He pulled out a chair for her next to his mother and turned. Behind him, he could see Braith walking from the stairs to the Main Hall. She had her head down as she walked, her focus on the chains between the cuffs that were on her wrists. So she was unaware of Bercelak walking up behind her, pulling his sword from the sheath at his side, his face a mask of rage and hatred. Word of what had happened was spreading among their kin, it seemed, and Bercelak had clearly made up his mind that Braith had betrayed his precious Queen. And for Bercelak the Unpleasant there was only one way to deal with a traitor to the throne. Addolgar opened his mouth to yell a warning at Braith, but Ghleanna slapped her hand around his mouth, silencing him. He tried to run forward, but one of his good-sized cousins caught hold of him and held him back. “Shhhh,” Ghleanna whispered against his ear. “We’ve all got gold on this.” Addolgar rolled his eyes, disgusted by all his kin . . . and the fact that he hadn’t gotten in on the betting.
