Palace Ghosts

Chapter 8

"He was the only one to hear the scream, the one to grab the note, the one who knew Baron Frox was innocent, the one who tried to suggest that the King had been poisoned or strangled—but not suffocated—the one who wanted to join me, because he knew that with all my assets I would find out the truth before the interrogator," I said, angrily.
"And he was was the one to lay you off when you got too close to the mark," muttered Rhys.
"Of course!" I exclaimed. My hand making contact with my forehead. "Of course."
"You have to tell someone," said Rhys breathlessly.
"I will, but first, I'm going to talk with him," I said, resolutely.
"Kianna!" he gasped. "You mustn't! He could kill you just as easily," Rhys protested.
"He won't," I said.
"But how can you know?" asked Rhys.
"I just do!" I said, abruptly. Anger flared within me. I had repeated Taviq Elwinn almost word for word, and it made me mad.
I fled from the workshop, my emotions in a complete wreck.
What will I say to Taviq? Why do I even want to talk to him?! I thought, angry at myself for not knowing.
It didn't take me long to arrive at the palace. I slipped by a guard who was dozing against the stucco wall, and wound my way through the palace until I found Taviq. He was siting on a sofa in his room. I entered through a servant's passage, and closed the door with a snap.
"I know what you did, I know that you lied to me time and time again, I know that you never cared a copper about me, just your own hide!" I shouted, brokenly. I was in tears. I hadn't realised how much I had grown to appreciate him.
"Kianna." He arose from his perch and started to walk towards me, his arms spread apart, welcomingly, innocently.
"Stay away from me, murderer!" I spat. Tears streamed down my face.
He recoiled. "Kianna, this is not what it looks like," he said, almost tenderly.
"This is exactly what it looks like," I said, trying to dry my cheeks.
"No Kianna, honestly. Have you ever heard of a murder that was justified?" he asked.
I paused my hysterical accusations, and let him approach. Then I nodded.
"Well this murder was justified," he said with conviction.
"Most murderers think so," I said, darkly.
He placed his hands on my hips, I jumped back fearfully.
"Kianna, think about it, have you seen the King's ghost yet? And if so, was he blue or red?" Taviq asked.
My brain thought back, desperately searching, but I already knew that the answer was no. I shook my head.
"See Kianna, he has wronged people beyond count, but because he was King, he was able to do it covertly," said Taviq.
"What did he do?" I asked, calling his bluff. I believed what he was saying, but the problem was, I didn't want to believe a word of it.
"He's blackmailed, and he bribed his way to power. Did it ever occur to you, Kianna, that he was the fourth son?" Taviq asked, accusatorially.
I nodded slowly. "Yeah, but..." my voice trailed off.
"But what?" he prompted.
I shrugged.
"See there's nothing to refute. I did it because he needed to pay for his crimes, and far more harm would have occurred f he had been allowed to live," said Taviq.
"Allowed to live?!" I demanded, incredulous. "Are you the one who decides who's allowed to live and die?!"
He smiled painfully. "No Kianna, someone would have gotten to him sooner or later."
"And what made you think that sooner was better then later?" I asked, defiantly.
Taviq smiled faintly. "Well, there happens to be some incriminating evidence against my father about his finances. The King swore to go public with it if he didn't hand over half his estate," said Taviq.
"And that was worth killing for?"
"Like I said, there were many variables," he said with a shrug.
"And what about Baron Frox?" I asked. "Why did you make him suspicious?"
"I already told you, if he hadn't cancelled his social gathering, then he would have had the strongest alibi."
I searched for anything else I could accuse him of. "You lied to me," I finally said.
"I only lied to you about one thing. I never heard a scream," said Taviq.
"But you committed the murder!" I shrieked.
"I never said I didn't," said Taviq.
I couldn't think of anything else to say. I thought back to all my conversations with him, and I realised that he was telling me the truth.
"But...I..." I didn't know what to say, all I knew was that I was still in shock.
"Kianna, I'm sorry, but you can't tell anyone," said Taviq.
I nodded numbly, trying to take in everything. "I just don't understand," I said.
"I know, but you just have to trust me," he said.
"That's asking a lot, coming from you."
"I know, don't worry though, I won't let anyone innocent go to the gallows," he said.
"I just can't believe it was you the whole time," I said, half to myself.
"I know, I know. Have you told anyone?" he asked, worriedly.
A part of me wanted to tell him that I did tell someone and that he would be arrested at any moment. But the caring and honest side balked at the thought. "No, only Rhys Caiden, the scholar ghost, knows," I said.
He nodded and smiled at me.
"Don't look at me that way. Just because I'm willing to keep your dirty secret doesn't mean that I'll ever want to see you again!" I said, sharply.
His face fell, and he let out an almost imperceptible sigh. Then he nodded and turned away from me, his back facing my direction. "You know Kianna, I've always liked you, romantically that is, but I never imagined my time with you would bring me to this moment."
A part of me was flattered, and I might have even blushed a little. But another part of me was irate, and flabbergasted by his nerve. "You, loved me?" was all I could say. My feelings were in a tumultuous wreck. It occurred to me that no living person had ever truly loved me.
He looked at me quizzically. "Why wouldn't I?" he asked, surprised.
"Well, no one has ever loved me before," I mumbled, only half aware of his question. The rest of me was still trying to piece together his declaration of love.
He started. "Oh Kianna!" he gasped. And without hesitation, or a second thought, Taviq enfolded me into a friendly hug.
There is no way that I can adequately explain what happened. With all my heart I wanted to believe what Taviq had told me, but a part of me resented him for lying to me. In that hug, all thoughts fled from me, I felt strangely at peace and relieved. I who was always tense and always on my toes, treading softly wherever I went so I wouldn't elicit anger from anyone. I melted. And dissolved into tears, wallowing in the unfamiliar feeling of love.
"I believe you," I managed to choke.