n

n

nDawn's eyes became wide when she heard what Tymir just said.

nLazarus walked in behind Tymir at that moment.

nTension rippled in the air. Lazarus looked at Bianca and then Brantley. His face was devoid of any expression, features so cold that they could free the glaciers of the Arctic.

nAs for Bianca, her mind froze. It took time for her to comprehend what Tymir just said. After a moment of blinking her eyes blankly, she said,

"What did you just say?

"

nTymir avoided Bianca's gaze. He was standing in the shade of the trees in the cover of the night to watch them. Although he didn't follow them, he was sure that after freeing Azura and Jason and tipping them off of her activities, they would kill her easily. However, the table turned and he became extremely scared when he noticed that their mother Dawn had come and that too on her dragon. He didn't know what to do next, so he raced his mind. He ran to the guard who had seen him freeing Azura and Jason. Either he could have killed him or he could have used him as a witness. He chose the latter. His bribe to the guard was humongous.

n

"It's not me who is saying it. It's the g— guard.

" He sounded suspicious of the guard. His game was simple—if the king didn't believe his story, the guard would be punished. If the king believed his story, the queen would be punished. The plan was brilliant.

"But I am highly doubtful of his story,

" he added.

"I think he is speaking a lie. I mean, why would the q— queen even do something as terrible as this to Your Highness, Lazarus, who had brought so much help to the kingdom during Samobian?

" He sounded sad, even pitiful. He made a face as if there was so much misery in the world. Even though indirectly he was blaming the queen for all the disaster, and at the same time being on her side. And Tymir had to divert their attention from the missing sacks of grains fiasco.

nBrantley looked at Lazarus whose expression was unchanged. As for Dawn, she was watching Tymir, as if she could kill him right now. He was extremely tired and it was past midnight, yet he sauntered to the sofas and sat there. Once seated, he patted the space beside him and called Bianca to sit there. She was seething with anger but she controlled it and went to sit next to him. Brantley waved his hand towards the remaining sofas for the others to sit. As for Tymir, he remained standing.

nLazarus and Dawn sat opposite to the royal couple. Not a word was spoken for an awkward moment of time. Tension increased.

nBrantley took a deep breath and asked Tymir,

"How would you know that the guard is speaking a lie?

"

nHe stuttered,

"I don't know… I mean— I mean I am assuming…

" Did that mean that the king had taken the bait?

nBrantley shook his head lightly.

"But you are the Royal Housekeeper, Tymir. Why would the dungeon guard meet you and say anything? Rather why would he confess to you and not to Arnik? The guards in Aztec report to Arnik and not you.

"

nThe king's question made his mind stumble, but he regained it quickly.

"The guard is close to me. Maybe that's why.

"

nArnik had come by then and was now standing next to Tymir.

nBrantley turned his attention to Arnik and said,

"Did the guard report to you after confessing to Tymir?

"

n

"No.

"

n

"Then arrest the guard for leaking such important news to anyone other than you. Bring him here and I will whip him personally!

" Brantley's voice was so fiery that Tymir started shaking.

n

"B— but, Your Highness, just because the guard confessed to me, and not to Arnik, doesn't mean you should punish him. Moreover he was shaking when he said that to me. Since I was absent last week, he was very relieved to see me and perhaps told it to me at the crux of the moment.

"

n

"And who are you to decide on what I do or don't do?

"

nTymir gulped.

"I am sorry Your Highness.

"

nBianca interrupted.

"Where were you this past week?

"

nThough he didn't want to answer her, he replied in a low voice,

"I was not well, so I took a leave.

"

nShe continued,

"Arnik told us that he didn't find the sacks of grains in your stores—ones which Lazarus had sent to us, for us.

"

nHe nodded as sweat trickled down his spine. He steered the topic back.

"Your Highness,

" he said to Brantley,

"I think it is high treason to let the slaves out and it certainly doesn't put us in good stead.

"

nBut Bianca was in no mood of leaving him.

"Arnik interrogated the guards and they said that it was you who had asked the last group to keep the stock at your place instead of keeping it at the royal palace.

"

n

"No!

" he denied vehemently.

"It all happened in a hurry because I was about to leave to see my sister!

"

nBianca nodded.

"Ah yes! He mentioned that the consignment arrived a day late.

"

n

"Nonsense!

" Lazarus interjected.

"It came on the same day as I came. I do not tolerate such frivolities.

"

nAnd Bianca got the reaction she had hoped for. She gave a faint smile to Lazarus. Turning her attention to Tymir, she said,

"Now that's what I call a treason—speaking lies to the king.

"

nTymir's knees became wobbly. The girl was clever that what he had anticipated. She was trying to turn the tables at him. He shrugged.

"It must have been the same day…

" he said casually.

nArnik had brought the guard by that time. The guard was shaking so badly that he was almost crying. Tymir winced.

n

"Then where did it go, Tymir?

" asked Brantley in a very chilled voice.

n

"I am baffled, Your Highness. Even I don't know,

" he said as he raked his fingers through his hair.

nBrantley turned his gaze to the guard. He stood up on his feet and walked to him. He raised his hand in the air and when he threw it down with force, he had a whip in his hand. The guard started crying.

n

"Your Highness, please don't do it!

"

nArnik turned his back to face Brantley.

nA whip cracked and the guard shrieked.

nAnother strike.

n

"Nooooo!

" He tried to run away, but he couldn't. Brantley's magic held him in his place.

n

"I didn't do it!

" he said, begging the king.

nTymir stepped in.

"Your Highness, he is just a pawn in the game. He didn't do anything.

"

nBrantley looked at him ferociously and whipped the guard again. This time the guard's screams echoed in the palace.

nTymir's throat was dry. What if the guard cracked?

n

"It was the— the queen, who freed the slaves!

" the guard said, taking the opportunity.

nTwo more strikes.

n

"Argghhhhhh!

" The guard was in a terrible state. His skin was peeled at the impact. When Brantley lifted the whip again to strike, he said,

"Your Highness, no! I will speak the truth.

"

n

"No, you won't speak the truth,

" said Brantley with bloodshot eyes.

"Tymir will!

"

nTymir quivered like a dry leaf.

nBianca walked up to Tymir. Facing him she questioned,

"Why would I free the slaves for them to attack me?

"

n

"It was— it was a show. You wanted your mother to kill them,

" he rasped.

n

"So even though I didn't know that my mother was coming for Samobian, you knew that she was?

"

n