Harlowe stepped forward to further the argument, but I mumbled his name to get his attention. Shaking my head, I said, “Go home, now, while you can, and let me handle things here. Tell the people I’m well.”
“But you’re not,” Harlowe said. “I will not leave your side.”
Vargan chuckled. “Noble words from both of you, but about choices neither of you have.” He tilted his head in an order for his vigils to advance on Harlowe. They pulled his arms behind him and almost instantly had him in chains similar to mine.
“King Jaron, just before your regent arrived, I was about to give orders concerning you. Can you guess what for?”
“You want to set me free, to save yourself any embarrassment after I escape.”
His eyes narrowed. “I was about to order your execution. But I suggest we start with your prime regent instead. Your younger regent will follow.”
“No!”
“Then do as I say! Sign the papers making Carthya a tribute to Avenia.”
I glanced at Harlowe, but read nothing from his expression. He had to know I couldn’t sign them.
At Vargan’s gesture, the man holding Harlowe withdrew a knife and placed it at his neck. Harlowe cocked his head away, but his eyes were on me. They were calm, or at least, more at peace than I felt.
Then Vargan said, “You will watch him die, Jaron, here and now. And you will know that all of this could have been prevented if you would only bow to me!”
Still, I did not respond. Finally, Vargan said, “Kill him.”
“I need time!” I shouted. “King Vargan, you ask everything of me. The least you could do is give me an hour of privacy with my two regents to discuss your proposal. I need their advice.” Vargan looked unconvinced, but I added, “I promise to make the best possible use of that time.”
Vargan waved us away, back to the same prison where I’d been held before. Vigils led me away first, with Harlowe not far behind. Terrowic, the man from whom I’d stolen the keys, suddenly began patting around for them.
“I’ve lost my keys,” he said to the other vigil with me.
“Again? The king will have your head if he finds out.”
“My vigils never lose their keys,” I muttered. “In Carthya, we’re not that stupid.”
He dug his fingers deeper into my arm and picked up his pace. I nearly lost my footing with the increased speed, but managed to keep up. I didn’t want to stumble again and worry Harlowe. He already seemed concerned enough.
There had only been two sets of chains attached to the wall. Tobias was still bound to one, and when I walked in with Harlowe, he sat up in surprise but said nothing. They returned me to the other chains. With no other alternative, Harlowe was taken to a corner and ordered to sit and not move. Quite pleased with themselves for having taken an additional member of my court, the vigils folded their arms and stood back against the wall.
“We won’t speak a word until you’re gone,” I said. “Your king promised us an hour of privacy to discuss his proposal. Do you want to explain the delay, or shall I?”
The vigils looked at each other, then exited. When I was sure they had gone, I immediately asked Harlowe, “How did you know I was alive?”
“Mott has stayed hidden close to the camp all this time, but he couldn’t get anywhere near you. We didn’t know about Tobias, but I’m glad he’s been here to help you.”
“I’d have done more for him, if I could have,” Tobias said.
Harlowe smiled at him. “And for that, you have an entire kingdom’s gratitude.” Then he turned back to me. “We couldn’t rescue you, so we decided to force you to rescue yourself.”
“If I could escape, I’d have done it already. You sacrificed yourself for nothing!”
“I’ve made no sacrifice, Your Majesty. We will all escape here safely. I know you well enough to see when your mind is working. Now, tell me your plan.”
My last plan had ended with Imogen’s death. I didn’t trust that I could do any better for Harlowe and Tobias this time. However, doing nothing had a very definite outcome for us all. Something had to happen.
Although it required a bit of maneuvering, I was able to withdraw the key from my coat and free myself. Then I freed Tobias, who crept over to Harlowe and set to work at his chains.
“Can either of you fight?” I asked. “I’m afraid I won’t be much help to you here.”
“You know how I am at fighting,” Tobias said. “But I’ll do what I can.”