The Queen's Last Witness
Chapter 16 - The Queen's Last Witness
King Aldren did not deny it quickly enough.
That pause nearly destroyed them.
Varrick faced the council. “The queen wanted her daughter to inherit. Aldren wanted a son. He ordered the infant removed, and I obeyed.”
Elara turned toward the king.
“Is that true?”
Aldren’s face had lost all color.
“I ordered the child hidden,” he said. “Not killed.”
The cathedral filled with angry voices.
Aldren raised one hand.
“Marian had discovered Varrick’s network. She believed our daughter would be used against us if the investigation became public. We agreed the child should be taken west for a few months.”
Varrick laughed. “The dead queen cannot confirm that.”
“No,” said Sister Beatrice. “But I can.”
The midwife described the night of Elara’s birth. Queen Marian had held her daughter and instructed Lady Celeste to take the child to safety. Aldren had signed the order himself.
“The king wept when the carriage left,” Beatrice said. “He did not abandon the princess. He believed she would return.”
Varrick stepped closer. “And who told him she died?”
Beatrice looked at him. “You did.”
Elara watched Varrick’s hands.
His right thumb rubbed the edge of his ring whenever he lied.
Now it remained perfectly still.
He was about to tell the truth.
“I told him the carriage overturned in the mountains,” Varrick said. “I showed him burned blankets and a child’s bracelet. Grief made him obedient.”
Aldren closed his eyes.
“You murdered Marian when she learned the child lived,” Lord Vale called from the doorway.
Tomas helped him into the cathedral.
Varrick’s composure shattered.
“You should have died in that cell.”
The words echoed beneath the vaulted ceiling.
Lord Vale smiled faintly. “Thank you.”
Varrick realized too late what he had admitted.
Elara stepped forward. “You claimed my father created the conspiracy after escaping. Yet you knew exactly which cell held him.”
“He was a prisoner of the crown.”
“The king never knew he lived.”
Aldren opened the ledger. “The payments for his guards came from your private accounts.”
Rowan held up the forged letters. “The paper came from your office.”
Sister Beatrice held the birth record.
Corren held the queen’s contract.
Piece by piece, the story Varrick had controlled for twelve years collapsed in public.
He looked toward his soldiers.
Half lowered their weapons.
The other half waited for an order.
Varrick drew a small blade and seized Elara by the arm.
Rowan moved, but Elara stopped him with one glance.
Varrick backed toward the side passage.
“You want the truth?” he said. “Come to the archives. I will show you how many of your heroes begged me to lie for them.”
He dragged Elara through the door.
A moment later, smoke rose from beneath it.
May you like
Varrick was going to burn the records.
And he was taking Elara with him.
