The Grand Duke Gave the Hostage Prince the Only Key novel · Chapter 18 of 24
Chapter 18: The Inn at Brandel
Brandel's market square was full of people who had read the proclamation.
Elior could tell from the way they stood.
Nobody was shopping.
They stood in knots under the grey sky with their arms folded.
They watched sixty riders in plain grey wool come in at the south road.
They watched the big blond man in the black coat at the front.
The paper was nailed to the post of the well, where everyone had to pass it.
Elior got down from his horse.
He heard Teodric say "Elior" very low behind him, and he did not turn.
He walked to the well and pulled the nails out with his fingers.
He read the paper aloud in a carrying voice.
"Prince Elior is held by force in the Grand Duke's bed."
He lowered it.
"Is that what you've heard?"
A woman in the front said, uncertainly, "It says so, Highness."
"It does.
"It's a lie, and I'll tell you how I know."
He let the silence stretch.
"I opened that door myself.
"There was one key to it, and it was on a cord around my neck.
"He gave it to me the day we met."
Somebody laughed, a startled bark, and was hushed.
"I'm twenty years old, I commanded the left wing at the Ford, and I am not held by anyone.
"You can ask the lancers who fought under me.
"You can ask the man who stands there.
"He took me hunting and let me bleed on his floor.
"The same paper offers gold for his head, so I thought you should see his face."
Teodric stood motionless by his horse, with one hand on the saddle and the snow settling on his shoulders.
The rest of this chapter is part of the paid portion of the series. Chapters 1–12 of The Grand Duke Gave the Hostage Prince the Only Key are free to read — start from the beginning, then unlock the rest with coins in the app.
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