A son who became a soldier with the ambition of earning the coveted position as lieutenant to a prince he admired. Cassius Laird.”

Reginald’s heart lurched as he whispered, “Milady.”

“So of course, although he was still quite young, he had just finished his training and was proudly an endorsed soldier. Thus, when the prince called for his most loyal to fight the just fight, Moran was one of the first to volunteer. Thus, he was there,” she continued.

Reginald had nothing to say.

She had one hand in her lap, one hand close to her cup of tea.

The hand by the tea flipped out as she said, “And he was behind it, you see.”

Yes, the dead king was behind a great many terrible things.

Including that.

“I see,” Reginald replied.

“Coram had lost enough at his hands. I am an Airenzian woman, and you know, Master Reginald, we are made of rather stern stuff. We are this, for we are born to lose. I was born in this land knowing I would have nothing but what a man allowed me to have, and I would give everything a man chose to take. But Coram?” she shook her head. “He had already suffered at the king’s hand. His losing Moran, well, really…it could not be abided.”

“I understand,” Reginald said, and he did.

However, as it was his duty, he was forced to continue.

“I don’t suppose you’ll share with me who assisted you in gaining entry to the Bailey and access to the man who once was king.”

“You are right,” she replied. “I will not share that with you.”

“This will mean a full inquiry of all my guards and all others who are employed here,” he informed her.

“Yes,” she said, and the next she spoke with all sincerity. “And please accept my apologies for the time it will take you to do that. However, I feel safe in the knowledge they will not be discovered, but if they are, I request that you deal with them with a kind heart. They wished nothing but to right a wrong, and I’m afraid I was rather clever in disguising how a wrong would be committed in order to do that.”

She then spoke no more.

So be it.

He nodded and said, “I will petition the king to do his best to make you comfortable again in your stay with us, as I suspect it will be rather long.”