Shadows Of Accusation

The slap came without warning. Ariana’s head snapped to the side, more in shock than in pain.

The Princess stood before her, her eyes cold and threatening. "How did you know there was an assassin and that they were aiming an arrow at me?"

Gingerly, Ariana pressed a hand to her cheek, then she turned to face the woman glaring at her. Fury seized her heart.

“How dare you lay your hand on me?”

The Princess’ brows raised, incredulity mirrored in her face as well as that of the guards behind her. “What did you say?”

“I have had it with you and the way you’ve been treating me. I saved you from an arrow, and instead of being grateful, you have the nerve to hit me? So should I have left you to be killed?”

“What insolence!” The Princess raised her palm. Ariana flinched, eyes shutting as she braced herself for the hit.

“That’s quite enough, Ariana.” King Myde’s voice cut through the tension as he entered the tent, with Kaleb right behind him.

Both women whipped at him. But the words were directed more at the Princess than at her, Ariana thought with a sinking heart.

“But Father, didn’t you hear how this filthy maid addressed me just now?”

“Oh, I heard her words,” King Myde said, his gaze narrowed into a sharp dagger as they landed on Ariana. “And I believe that such words would never repeat themselves. Do I make myself clear?”

Ariana nodded instinctively. She felt scared by the fierce gaze of her father.

“Now, I want you to give me a clear account of what happened earlier. How did you know there was an assassin hiding in the tree?” Her father’s tone was grave, and something told her he wouldn’t take her silence lightly.

With a hard swallow, she recounted the scene.

“And why didn’t you warn the guards?” King Myde asked.

“There was no time. It happened so fast. When I looked up, the assassin already held his crossbow pointed at the Princess. If I had shouted for the guards, the bolt would have already struck her and she’d have been dead.”

Silence hung heavy in the tent.

"True. But isn't it a bit bothersome that everything keeps happening around you?" King Myde's gaze turned menacing. "You may not be part of today’s events, but you’re not entirely innocent. When we return to Roseberst, you will be tried immediately."

"What?" Ariana choked, her breath coming out shallow. "But I—"

"Wait, Father, I don't think it has come to that." The Princess, of all people, interjected, surprising everyone. "Elena is right. She saved me, and I believe she should be rewarded, not treated with such suspicion." She eyed Ariana with a sly smile that sent a chill up Ariana's spine.

"What are you trying to say?"

"I want Elena to serve as my personal maid when we get to the palace."

Everyone looked at the Princess as though she had lost her mind.

"Do you know what you're saying, daughter?"

"Yes, Father."

The King flatly rejected her. "No. You will not have a highly dangerous suspect at your side as a maid."

"It's precisely because of that that I want her near me." The Princess took a step closer to a wide-eyed Ariana. "If she's by my side, she will slip up, and that will be the perfect opportunity to catch her."

"No."

"But—"

"If I may be bold, Your Highness, I don't think having this maid serve you would be wise." Kaleb's voice drew all eyes to him. Since he walked in, he had been quiet. His dead-eyed stare burned into her skin like hot iron, but she tried her best to ignore it.

"And why do you say that?" the Princess challenged.

"Sire, do you remember what I said I would explain to you before we came here?" The King nodded once. "It befuddles me, and perhaps Elena can give us an interesting explanation. This is the hem of the cloak she wore on our journey. It turned up on a branch under the tree where the assassin hid. Yet the cloak itself is missing after her things were searched.”

Kaleb stepped closer, holding out a torn scrap of ragged brown wool with faded blue thread tacked to it. "Do you remember this?"

At first, Ariana was blank, studying the cloth with contempt. Then she saw the faded blue thread, and the memory clicked into place.

The cloak. That morning. Clara pressing it into her hands.

Take this. It's cold in the Northern Woods.

The blood drained from her face. But Clara couldn’t have deliberately framed her. Someone had stolen it from her things, torn it, and planted the scrap where it would be found.

She wanted to confess. Clara gave it to me.

But she envisioned the innocent, sweet maid who had only shown her kindness. If the girl was dragged here, she’d probably burst into tears at the accusation she’d face. Clara might even get tried beside Ariana, or worse.

Ariana closed her mouth.

Across the tent, the Princess's eyes lingered on the scrap, and the sly smile did not move.

Kaleb smirked, but his eyes flicked with something she couldn’t read." You remember. Good." He stepped closer, voice low, almost gentle. "Tell us who helped you, and I might ask the King for mercy."

It was bait, and she knew it.

"No." Ariana shook her head vigorously as panic clawed at her throat. "No! It's not me! I'm not the assassin! You saw me; I was right there! I couldn't be the one in the tree!"

"Are you saying she's the assassin, Kaleb?" King Myde took the scrap, scowling, and the look he gave Ariana promised pain. "But how? She was right in front of us, even pushing my daughter out of the arrow's path."

"That, Sire, is what I believe Elena can explain better. As well as tell us who her accomplice is."

"But I don't know anything or have an accomplice!" Ariana cried.

"So you're the one who wanted to kill me?" The Princess glared, her palm twitching for another slap.

"No! I swear I know nothing about this. Please believe me!"

"Kaleb, write to Magus Alistair in the Arcane Ledger. Pull him from the Conference if you must. I'll pay whatever gemstones he demands." King Myde's eyes never left Ariana. "I want him here tonight to perform a Memory Revelation on this maid."

Ariana's knees nearly gave out.

The spell would strip her mind bare. Who she truly was, her secrets, her memories, the note, and who gave her the cloak.

Everyone would see it all.