The Silent Shield (Kingfountain #5)

“But it is a jest, surely?” Drew asked.

“Perhaps,” Fallon offered with a shrug. “But if it is one, it doesn’t make sense. What would he have to gain by pleading amnesia? Surely it does not pardon his many crimes. He was frightened, earlier, about being killed. Do you remember?” he added, looking intently at Trynne.

“I do,” she said, feeling cold despite the heat of the hearth. “He was afraid of Morwenna.”

“Yes, but she was locked inside her cell,” Fallon said. “When the battle grew fierce, she used her magic to rip the cell door open. That was the first time she left . . . after he was already found unconscious, presumed dead. My lord, what will you do with them?” He had a strange edge to his voice, one of strained concern.

Drew’s face twisted into a frown. “They will both face the Assizes,” he said sternly. “Justice will be done.” Then he softened. “I will have Lord Amrein interrogate them both. There may be mitigating circumstances. Morwenna may have been under the sway of the Wizrs.”

“This is the king’s poisoner you speak of?” Gahalatine said.

Drew nodded. “My blood-sister.”

“Before you condemn her,” Gahalatine said, “let me see what I can discover about her involvement. There may be more evidence I can bring to bear.”

“Thank you,” Drew said to Gahalatine. Then he turned to Fallon. “Can I trust her to your custody for now? She must be guarded night and day.”

“Of course, my lord. But I ask that I not be the judge in the matter. Assign Lord Amrein or someone else, if you would. I will hold her until you send for her.”

Drew sighed and agreed. “To Kingfountain, then. Shall we?”

Trynne’s stomach twisted with excitement and dread. Soon she would be married to a capable and kindhearted king, but she sorrowed for Fallon, both for the suffering she saw in his eyes and for what might have been.

Without Morwenna’s help during the battle, things would have been worse for them, but she did not think it terribly wise to keep her in Dundrennan. Trynne would suggest to Genevieve that she be moved elsewhere, like Beestone castle.

As they started to follow Drew out of the solar, Fallon blocked the way. He looked at Gahalatine, a half smile on his mouth. “Congratulations, my lord,” he said, closing his eyes and bowing his head in a gesture of respect. “You will not regret your decision. You have won you the best that our shores have to offer.” Then he gave Trynne a heartbreakingly sweet smile. “Farewell, Cousin.”

He stepped out of the way and extended his hand gallantly for them to pass. But he did not follow them out of the solar.



The only hint of winter was the sharp feeling of the air. The sky over the city of Kingfountain was the deepest, clearest blue without even the hint of a cloud. The three of them emerged through the fountain in the side chapel of Our Lady.

The sanctuary was crowded with citizens offering coins and prayers. It was obvious that word from Dundrennan had not yet reached the city. Their murmurs filled the air as Drew came to a stop in the threshold leading to the main audience hall. Light from the sky filled the huge windows and painted dazzling colors on the black and white marble tiles.

No one had noticed them yet.

Trynne’s stores of magic were depleted, but when she reached out to probe for threats and dangers, there weren’t any.

“There’s Lord Amrein,” the king said, sighing in relief. “Who is that woman at his side?”

Trynne followed his gaze. It was the widow Mariette, whom Trynne had assigned as the queen’s bodyguard. She was exceptionally tall compared to Lord Amrein, but they were speaking in confidential tones. There was an intimacy to it that made Trynne smile.

Then she noticed the king was staring at her. She turned and gave him a quizzical look. He reached out and took one of Trynne’s hands, cupping it between his own. When he spoke, his voice was low and thick with emotion.

“Thank you, Trynne. I cannot thank you enough. You saved my kingdom. You saved us all. You were my silent shield, my unseen protector. You were my true champion. Until your father returns, I would have you take your rightful place at the Ring Table. In his chair.”

Her throat thickened and she felt a spasm of surprise at his words. “But what of Fallon? He is your champion.”

Drew shook his head. “He was defeated, Trynne. You were not.” While holding her hands, he turned to Gahalatine. “I offer you a seat at the Ring Table as well, Lord Gahalatine. I would value your wisdom and leadership. I would trust you as an emissary to act on my behalf.”

Gahalatine smiled, pleased. “It would be an honor, my lord.”

But then someone saw them in the alcove, and the quiet moment ended. Word began spreading like wildfire. “The king! The king is here!”

“The hollow crown! It is him!”

“Wait for me here,” Drew said, smiling with chagrin. He released her hand and marched into the huge room, one hand on the hilt of Firebos. The crowd parted before him as he strode toward the fountain from which he had first drawn the sword. And then Trynne saw that Genny had joined Lord Amrein and Mariette, and a tingle of warmth went down to her toes. Her throat caught with delight as she watched Genevieve, holding baby Kate in her arms, rush forward and embrace her husband with laughter and tears.

“The war is over!” Drew shouted to the assembled crowd in a loud, triumphant voice. “We have peace!”

A chorus of cheers and exultant shouts thrummed throughout the vast chamber. Within moments, the bells of Our Lady began to ring, adding to the frenzy. A few children began dancing with reckless abandon inside the fountain waters. Having heard the stories of her father and Lady Evie playing in that very fountain as little ones, Trynne started to laugh through her tears. She pressed her hand against her nose, trying to stifle the sobs.

Trynne felt Gahalatine’s arm wrap around her shoulders and she leaned into him. He pressed a kiss into her hair.

Genevieve presented the baby girl to Drew, who picked up the lass and smothered her cheek with kisses. A pang of longing filled Trynne at the sight. While she was pleased that the Fountain had used her to bring peace to the realm, she missed her own father dreadfully. Seeing the scene unfold before her awakened feelings she’d suppressed. Would her father and mother come home again? Would they be a family together once more? She remembered something Genny had said, the memory as sharp and piercing as a thorn.

“What sort of world will she inherit? Will it be Gahalatine’s? Or her father’s?”

“She’ll inherit the world we leave her,” Trynne had said.

“And what kind of world will that be?”