She hadn't known why she sent Prince Luxley to follow Coralina. From the library window, she'd seen her leave the castle on Kerrick's arm. Night had dropped in solid black, but the glow of the entry hall washed across them when they stepped outside, and as Kerrick turned to shut the door, Maelyn had seen his face. He did not look like himself.

She hesitated only a few seconds. He'd probably looked grim because he was angry at Gord's actions. But something in his eyes—the way they jumped to check his surroundings—gave her heart a warning call. She had known and trusted Kerrick all her life. But something felt wrong, so she sent Luxley to follow them.

After he left, she walked around the first floor of the castle, making sure everyone had gone. In the east corridor, she ran into two knights, one of which was Sir Brunner.

"Are they gone?" Maelyn asked.

"Castle is clear." Though Brunner's mouth stayed firm, his eyes gleamed with something that wasn't quite anger. If Maelyn had to guess, she would say he wasn't feeling too devastated about what had happened to Coralina on the stage. Might even be relishing it. Maelyn couldn't blame him very much for this. Aside from worry over the scandal, she herself wasn't feeling too devastated.

"Where are my sisters?" she asked Brunner.

"Most went upstairs. One's cleaning the kitchen. The little one is at the door."

"And my uncle?" Maelyn dreaded to ask this.

"In the throne room. He, uh... he wants to see you," Brunner said with a tinge in his voice that sounded near compassion.

She had guessed this was coming. When the curtain fell on that final scene, she had sat like a statue, unable to look at Uncle Jarrod beside her. The applause drowned her ears, but just beneath it, she thought she heard him make a sound, such as, "Humph." He rose and walked calmly out of the ballroom.

"I'll go there directly," Maelyn said with heavy tiredness. She pointed to the end of the corridor, which opened to the entry hall. "Would you please fetch Coralina from outside for me? I think she went into the forest with Kerrick, and I would like her to join me in the throne room." If Maelyn had to face the wrath of Uncle Jarrod, Coralina should face it too.

Brunner and his companion promised to bring her. Maelyn went to the throne room and quietly let herself in. Of course, she'd have to defend herself before her own throne. In all likelihood, it would never be her own throne again.

"Come forward," she heard him say as she shut the door.

The walk up the crimson strip of carpet felt very long to Maelyn. She kept her head up and her face composed. This was not her fault. She would not act ashamed.

She stopped in front of the throne and clasped her hands. "Yes, Uncle?"

As always, Uncle Jarrod held a glass of wine in his right hand. He raised one of his dense black eyebrows. "Have you nothing to say about this?"

"Only that Coralina's excessive flirtations have finally caught up with her. I'm surprised at the method Gord used to rebuke her. I don't approve. But it's over and the castle is secure."

Uncle Jarrod made a scoffing sound. "Secure." He took a loud swallow of his wine. "Do you know how easily this could have gotten out of hand?"

"Yes. That's why I had the knights clear the castle as fast as possible."

Uncle Jarrod lifted his goblet and looked ready to say more, when they were distracted by loud noises outside the room. The doors to the throne room swung open and no less than five people appeared: Luxley; Coralina; and the two knights, dragging a man between them.

"She's been attacked! My precious jewel has been attacked!" Luxley rushed up the carpet, leading a sobbing Coralina by the hand.

"Your Majesty!" Luxley reached King Jarrod and bowed, adding another one in Maelyn's direction. He sounded winded, but looked triumphant. "This heartless scoundrel made an attack on the fairest of all fair ladies! But I've defeated him and now bring him before your justice."

Maelyn looked at the man held between the knights. He was on his knees—the two knights had half-dragged, half-carried him up the room by his elbows. His face stayed sunk into his chest, but Maelyn didn't need to see his face to know who he was.

"Kerrick?" she said in confusion.

"He's one of the bandits, Mae," Coralina said in a shaking voice. "The hair bandits. He attacked me just now in the forest... with another man. Look." She held up a severed strand of her own hair and wept freely.

Maelyn felt her knees weaken. She sank onto one of the marble steps, gripping the hard edge with her hand. She could not believe what she was hearing.

"Never a fouler man walked this good earth!" Luxley cried. "But I struck him a blow he won't soon forget. He is vanquished!" His bright eyes shone with pride.

From the step, Maelyn stared at Kerrick. His eyes remained closed, but she believed him to be conscious. His hands were bound behind him.

"Who witnessed this?" Uncle Jarrod asked.

"I did, Sire!" Luxley said. "I followed them and saw what I saw. Lost a few valuable seconds as I hunted for a large stick. But I soon located one and struck the villain down!"

"And the other man?"

"Alas, the other escaped me," Luxley said mournfully. "But our princess is saved! I called out for assistance, and the good knights came to our aid. He's yours to punish!" Luxley gestured grandly at Kerrick.

Maelyn looked at Coralina, still wanting to believe this was a mistake. Luxley had misunderstood. It could not be that Kerrick—Joc's son and their friend since childhood—had done this.

"It was really him?" Maelyn asked.

Coralina met her eyes. "It was really him."

Maelyn's throat tightened. She looked at the prisoner. "Kerrick?"

Kerrick's posture did not change. His heaving chest suggested he knew what was happening. But he never raised his head and nothing but a groan emerged from him.

Uncle Jarrod looked at the knights. "I trust you know where to find the dungeons?"

"At the end of the west corridor," Maelyn answered for them. "Just outside here—you'll see the door. Please take him quickly." She wanted never to look at Kerrick's face again.

She found the voice to ask Luxley to escort Coralina out and thanked him mechanically for his heroics. Before long, she was alone again with Uncle Jarrod.

She hadn't risen from the step. She could hear Uncle Jarrod gulping more of his detestable wine. She realized now how much that was a tool of his, something he wielded to show his dominance over every situation. She could be tortured and killed in front of him, and he would calmly sip at his wine. It stood for his power. His heartless disinterest in anyone.

"What was the word you used before? Secure?" Uncle Jarrod said.

"Uncle Jarrod, I—I tried to find the bandits, I truly did. I had the knights looking—" She stopped because of how she sounded. Weak. Defeated. On the edge of tears. Her heart felt shredded by Kerrick's betrayal. But she had to appear strong.

She stood and faced her uncle. "This was a blow. But he'll be punished. I will send him to the Barren Realm."

Uncle Jarrod gave the barest trace of a smile. "And what about your punishment, my dear? For failing your family so utterly."

Maelyn remained quiet until she felt sure she could speak evenly. "I already know."

Uncle Jarrod sat back and lifted his cup, looking satisfied. "I was right to come here. As expected, your realm is in chaos and you've proven yourself inept as its leader. I will appoint Coralina in your place. And you—you will return to Grunwold with me. And marry my son."