The room is silent, each of us knowing better than to risk answering that question. We know we have many traitors in our midst, but it is easy enough to betray a young girl. Whether any of them dared to betray d’Albret is another matter.
Marshal Rieux clenches his fists and takes a step toward d’Albret. Dinan reaches out to stop him, but he is too quick. Mon Dieu, he is either the bravest man I have ever met or the greatest fool.
“How can you have a traitor when no one knew of your plans?” Rieux asks.
D’Albret’s gaze flicks lazily at Rieux’s clenched fists. “It was a last-minute decision.”
“Even so, I should have been told. I gave my word that the duchess would be granted safe parley.” Merde. Does the idiot not feel the sands of his life slipping through the hourglass as he taunts d’Albret?
D’Albret turns his full attention to Rieux. Beside me, Julian tenses. “That is precisely why you were not told. You had given your word and would have clucked and scolded like an old woman.”
Rieux says nothing. Whether because he is stunned by d’Albret’s answer or because he is finally wise to his danger, I do not know.
“Besides”—d’Albret’s voice takes on a mocking note—“look at how well your arguments won her over. It would be a poor commander who had only one tactic for winning a war.” Then, faster than quicksilver, the look on d’Albret’s face shifts and is no longer merely disdainful, but terrible. “You did not learn of this plan and warn her, did you? To protect your honor?”
Rieux recoils. Whatever he sees in d’Albret’s eyes has finally given him pause. “No,” he says shortly.
D’Albret holds his gaze for a long moment before turning back to the room. “How did the garrison from Rennes come to ride to her rescue? Why now? Why today, at this hour?” The count’s eyes glitter dangerously. “The only explanation is that we have a traitor in our midst.”
At least the arrival of the Rennes troops has distracted him from the north tower. For the moment.
“The duchess and Dunois brought news of the French.” Rieux changes the subject abruptly.
D’Albret cocks his head, waiting.
“They say the French have crossed the border into Brittany and have taken three Breton towns, Ancenis among them.”
Ancenis is Marshal Rieux’s own holding. D’Albret purses his mouth, studying the marshal. “No doubt Dunois wished to divert your attention.” D’Albret calls out to Bertrand de Lur. “Send a scouting party to confirm this report.”
De Lur nods, but before he can give the order, d’Albret calls out additional instructions. “When that is done, question the men. See if any have departed for Rennes in the last week. If so, be sure to bring them to me for questioning when they return.”
The men-at-arms grow silent—a few grow pale—for the methods d’Albret uses for questioning are the well-known stuff of nightmares. De Lur nods curtly, then goes to carry out his lord’s orders. On his way out of the hall, he glances at me and winks. I pretend I do not see and instead focus on my brother Pierre as he strides past the departing captain. His helmet is under his arm, his chin is raised, and he has an ugly expression on his face. The white scar through his left eyebrow stands out like a brand. “What happened?” he calls as he strips out of his gloves. “How did she get away?”
D’Albret’s head snaps up. “You were late with your men.”
The accusation stops Pierre cold, and the rush of conflicting emotions that flutter across his face would be humorous if his situation were not so dire. “We were delayed by citizens who tried to jam the gates to prevent our joining you on the field.”
D’Albret studies him a long moment, trying to see if he is lying. “You should have killed them.”
“I did,” Pierre says, his full, ripe mouth sullen.
“You should have killed them faster,” d’Albret mutters, and a bitter laugh nearly escapes my throat. My brother does not murder quickly enough for him. In the end, however, d’Albret gives a brusque nod, which is as close as he ever comes to praise.
A commotion disrupts the tense moment as the returning soldiers herd a half a dozen men into the hall, naught but the dregs of the servants, by the looks of them.
D’Albret taps a finger to his lips. “They were found in the tower?”
De Lur kicks one of the men, who is not groveling enough to suit him. “No, but they were not on duty and have no witnesses to say where they were during the attack.”
D’Albret cocks his head like a curious vulture. Slowly, he approaches the small group of the duchess’s servants. “Are you such very loyal men, then?” he asks, his voice as soft and gentle as the finest velvet.
When no one answers, he smiles. It sends chills down my back. “You can tell me, for I am a great admirer of loyalty.”
The oldest of them does his best to stand tall, but it is clear that he has been beaten and his leg will not work properly. “Aye, my lord,” he says proudly. “We have served our duchess from the moment she was born and do not intend to stop now.”
“The French were not able to buy you off with their gold?”
I close my eyes and pray briefly that the old fool will watch his tongue and look to his own safety, but he is too wrapped up in his honor. “Not us, sire.”
D’Albret takes a step closer, his great bulk towering over the man, his gaze sweeping over the group. “Which of you learned of our little surprise greeting and crept out to warn the duchess?”
“None of us knew,” the old man says, and I start to breathe a sigh of relief. But the fool is still riding high on his great loyalty and adds, “But we’d have told her if we did.”
Annoyed, d’Albret looks over at Pierre. “How did we miss this one?”
My brother shrugs. “Even the best traps don’t catch all the rats the first time, my lord.”
Without word or warning, d’Albret hauls back his steel-gauntleted hand and strikes the old man across the face. The servant’s neck snaps back with an audible crack. Julian squeezes my hand—hard—warning me to stay silent and still. And even though I want to fly at d’Albret, I do not move. Just as that last valiant knight held his position, so must I hold mine. As Death’s handmaiden, I must be in place so I may strike when the time comes. Especially now, when d’Albret’s bold treachery has assuredly earned him the very marque I have been waiting to see for six long months.