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“Tell one “And be quick, I don’t kno much time we have”

I shookblood froest picture was and alould be Iris, but he had no wife No children He was 66 years old How do because it would be his legacy

“Assassins attacked Iris,” I said, and his eyes ide

“What? When? Is she all right?” I nodded “How did I not know about a plot against her? I have informants everywhere How is it possible…? Oh Oh, that snake” He chuckled wryly “Tell me Randal, who told you I was behind this?”

My mind raced It couldn’t be true But it added up It all added up Patara It could only be Patara

“I’ll fucking kill her,” I said, starting to turn

“Ah ah, not so fast”

“Giles, she will die for this”

I fu into fists My only friend My sister in all but name How could she do this to me? Why?

“you’re king we can do e like But right now she’s the heir apparent and your father could draw his last breath at any moment”

“I don’t give a ripe shit about any of that now”

“You should care, Randal” Giles crossed the room, closer to me, so that he could lower his voice “Think about why she did this,” he said, and despiteto him “I know she asked you to abdicate Perhaps she’d have sent sodo she knew she had to act right away Even with you still unacknowledged you’re a threat to her gaining the throne and she knows it, but so long as she’s still queen she’s also a threat to you and anyone you care about We need to act quickly or that war I was talking about will have the two of you as co factions whether you like it or not”

I took a step away fro instinctively towards the door Every bone inme to find Patara and kill her, but as it had been when I thought it was Giles, I knew I had to be cautious The queen was guarded, and if she had any idea I was alive she’d knoas a threat