The Element of Fire, page 198 by Martha Wells
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brought me here." Falaise's voice held suppressed hysteria.
"He abducted her and brought her here," Gideon corrected Falaise, watching Aviler. "She would be safely out the city gates by now if--"
"If you had been competent to get her out the gates--" Denzil interrupted.
"Sorceress," Aviler said. His voice, used to addressing the loud and argumentative city assemblies, overrode theirs.
Kade looked at him. His expression was watchful and carefully wary. A part of her not concerned with death and the present had time to observe: I must look more than half mad.
Aviler said, "Lord Denzil told me you had left the city."
She said, "Ask him why he didn't take her after Roland and the others. Ask him why he didn't take advantage of the escape we bought for them." And when did it become "we," she asked herself.
Aviler's gaze went from Kade to Denzil. "He has already explained himself."
Gideon swore in exasperation. "You're in this with him, aren't you?" One of the other guards put a cautioning hand on his shoulder.
Denzil said, "We were separated from the main troop, and the Queen had to be gotten to safety." His expression reflected angry concern, and Kade thought, He's acting. He's doing it very well, but he's acting. Does Aviler know that? She couldn't tell. Aviler seemed to be mainly worried over what she was going to do. I'm not the danger here, you idiot.
To Falaise, she said, "Do you want to be here?"
As the Queen started to answer, Denzil interrupted smoothly, "Of course she doesn't. She would rather be with her king."
Aviler spared an unreadable glance for him, but kept his attention on Kade. He said, "The Queen must choose for herself whom she wishes to accompany. I offered to let her go with her guards, but--"
"My lady, please," Gideon begged Falaise, going to his knees beside her chair. "For your honor and your safety, you know we'll protect you."
Kade looked down at the Queen. "