Page 136 of The Ragpicker King
“I still can’t believe it,” said Sardou, approaching the center of the room, where Kel stood, along with the other Charter holders. “Anjuman’s always been loyal to a fault. Like a dog.”
An echo in Kel’s ears of Roverge, long ago.The dog barks on behalf of its master. Bark somewhere else, little dog.
“The Ragpicker—” Kel started hoarsely before turning to Conor. “Jolivet,” he said. “Jolivet can explain.”
Conor’s lips were white. He said, “So you don’t deny it.”
“Joss already told us. There are witnesses to your treason all over Castellane,” Lady Alleyne said, her rouged lips a red slash across her face. “They’ve seen Kel go in and out of the Black Mansion. Ride with the Ragpicker King in his carriage.”
“I’m telling you,” Kel said, “Jolivet—”
Conor put his hands up to cover his eyes. “Stop,” he said, almost breathless. “Just tell me none of it’s true—”
“He can’t say that.” Falconet’s tone darkened. “You must think your cousin a fool, Anjuman. How many times have you crept off to the Black Mansion, dozens? Hundreds? Did you think you were never noticed? The Hill has eyes all over Castellane. You ought to know that as well as anyone.”
And of course he had known it, Kel thought. But he had not been concerned about it. He had always been so unimportant in the eyes of the Charter Families; why would they look at him? And besides, the Hill’s spies reported to Jolivet. Jolivet, whom Kel had assumed would protect him. Wherewasthe Legate?
But Falconet was still talking. “What did the Ragpicker King promise you in return for information about the Aurelians?”
“I think that much is obvious,” said Lady Alleyne coldly. “Gremont’s death. We all know how Kellian feels about my daughter. He tried to scheme his way into my house just last week to see her. She was terrified.”
This is insane,Kel thought, feverishly. He tried to catch Conor’s eye, but Conor wasn’t looking at him.Wouldn’tlook at him. He felt breathless, as if he were being squeezed in a vise. He had dismissed them, he thought, looking from Lady Alleyne to Joss, as panicked nobility in over their heads. Being blackmailed by Malgasi. He had not seen the web they were weaving around him.
He thought of what Elsabet Belmany had said to him on that rooftop.I have a use for you.
“I had nothing to do with Gremont’s death,” Kel said as steadily as he could. “And I had no reason to wish ill on Ciprian—”
“No, you did that errand for the Ragpicker King, didn’t you?” said Joss. “You were seen meeting with Ciprian at the Caravel, along with several of the Ragpicker King’s henchmen. And Ciprian wasn’t seen again after that. Not alive, at any rate.”
“Conor,” Kel said. “You know this isn’t true. You know I’m no murderer.”
I’m a Sword Catcher. I protect you. I am no assassin.
Conor said, “Are there any witnesses to suggest Kel is guilty of these deaths?”
“Kristof, at the Caravel,” said Joss, and Kel remembered the blond man who had handed Joss an apple. “And I doubt even Alys Asper would lie to the Vigilants, if she was made to see how serious the situation was—”
“You fuckingbastard,Joss—” Kel started at Falconet, but Benaset’s grip bit into his arms. Falconet took a nimble step back, grinning. Kel looked around the room wildly. “Don’t you see,” he said. “This is a trick. He’s lying to you. He’s trying to cover up his own part in all of it—”
“His own part in what?” Cazalet asked.
“The conspiracy,” Kel said, knowing how desperate he sounded. “Gremont, Cabrol—they were working against Castellane. Hand in hand with Malgasi.”
“How absurd,” said Lady Alleyne loudly.
“We knew there was someone else,” Kel said. “Someone closeto the throne, someone who was a danger to Conor. So it was you,” he said to Joss. “You’re the traitor. And you—” He looked at Liorada. Somehow he couldn’t bring himself to call her a traitor; she was hateful, but she was Antonetta’s mother. “You’re no better.”
“So you’re notdenyingyour association with the Ragpicker King?” said Cazalet, who looked as if he were trying to puzzle through a complex problem of taxes. “Just saying that you didn’t murder anyone?” He turned to Joss. “But none of this is treason, you know. You said he’d committed treason.”
“It is treason to help the Princess of Kutani plan her escape from Marivent,” said Joss coolly. “It is treason to take her to see her lover behind the Prince’s back—and we have a dozen witnesses that will say that’s exactly what Anjuman did.”
Conor turned to Kel. His eyes were wide, dark with shock, a sort of tarnished silver. “Did you bring Anjelica to meet with the Ragpicker King? Did you arrange for her to see Aden?”
Kel couldn’t deny it; he couldn’t look directly at Conor and lie. “You have to understand—”
“Of course he did,” sneered Falconet. “And he was about to run away with them tonight.”
“I wasn’t trying to run away,” Kel said through his teeth. “I came to stop Anjelica—”
