In Honor Bound by DeAnna Julie Dodson Page A

protection being so near Ellenshaw as they are and more such until they swore faith again to the king. I am sent to tell His Majesty that it is settled now and he need not worry any further."
    "Better and better, thank God. Your news spares me a task I was loath to do. Let us go back to Winton. I know your duty requires you there and mine no longer requires me away."
    It was very late when they again came to Winton, but Philip would not hear of stopping anywhere else for the night. He was disappointed to find his chamber empty of Katherine, though it was bright and warm as if it had only just been left.
    He was searching the palace for her when he heard the sound of voices in the council chamber and saw a flicker of light under the door. He had never known the council to meet so late, and he stopped for a moment to listen.
    "Confess that you took the life of our late Prince Richard's child!"
    Philip recognized the lord chief justice's clipped tones. Could it be that they had brought Margaret to trial already? And at this hour?
    "Will none of you take the part of right and innocency?"
    That was Katherine's voice, helpless and pleading! He strained to hear more.
    "If not for mercy's sake, my lords, then for the love you bear Prince Philip? I beg you, call him here. He will witness the truth of what I say. Please, my lords, I am innocent!"
    Philip flung open the door.
    "She is innocent, Your Majesty!"
    Robert drew back from the white-lipped fury on his son's face.
    "Philip, son, I thought you would be by now in Amberly."
    "Tom settled that matter before I could get there, I met his messenger along the way. What is this?"
    "My lord of Caladen," the justice said over the rumblings of the others, "you are not required at this trial."
    Philip turned to the haughty, gray-faced old man. "I believe, if you will pardon me, my lord chief justice, that I am most required." His voice was taut. "Mistress Fletcher is innocent and you will be guilty of gross misjustice if you find her anything less. Question me, if it please you. You know I always speak the truth."
    "That's so," one of the courtiers said, and a murmur of assent rippled through the onlookers. Dunois frowned.
    "My lord, it is not your honor that is in question here. We all know it to be beyond reproach. Your judgment, however..." He faltered there, as if he were reluctant to continue, and Philip turned cold eyes on him.
    "Say what it is you have to say, my lord. There is no argument you can make that will stand up to plain truth."
    Dunois only looked uncomfortably at the king, but the lord chief justice did not hesitate to speak what was on his mind.
    "I say, my lord, Your Majesty, and all you peers here, that my lord of Caladen cannot speak truth because he has been blinded from it. This witch has charmed his tongue so he cannot speak truth. Having seduced him with her body, she has gained control of his spirit and thinks to rule Lynaleigh through him when he is one day king."
    "That's a lie!" Philip protested. "If Lynaleigh is abused by witches, then it is that witch from Westered, Margaret, and her serving woman that abuse us! Katherine is innocent, I know it."
    "How is it that you know this, might I ask?"
    "She told me."
    A ripple of nervous laughter passed through the court.
    "She spoke the truth!" Philip insisted.
    "This is no evidence, Your Majesty," the lord chief justice said. "It has already been proven that she has bewitched our unfortunate Prince Philip to say anything she chooses."
    "Already been proven?" Philip protested. "How proven? I've not been questioned. Try me and see if I am master of my own spirit."
    "She has confessed to sympathy with the Heretics already, my lord, and will not recant. It is but one small step from blasphemy to witchcraft."
    "Then condemn me along with her," Philip said. "I am as guilty in that as she."
    "Your words only prove your enslavement to her black arts, Your Highness, as much as it pains me to say so," the justice told him, his