I had signed the order against Rusk's brother on a wet Thursday in November.
I remembered the ink more clearly than the man's face. The king had dictated the charge: conspiracy against the Crown, financing a rebellion, possession of stolen weapons. I had asked whether the evidence was sufficient. Alaric had said the evidence was irrelevant if the streets believed the story.
I had pressed the seal into wax.
The memory came back while Rusk read the order aloud to the council. I stood beside the empty throne, the chain once more clipped to my wrist. The room had been cleared of the king's boxes. Harlan and the other councilors sat at the long table, with Cora in the center seat.
Rusk held the old order in both hands. "The arrests were authorized by Queen Mara, under the king's direction."
