Legacy by Cayla Kluver

glanced at my father, who indicated to me that I should accompany them, and the three of us reentered the Hall of Kings to await my bodyguards. My father took the throne, while I sat in one of the ornate chairs to his left, Cannan standing on his right.
    The guard soon returned, bringing the two men before us, Tadark perplexed, London wary.
    â€œTadark, escort Princess Alera to her quarters,” Cannan commanded.
    â€œSir?” he said uncertainly, expecting his commanding officer to give London similar orders. None came.
    â€œNow,” the captain prompted.
    I glanced at London, then stood and went to Tadark. As I departed with the lieutenant, London shot me a look filled with both fire and quiet resignation, a look that told me he knew exactly what I had done.

CHAPTER 7
NO EXPLANATION
    I SAT STIFFLY IN AN ARMCHAIR IN MY PARLOR, too distraught to move. Since leaving the Throne Room, I had tried to eat, to read and to embroider, but as time passed without news of London, I had become less and less able to concentrate. I longed to think of anything but what was happening in the Hall of Kings, but at the same time I could think of nothing else. It had been almost six hours, and the waiting had become unbearable. I wanted to know what London’s fate was to be, and yet I didn’t, because if a punishment befell him, I couldn’t help but feel at fault.
    Tadark had several times taken a breath to say something, but had thought better of it each time. He wanted to ask what I had said to my father that was so confidential London would be trusted with the information but not he. Though he had tossed accusations at London in the library, I knew it would never really enter his mind that my first bodyguard, his partner, could be charged with treason.
    London would not be charged with treason, I assured myself. He would be able to explain everything, and would return to duty before the day was out. I kept repeating the phrase overand over in my head— London is not a traitor— until it sounded hollow, and I was ashamed to discover that there was a part of me that doubted its truth.
    I did not hear the knock on my door, but Tadark went to open it, granting entry to an Elite Guard I knew on sight.
    â€œDestari!” I exclaimed, rising from my seat as he advanced a few feet into the room. “What are you doing here?”
    Destari bowed, then assumed a less formal stance. He was an unusually tall and muscular individual who made Cannan look short and Tadark childlike. He had raven hair, black eyes, a chiseled jaw and thick eyebrows that gave him an intense and intimidating presence, but I had known him my entire life and he did not frighten me in the least. Like Tadark and every member of the Elite Guard other than London, he wore the proper uniform, a royal-blue doublet, white shirt and black trousers.
    â€œI have been assigned to be your secondary bodyguard,” he said in his deep resonating voice, and the bit of undigested food that remained in my stomach from lunch swirled queasily.
    â€œWhere is London?”
    Destari stared at the floor while he struggled to answer my question, for he and London had been friends since military school and had entered the ranks of the Elite Guard together.
    â€œLondon has been relieved of his duties.”
    â€œWhat?” I whispered, shocked by this news. “Why?”
    â€œYou know why.”
    â€œWhat I said doesn’t prove anything!” I recklessly retorted, struggling to absorb the consequences of my actions.
    â€œIt proves enough.”
    â€œWhat does that mean?” My mind was racing, seeking some way to reverse what I had done.
    â€œLondon would not allow doubts to be cast on your credibility, so he admitted to knowing the identity of the Cokyrian woman. He also admitted leaving your quarters on the night of her escape, and therefore abandoning his post, but he would not speak further. He neither confessed to nor denied