"What about my wife?" Ragnar demanded sharply. His voice cut across the chamber. "Why drag her into this?"
"To punish you," Jorrit replied after a brief hesitation. "For all the times you have interfered with their plans. At least that was how it began." He lowered his gaze. "But then it became something more. A convenient way to keep you distracted. They wanted your attention pulled away from their latest ploy."
Ragnar didn't know what he had been expecting, but the confession did not shock him. If anything, it confirmed a suspicion that had been gnawing at him for some time. He lifted his chin, his harsh gaze boring into the bound man before him. His jaw tightened as he ground his teeth together.
"What is it?" he demanded. The words were clipped, dangerous.
Jorrit's throat bobbed as he swallowed hard. "They plan to unseat the king."
For a moment, time itself seemed to freeze.
