Page 81 of To Save a Kingdom

Elessan noted that Roland hadn’t bothered to give Aliya the title she deserved. “Lord Macherall.” The words sounded bitter coming from his throat. Judging by the gleam in Walter Larimar’s eyes, this was playing right into his plans.

“It is unfortunate my daughter isn’t here for this announcement,” Walter paused, his gaze crawling over Elessan before landing on King Roland with a formal bow, “but as this concerns the elves, what I have to say can be said as long as you are here, Your Majesty.”

Roland’s manicured eyebrows furrowed. The corner of the king’s lip curled, flashing the tip of one pointed canine.

The contents of Elessan’s stomach curdled at the glance that passed between the two men.

“I have reached the conclusion of my investigation into the unfortunate Lord Macherall’s murder.” Aliya’s father smirked at Elessan. “And I’m sorry to report the evidence points to an elven culprit.” With a flourish belying his age, and a far-too-satisfied sneer, he presented an elaborate dagger from behind his back.

Elessan blinked. That was his, taken from his private room! It was the twin to the one he’d given Aliya last night.

Aliya’s father laid the weapon on the table between himself and Roland. “I had our alchemists test it, and they confirmed the presence of Faun’s Lock.” His eyes slid to Elessan again. “This came from the mountain elf’s own suite.” He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry to report this, Your Majesty, but it seems as though you have a murderer in your midst, and as your formal allies, we demand justice for our murdered councilman.”

Elessan grabbed the back of a chair to keep his legs from crumpling beneath him as the baron’s plan snapped into place. Shaking his head to clear the weight of revelation from his thoughts, he pinned Walter with a glare that had brought many lesser men to their knees. “It doesn’t take a master artificer to paint a blade with poison. Anyone could’ve done that, once you announced the murder weapon was Faun’s Lock.”

His mind spun—who would’ve had access to his rooms the limited number of times he’d neglected to take his daggers with him? He narrowed his eyes as he studied the light reflecting off the steel. There was no way to know.

He supposed he should be grateful Walter was accusing him and not Aliya. Though those who knew Aliya also knew there was no way she would assassinate one of her own nobles in a secret passage. Unlike her, however, he made a convenient scapegoat.

Elessan’s eyes darted to Tsara and Roland. At least, he would have been before he’d married into royalty.

“Now, wait a minute!” Jalius pushed himself off the wall and stepped forward. “What motive would Elessan have for killing one of Queen Aliya’s council members?”

Blinking, Elessan stared at the gnome—the last person he’d expected to defend him.

The baron cleared his throat. “Clearly, Lord Macherall didn’t agree with whatever policy my daughter or the mountain elf wanted.”

Elessan held back a snort as he crossed his arms. “Contrary to what some people believe, murdering others is rarely the best solution to a problem.”

Walter snorted. “Says the king’s personal assassin.”

Elessan furrowed his brows. “Personal assassin?” He shook his head. “You have no idea what I actually did for my king, do you?” Sure, he’d carry out the odd assassination when needed, but he’d primarily been a spy and messenger.

Roland’s eyes flashed. “These are serious charges. Elessan Svialto, do you have any response to them?”

Elessan blinked. He couldn’t help but admire the way Roland steered the conversation away from his clandestine actions and back to the baron’s ridiculous claim, throwing Elessan to the metaphorical wolves rather than shielding him behind the protection of following his decree.

“Of course I didn’t do it.” Elessan waved his hand at his dagger, where it lay on the table between them. “It would’ve been easy for anyone to sneak into my room and poison the blade in my absence, it’s impossible to prove one way or another.” Crossing his arms, he pinned Aliya’s father with a glare. “It’s my word against his. And as your new son-in-law, I should be above suspicion.” Any other royal family member would be subject to immunity without Roland even blinking twice.

Jalius stepped to Elessan’s side. “But it’s not just his word. I have proof.” He rummaged around in his pocket, pulling out a bundle of black and red fabric. “General Zadé told me she located a glove at the scene of the crime,” he announced, unwinding the cloth and holding it up for the baron and sun elf king to inspect. “I believe you’ll find it matches the design of this mask.”

Walter Larimar’s face paled.

Roland frowned as his eyes danced back and forth between Jalius and Elessan. “And?”

Jalius flashed him a broad smile, his teeth on full display. “As I said, the glove was with the body.”

“Uh, huh?” The tension in Roland’s tone belied his thinning patience.

“Well, the general and I found this,” Jalius waved it like a flag beneath Walter’s nose, “in the baron’s chambers.”

Aliya’s father’s face turned purple as he clenched his jaw so hard he looked like he was about to explode. “How dare you invade my privacy and search my quarters!”

Jalius raised an eyebrow, nonplussed. “Well, if you were digging through Elessan’s rooms, I figured it was only fair for us to go through yours, too.” He shrugged. “One never knows what one is going to find. Especially when the person in question doesn’t approve of the company Aliya’s keeping.” He stepped forward, a cruel spark of intelligence flashing in his eyes. “I suspect it would be simple to frame someone, say, your daughter’s boyfriend, when she puts you in charge of the whole investigation, yes?”

Elessan’s knees threatened to buckle for the second time in as many minutes. When Jalius’ eyes swung to his, he nodded his gratitude.

The baron’s eyes bulged. “That’s a ridiculous accusation! I demand an apology!”