They Broke the Duke's Bastard, Now She Is His Only Heir novel · Chapter 13 of 24
Chapter 13: The Marshal's Answer
The end cell of the river fort smelled of lamp oil and wet stone.
Orrin Moxon hung from the window bars by his own belt.
I stood in the doorway on my crutch and looked at him for a long time.
He had had my blood drawn every month for three years, and he had never once looked at my face while it was done.
Now his eyes were open, and he was looking at the ceiling.
"You should not be here," Doran said.
"He broke my knees," I said. "I want to see him dead."
Doran said nothing more.
On the flagstones lay a crystal vial in pieces, and a black stain ran from it toward the drain.
I did not touch it.
On the cell door, in a blob of blue wax, was a pressed lantern.
"Odette told the King her seal was stolen last spring," I said.
"She did."
"So the thief came here in the night and killed the one man who knew her, and left her seal on the door for us to find."
"That is what she will say," Doran said.
"Who let him in?"
The warden by the door answered with his eyes on the floor.
"A footman in Marchbanks blue brought a flask for the night watch, Marshal. Both my men slept till the bell. The steward's trunk is still in the guard room. Nobody has opened it."
"Seal it. Nobody opens it but me."
He turned to me.
"I told you I would refuse the King at dawn."
"It's past dawn."
"Then I am late. Come with me, or stay with the wardens. Either way I am going now."
I came.
The throne room was already full when we reached it, and every head turned.
Odette stood at the foot of the dais in white, with her curls pinned up and a gold ring on her hand.
She had a red-rimmed look about her eyes, from crying all night for Moxon, or from pretending to.
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