said Cane.
"That is Hal's dagger," said Edward. "He carved the handle himself."
Hal reached for his dagger but it was not at his side. The sheath was empty.
"No!" he cried. "I did not do it."
"Plucker! Put Hal under guard," said Edward evenly.
"Prince Hal?" said Plucker.
"Do it, Plucker," said Cane. "I'm sorry, Prince Hal. It looks bad for you."
"It wasn't me. He was alive when I left him." Hal started to back away but a guard stood behind him and did not let him move further.
"You were arguing," said Plucker, his expression puzzled. He looked at Hal as if he had never seen him before. "I saw no one else. I'm sorry, Prince Hal. I must confine you to your quarters until this is sorted out. You have your dagger?"
"No. My dagger is there." He pointed at Henry.
Hal looked at Edward who grinned at him. Edward clapped his hands.
"You are a fool, Hal. To be caught so easily. Didn't you think your dagger would be recognized? Or was it a fit of anger and your wits failed you?" He shook his head. "Lock him away, Plucker. This was murder, not an act of war. The crown does not go to a murderer."
"It hasn't been proved," said Diggs.
"What more do you need?" asked Edward.
"Patience, Prince Edward," said Diggs. "With Prince Hal locked up time can be taken to be sure nothing has been overlooked."
"Who made you the sheriff?" asked Prince Edward.
"He's right, Prince Edward," said Plucker. "I am in charge of the prisoner and reviewing the facts. Everyone out of the room, I will lock it and keep the key with me."
Edward led his mother back to the great hall. It was noisy as the news spread across the room. Queen Mary slumped into her chair. Her attendants fanned her and gave her wine to drink. Diggs stopped by to see how she was doing. Plucker set guards at the anteroom to keep the curious from trying the locks. Plucker stood at the entrance to the great hall with Hal, Plucker's guards on either side of the Prince.
Suddenly the far doors were forced and the room filled with Edward's soldiers who quickly overpowered the lesser force of Henry's guards. Archers positioned themselves around the far edge, their bows taunt and ready. The room was silent. Edward stood up and met the gazes of those in the room. He smiled.
"This is indeed a tumultuous day. Now is time for change in Eslenda. A time for complete and sweeping change. King Henry is dead and Prince Hal is the murderer! His line is tainted and since Hal was never king, James cannot be king. From this day forth I shall be king!" The men around him cheered as Edward's soldiers moved around the edge of the room.
"Hal is king," shouted Sir Browner. "I do not believe he killed King Henry. The facts will come out!" He gestured at Edward's guards.
"Prince Edward, you are far too well prepared for King Henry's death not to have the murder laid at your feet. If Prince Hal is not king, then Prince James is the next in line." A rival cheer rose up. Edward nodded and a dagger slit Sir Browner's throat. He fell heavily to the floor, his blood soaking the rushes. Some men tried to rush forward but Edward's soldiers held them back. Plucker reached for his sword but Hal gripped him hard and shook his head slightly.
"I am King," shouted Edward. "Those who oppose me will die here and now. Anyone not in favor of my kingship? Anyone at all? Delightful. I will deal with Hal and James soon enough. They shall hang for murder and treason against my father. Plucker have your guards take my brother and his wife to their rooms and secure them inside."
"King Edward?" said Howard Cane. "Why do you wait on justice? Hal is a threat as long as he lives."
"I know that. He lives to soften James' resolve. My nephew will be a thorn that must be plucked carefully, else you prick yourself. The matter of James allows for no mistakes. He must not have room to maneuver. I have always hated the way he smirks at me, knowing he was ahead of me in the succession. But no more!"
The Queen did not believe what she
"That is Hal's dagger," said Edward. "He carved the handle himself."
Hal reached for his dagger but it was not at his side. The sheath was empty.
"No!" he cried. "I did not do it."
"Plucker! Put Hal under guard," said Edward evenly.
"Prince Hal?" said Plucker.
"Do it, Plucker," said Cane. "I'm sorry, Prince Hal. It looks bad for you."
"It wasn't me. He was alive when I left him." Hal started to back away but a guard stood behind him and did not let him move further.
"You were arguing," said Plucker, his expression puzzled. He looked at Hal as if he had never seen him before. "I saw no one else. I'm sorry, Prince Hal. I must confine you to your quarters until this is sorted out. You have your dagger?"
"No. My dagger is there." He pointed at Henry.
Hal looked at Edward who grinned at him. Edward clapped his hands.
"You are a fool, Hal. To be caught so easily. Didn't you think your dagger would be recognized? Or was it a fit of anger and your wits failed you?" He shook his head. "Lock him away, Plucker. This was murder, not an act of war. The crown does not go to a murderer."
"It hasn't been proved," said Diggs.
"What more do you need?" asked Edward.
"Patience, Prince Edward," said Diggs. "With Prince Hal locked up time can be taken to be sure nothing has been overlooked."
"Who made you the sheriff?" asked Prince Edward.
"He's right, Prince Edward," said Plucker. "I am in charge of the prisoner and reviewing the facts. Everyone out of the room, I will lock it and keep the key with me."
Edward led his mother back to the great hall. It was noisy as the news spread across the room. Queen Mary slumped into her chair. Her attendants fanned her and gave her wine to drink. Diggs stopped by to see how she was doing. Plucker set guards at the anteroom to keep the curious from trying the locks. Plucker stood at the entrance to the great hall with Hal, Plucker's guards on either side of the Prince.
Suddenly the far doors were forced and the room filled with Edward's soldiers who quickly overpowered the lesser force of Henry's guards. Archers positioned themselves around the far edge, their bows taunt and ready. The room was silent. Edward stood up and met the gazes of those in the room. He smiled.
"This is indeed a tumultuous day. Now is time for change in Eslenda. A time for complete and sweeping change. King Henry is dead and Prince Hal is the murderer! His line is tainted and since Hal was never king, James cannot be king. From this day forth I shall be king!" The men around him cheered as Edward's soldiers moved around the edge of the room.
"Hal is king," shouted Sir Browner. "I do not believe he killed King Henry. The facts will come out!" He gestured at Edward's guards.
"Prince Edward, you are far too well prepared for King Henry's death not to have the murder laid at your feet. If Prince Hal is not king, then Prince James is the next in line." A rival cheer rose up. Edward nodded and a dagger slit Sir Browner's throat. He fell heavily to the floor, his blood soaking the rushes. Some men tried to rush forward but Edward's soldiers held them back. Plucker reached for his sword but Hal gripped him hard and shook his head slightly.
"I am King," shouted Edward. "Those who oppose me will die here and now. Anyone not in favor of my kingship? Anyone at all? Delightful. I will deal with Hal and James soon enough. They shall hang for murder and treason against my father. Plucker have your guards take my brother and his wife to their rooms and secure them inside."
"King Edward?" said Howard Cane. "Why do you wait on justice? Hal is a threat as long as he lives."
"I know that. He lives to soften James' resolve. My nephew will be a thorn that must be plucked carefully, else you prick yourself. The matter of James allows for no mistakes. He must not have room to maneuver. I have always hated the way he smirks at me, knowing he was ahead of me in the succession. But no more!"
The Queen did not believe what she
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