The Dragon Queen's Gambit novel · Chapter 11 of 24

Chapter 11: The Trial

The river guards seized Torvald's arms before he could move.

He did not fight.

He stood in their grip with his shoulders squared and his eyes on Ysmera, and he waited.

"Hold," Ysmera said.

Her voice was not loud.

It cut through the hall, and the guards froze.

"Captain Eskrin is under my command, not the fleet's. Release him."

"He is accused of the oldest crime in Karnath, Majesty," said an old lord from the council bench. "Selling a dragon's egg."

"Then let the accuser stand up and say when the crime was done."

Aldous folded his hands.

"The crate was stamped last night, the third night of the Dragon Moon."

"Last night."

"At the river dock, below the palace. Under the captain's own seal."

Ysmera nodded slowly.

She stepped down from the dais, past her husband, to stand beside Torvald.

"Last night," she said, "Captain Eskrin was three hundred miles north, in the border fort."

"The gate roll shows he has not passed its walls in three years."

"A gate roll can be changed."

"Then ask the sentries. Ask me. I flew there last night and found him at his table, writing a report."

"Why would the queen fly three hundred miles in the dark to see a captain?"

"Because he is my lover."

Silence.

It spread through the hall.

She looked around the room.

"I took him to my bed in the north last night, and I do not apologize for it."

Gasps ran down the benches.

Aldous's face went still.

"You admit to the council," he said, "that you broke faith."

"I admit it freely, to every lord in this room."

"I invite any of you to charge me."

Ysmera turned to him.

"But charge me under the law, my lord."

"Lay your hand on the Crown Dragon's scale and swear to the council that you have kept faith with me."

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