Blood and Memory Read Online Free PDF Page B

another body. No. This he would have to keep to himself for the time being.
    The Queen was still speaking when the voice left him. “…and Liryk, I want that woman—that Hildyth creature—at the palace by sunset tomorrow. Bring her before me. Did many other people at this place know?”
    Liryk was grateful for the Queen’s tact at this moment. “Several. But none would know Koreldy. He was a stranger. It was not crowded either, so those to whom the gossip has spread would probably not even know his name. Simply that a man was killed.”
    “Good. Your men will spread the rumor that this man was Briavel’s prisoner but that we had granted him a new life across our borders. So far this is true. The seed you will plant, however, is that we have no other option but to suspect a Briavellian loyalist took offense at Koreldy’s actions at the tourney and took it upon himself to rid our two realms of a troublemaker. Make sure everyone understands how keen Briavel is to pursue the betrothal—no official word, mind,” she cautioned, emphasizing her own quiet despair at such a thought by cutting the air with her hand as she gave her warning. “Tell the story into a few inns where loose mouths lurk. I will provide coin. Allow the story to become warped as it is retold, fret not that it comes out any which way. So long as people believe it was purely an internal problem.”
    “Why?” Krell asked, unable to follow his queen’s rapid line of thought.
    Liryk could not help but give a grim smile of appreciation. He nodded a bow. “Inspired, your highness.” Then he turned to his companion. “Because, Chancellor Krell, if it’s supposedly our own work, the word will die quickly. There is less intrigue to the death of a prisoner than the assassination of a noble—particularly a noble we supported. More importantly, however, in designing this, our queen has deflected any potential damage to Briavel. Whether or not the person we suspect is behind this, he can only be privately grateful to her majesty for being so without guile, accepting blame on Briavel.”
    “I see,” the Chancellor replied, impressed. “Your majesty has inherited her father’s quick mind for strategy.”
    Valentyna gave a brief, harsh laugh. “Oh, I do hope so. We’re entering challenging waters, gentlemen, and we shall need all our wits to navigate the safest channel.”
    Both men nodded their agreement.
    “What of the body, your highness?” Krell asked gently.
    The Queen sighed, inwardly proud that she had so far held on to her grief in front of these men. They were obeying her now as they would have obeyed her father. “Liryk, for anyone who may inquire, you can say Koreldy’s body was buried quickly in an unmarked grave. Make out you left it for others and so it passes down the chain of command until no one really knows who took responsibility. Give the impression that neither do we care.”
    “Yes, your highness.”
    “Krell, you and I will prepare the body. Who can we trust?”
    “Father Paryn is a good man, my queen. He will help us give Koreldy some dignity.”
    “Dignity, yes,” she said, seeing once again Hildyth enjoying her evening’s work with Romen. “He will be buried at a private ceremony. No one is to speak of it with anyone other than Father Paryn. Krell, please make arrangements for a site near my father.”
    “In the royal plot, majesty?” His tone carried sufficient surprise that she knew he was not happy with such an arrangement.
    “Yes,” she said firmly, eyeing him. “He deserves as much. He fought to save my father’s life. He certainly saved mine. He was also…” She paused, forcing herself to stop what was about to be said. She took a breath. “This is what I want.”
    “As you wish,” Krell said, bowing.
    “Liryk, what of the men who accompanied you?”
    “All reliable, your highness. If you’ll excuse me I shall round them up now and make our orders clear.”
    “Each to be promoted and paid double