spread through the corridors, carried by servants who had seen the physician

acked in his chambers the

was fragile. He was not to be disturbed, and h

ws standing in the corridor outside the r

unded?" he aske

id carefully, which was, Amara thought from where she stood listening beh

e coron

nsists it proce

e shifted tow

s sh

n her brother's private study,

day. Perhaps two, if the physician holds his silence. But you

es, blood dried along one sleeve. "Once Adrian is crowned, removing him becomes a matter of treason, not succession. Lucien w

who was gravely injured last night cannot simp

ted on being crowned regardless of his physician's objections - that man is permitted to look

shifted, reluctant understand

e the wound as

Amara crossed to the wardrobe. "Bring me his clo

ra,

ange if the king who addresses them today sounds unlike himself. They will t

en, slowly, she crossed to the wardrobe

she said, "there i

ered Adrian'

my

at blade went into his chest," she said.

shoulders were slightly broad, but it fit well enough

cken and coat-swallowed,

icked up t

abbed h

ai

looked

n does not ne

ara said quietly, "might have lost some of it to a blade

ront of the coat.Then another. A

e as Amara transformed

e military coat and shortened hair, beneath the story of a man who had nearly died - the resemblance to Adrian was clo

swall

r vo

he way exhaustion had thinned Adrian's voice in hi

me out low, and rough, and tired in a

s filled w

ho should be resting, not

said, "for a king who ins