Chapters (32)
“She’s the one raising the Ancestors from their graves.”
“She’s planning on burning the Ancestors and forcing us to bow to the gods,” said the blacksmith. “That’s what they’re saying.”
A few others rose from their seats, the hostility palpable. Somebody spat at her, the glob of liquid nearly reaching the hem of her gown. From the corner of her eye, Constance spotted Aron’s hand creeping to the hilt of his sword. She touched the guard’s arm, interrupting the movement.
“I’m sure those are things that people are saying,” she said, staring at the glob of spit before raising her eyes. She drew back her shoulders, pulled her spine tall. “But perhaps you’d care for something that’s definitely true. Perhaps you’d care to know what I’m going to do about this recent unrest.”
Redwold nodded for her to continue.
“The Lord Justice and the physician Jonas Thorn have been placed under arrest on suspicion of conspiracy. Tomorrow is the day of my confirmation, and once I am Duchess, as soon as I am able, I shall open the gates, ride for the City of Kings, and insist our good monarch put the Justice on trial for his crimes against the people of this town.”
A stunned silence fell over the room.
“But first, I must end the storm cloud. The forest is not passable as it stands, and we cannot open the city gates until it is. I know how to destroy it. And I know that it’s caused these disturbances tonight. I just need a little more time.”
“How much time?” said the older man.
She searched the pale, determined faces turned toward her. Dark thoughts encircled her mind.
Finally, she spoke. “I need two days.”
A murmur rose around the room. The scribe listened to the talk for a moment, then held up his hand for silence. “I say yes, on three conditions. No curfew. Extra rations from the castle’s own stores. And if the storm cloud does not disappear by dawn the day after tomorrow, we shall march on the castle and break open the gates.”
The people were silent, grim-faced, and Constance knew without a doubt that they would carry through Redwold’s threat. Two days. Slowly, she nodded, and met the old man’s eyes. “Done.”