Chapter 404: The Price of Speaking Up

Chapter 403: The Price of Speaking

Lyria’s POV

Jacob turned toward the man who had spoken.

He was a large man, broad through the shoulders, with scars running down both arms. He sat at the far end of the bar with his glass untouched before him.

Jacob fixed him with a hard look.

"Get off yer ’igh ’orse, Zachary," he said. "Ye’re speakin’ as if someone ’oo knew nothin’ before, an’ was placed in ’er situation by circumstance, should ’ave power straight away."

He gestured toward the room, his voice carrying farther now.

"Why don’t the other one — the one that’s been in the position ’er whole life — why ain’t she the strong one? Our princess ’as only been a princess fer about three weeks, an’ she’s already stood up fer us. She put ’er ’ead on the line fer us."

Zachary’s eyes narrowed at that.

"Whose ’ead was actually put on the line?" he asked. "It’s us ’oo suffer the consequences because she spoke up when she weren’t supposed ter."

Jacob leaned forward.

"An’ ’ow does that make ’er weak? ’Ow does speakin’ up fer us make ’er weak? She made things fair."

Zachary shook his head slowly.

"’Ow did she do it, then?"

He lifted his untouched glass, though he did not drink from it.

"Many of us gathered whatever we ’ad ter get the best seats ter watch the competition. Some were even scammed out of their money an’ never got ter see it at all."

His gaze moved around the tavern.

"An’ ye claim she ’elped us?" He gave a humourless laugh. "We didn’t get our money back. Not the ones that were scammed, nor the ones that paid an’ actually watched the competition. The only fing she did was make us leave together."

A few patrons shifted uneasily.

Olly, however, was not one of them.

"An’ what did the other one do, then?" he asked.

Zachary shrugged.

"I ain’t sayin’ I like the other one. But we should stop singin’ praises like as if the princess is some great saviour. She’s done nothin’ of substance."

Helen spoke up from behind the bar, her voice sharp and direct.

"It’s a frickin’ competition she’s involved in, Zachary," she said. "She ’as ’ardly any chance ter do anyfin’ at all. An’ when she did ’ave the chance, she risked ’erself."

Zachary turned toward her.

"Is it only ’erself she risked?"

Helen’s expression hardened.

"What’re ye gettin’ at?"

"Exactly what I said."

Jacob’s voice rose.

"What is even wrong wiv ye? ’Ow did she risk us?"

Zachary laughed.

It was a hollow sound, entirely without amusement. He looked around the tavern slowly, and for the first time I noticed that he did not appear angry.

He appeared tired and it had nothing to do with the hour.

"Ye don’t know," he said.

No one answered him.

The laughter and conversation that had filled the tavern only minutes before had gone entirely. Even the clinking of glasses had ceased.

Zachary nodded slowly.

"Of course ye wouldn’t. I suspect it ’asn’t reached Mercer’s Row yet."

He lowered his voice.

"Down in Laminal, guards sent by the crown ’ave invaded the streets. There’s word of treason. They’re takin’ anyone that even looks suspicious, doesn’t matter ’oo ye are or what ye’ve done. If a guard decides ye look like trouble, that’s enough."

A murmur rippled through the tavern.

"Laminal?" someone repeated.

"An’ Ashford," Zachary continued, his voice remaining low and even. "An’ Darrow’s Cross. An’ the outer settlements near the border."

The murmur deepened.

"How are you so certain this is because of the princess?" Bridget asked him, her voice measured.

Zachary met her gaze without hesitation.

"Because I ’eard a guard say it." His fingers tightened around his glass. "It’s the princess ’oo let the crown know there’s plans of treason among the people."

My stomach tightened at once.

No.

That had not been my intention. Not remotely. I should have known. I should have anticipated this result.

I looked down at the table.

Duke Thorncrest spoke then.

His voice was calm, but there was a steadiness beneath it that immediately drew the attention of the room.

"That does not necessarily mean the raids are a consequence of the princess having spoken," he said. "This could surely be something else entirely. I find it difficult to believe that simply because the princess spoke on behalf of us, whole towns are suddenly being subjected to this."

Several people turned toward him.

Zachary regarded him for a moment without speaking.

Then he gave a small, quiet shake of his head.

"Ye’re not from ’ere," he said. "Maybe the lord of wherever ye come from is a decent man. But it ain’t so in the capital, nor in places under the direct rule of the crown."

Duke Thorncrest remained composed.

Zachary continued.

"Even now, ye could be labelled a traitor fer speakin’ the way ye are, if the wrong ears ’appened ter ’ear ye. Ye can say the word queen or king in the wrong company, an’ ye’ll find yerself facing a charge of treason before ye’ve ’ad the chance ter explain yerself."

That was no news to anyone who had lived these streets.

It had always been this way.

Helen folded her arms.

"That still don’t prove the princess caused it."

"No." Zachary’s answer came without delay. "Perhaps she didn’t cause it."

That seemed to surprise several people at once. A few patrons exchanged glances.

"But she may ’ave given ’em the excuse."

I lowered my gaze.

Because that was true.

I had not caused it. But I had given them the opportunity. In a haste to save myself, I risked innocent people.

Duke Thorncrest watched Zachary carefully.

"And you believe that because she challenged the arrangements at the competition?" he asked.

"I believe," Zachary said, "that when someone in ’er position speaks against those wiv power, the powerful don’t always take kindly ter it."

He glanced around the room.

"She stood up fer us. Fine. Maybe she meant well. Maybe she truly wanted things ter be fair. I ain’t sayin’ she didn’t. But what ’appens when the crown decides that ’er speakin’ fer us is more dangerous than our silence?"