Chapter Twenty-Two - The Traitor’s Truth #3
“We are given to understand that Prince Dorian has in his possession the schematics for Prince Cedric’s district, for the Iron Keep and most importantly the Onyx tower,” explained Lord Darnwell, “he removed them a month ago and we believe they may be at Blackthorn Hall.”
Rosamund thought of the North Tower, rising like a crooked finger to the clouds. Dorian’s tower. The one place in Blackthorn Hall she was forbidden from entering.
“I, I know where they might be,” she stuttered, “but, if you let me speak-,”
Lord Darnwell gripped her hands tighter, “No, no you cannot mention any of this to him. You cannot trust him.”
She tried to remove her hands, but they remained fixed in his grip, “Please, I know it doesn’t sound right, I know it doesn’t make sense, but I think I can trust him. I know him better now, and I know what people say about him but deep down, he’s kind, and he’s honourable and-.”
“He betrayed your father.”
Rosamund yanked her hands away from him, the silence stretched out between them as she looked at him in disbelief.
More calmly he said, “there were few that knew of your father’s plans.
One of them was a member of the Royal Family, of House Mordane.
Given, how much time he spent in The Veil, I suspected this person was Queen Evelaine.
It…it would not have taken much for Prince Dorian to overhear these plans… and relay them to his father.”
No. No, it wasn’t true. It could not be true.
He had met her father. She knew this. She knew that Queen Evelaine had spoken often to him before she had died. Had Dorian known? Had he betrayed them both?
“I, I cannot believe it,” she said, though even now her mind was racing with the possibilities of it.
“Even, if it isn’t true,” said Lord Darnwell gently, “you cannot deny that it is possible. And as such, you cannot trust Prince Dorian. Not with this. Not if you want to save your brothers.”
She could not. She could not deny that it was a possibility.
After everything, after their agreement, after the time they had spent together, she knew he was not the man she thought he was.
She had seen a kindness in him, a gentleness, a man that cared.
But still, she knew that he had a darker side, a mask that he could slip on at will, the Prince of Death.
Had he pulled that mask on as he had betrayed her father? His mother?
“I’ll find a way,” she said eventually, “I’ll…I’ll get you the plans.”
Tears welled in his eyes as he reached for her hands and kissed the back of each of them, “thank you, thank you Lady Valehart. I was not quick enough when they took your father, but perhaps now, I might find some redemption.”
She pulled her hands away, reaching up to wipe at the tears, “how will I get them to you?”
He gestured to his sons, “they will wait by the gates of Tidehall. Ask your carriage to drop you off before the gates, that you wish to walk the rest of the way, and discreetly pass the plans to them.”
She nodded, “I…I will get them to you as soon as I can. Where will you take them?”
Lord Darnwell had a pained expression as he said, “It is better if you do not know. If they discover your involvement…”
She nodded her understanding. If she did not know, they could not torture it out of her.
There was a roar of laughter from the ballroom, voices were approaching. Lord Darnwell heard them too and bowed low to her, “until we meet again Lady Valehart,” he met her eyes, “and we plan your escape.”
With that he and his sons moved off down the colonnade as a group of revellers stumbled out into the night air.
Rosamund shivered, with fear or anger she did not know.
Rather than head back into the ballroom she fled around the side of the house.
She needed to get away; she needed space to think.
She found the waiting carriages, making a beeline for the dark black one near the front.
Tomas waited outside, dressed in his best black coat for the evening, smoking one of his thick cigarettes.
When he spotted her, he moved to open the door, but she reached it before him and wrenched it open.
“I don’t feel well Tomas,” she said as she climbed into the carriage, “take me home. Then please return for his highness.”
“Of course m’lady,” said Tomas, concern written on his face though he did not press it any further.
He shut the door gently behind her, and as she sat back in the chair, she felt him clamber up the side and the gentle snap of the reins. The carriage rolled along the smooth road and on into the city proper. She closed her eyes and tried to allow the rocking of the carriage soothe her.
She had to save them. She had to do this.
She thought back to the night of her betrothal ceremony, only now she saw the bodies of her brothers. She could not go through that again. She knew she could not. But to betray Dorian, the man she knew she was growing to care for. To steal from him. To lie to him. Could she do it?
For my brothers, she thought, yes. I would do anything.
For her brothers, she would find a way into the North tower of Blackthorn Hall.
By any means necessary.