Kin of Kings (The Kin of Kings Book 1) by B.T. Narro

necessary. I will visit the tailor. Is there anything else?”
    Fortunately, he’d already washed his hair and shaved. She wouldn’t have felt comfortable suggesting such a thing to anyone, no matter his status.
    “That’s all,” she said happily. “When you return, give the guards your name and they’ll have someone fetch me. It might take a moment if I’m involved with something, and I may need some time before I can arrange the meeting with King Kerr. Do you have enough money for food and shelter after you buy clothes?”
    “Yes, thank you.”
    “I can’t promise employment to you, though, just that I’ll do what I can. Now that your son has been accepted to the Academy, suspicions about your loyalty should be diminished. Make sure to mention that in the future and it might help.”
    “I understand, and I wish I could do more to thank you.”
    “It’s my pleasure.”
    Alabell was beaming as she returned to the guards at the front of the castle. She was grateful she had enough sway to be able to help people like Basen and his father. Even if it did mean the guards sometimes glowered at her.
    “What did you tell that man?” one asked.
    She explained the situation in a way that showed very little would be required of them, and by the time she finished, they weren’t too displeased. She looked over her shoulder one last time before stepping inside, but what she saw stopped her.
    A young woman with nearly white hair seemed to be charged with a crime. She was surrounded by a swarm of guardsmen and chained at the wrists as if she was dangerous. She seemed embarrassed by the stares of everyone around her, ducking down and looking without turning her head. It must’ve been a shameful walk through the capital to get to the center of the city where the castle stood.
    Alabell moved out of their way and then followed behind the guards as they took this slight woman inside, up the stairs, and deeper into the castle.
    A messenger must’ve been sent in advance, for the king was waiting to see her along with all four of the castle’s psychics. Alabell watched from the doorway of the throne room.
    “Has she been checked for weapons?” Kerr asked.
    “Yes, sire,” one man replied.
    “There must’ve been a mistake,” the young woman said. “I would never do harm to Kyrro, you, or the Academy.”
    “I’m told that our strongest psychic, Reela Worender, says otherwise.” Kerr’s tone was compassionate. “And you were questioned by another psychic who agreed with Reela’s assessment. If you don’t intend to do harm, then tell me, do you have feelings of anger that the psychics might’ve sensed?”
    “I don’t. I have no reason to feel anything but pride about my territory and the Academy. From what I’ve heard about you, sire, I think you are a good king. I certainly have no intentions of doing harm to you or standing against you. The thought is absurd!”
    Kerr looked to his psychics, two men and two women who had graduated from the Academy in the last five years. Alabell, like many others, didn’t feel too comfortable around psychics, so she’d befriended none of them, but she still knew much about them. They were only to speak when they’d detected the accused had lied, and none did.
    Kerr looked to the swarm of guards next. “How can she be telling the truth now yet be sent here as a traitor?”
    None offered an answer.
    “Fetch me a transcript of the questions asked of her at Redfield,” demanded the king.
    Alabell came forward. “I know them, sire. Would you like me to recite them?”
    “Ah, I didn’t see you behind everyone, Alabell. Of course you would know them from your time at the Academy. Yes, come forward and ask them for Annah Varra to answer.”
    Alabell actually wouldn’t have remembered the questions from her time at the Academy, but she had seen them listed in Liaison Wilfre’s notes during meetings between him and her mother. Alabell had been forced to answer them at the Academy