The silence in the dungeon was heavy, a suffocating blanket broken only by the rhythmic dripping of stagnant water and Caelum's ragged, terrified breathing.
"Why?" Caelum whimpered again, staring at the man he had once trusted with his life, "I gave you everything, Malcom. I gave you my city. I gave you my heart."
"Didn't I plug your hole every night, I repaid the favour more than enough," Malcom said, his voice devoid of any warmth, his face a slate of indifference, "But my loyalty belong to my Queen. Then. Now. Forever."
He stepped back, sliding into the shadows beside Belladonna, his posture perfect, a steward until the bitter end.
Aliana finally spoke. Her voice was shaking, a brittle thing trying to summon the ghost of her old arrogance. She pulled uselessly at the iron chains hoisting her arms.
"You won't get away with it? My father is a Lord! The King will hear of this! You will all hang for touching the Blessed one!"
