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“The people will do as they’re told and those that don’t will die. Kill a few, and the rest will fall in line.”

“Move aside, Avera. I’ll handle him.” A grim Gustav limped to her side, bloody, but alive and alone. The rest of Benoit’s brigands lay dead, but at the cost of all the soldiers but for Gustav.

Josslyn remained wide-eyed during the exchange. Surely terrified. Or not… She had her hand in front of her, the fingers flexing around an object. A hairpin. Not a dagger, but suddenly Avera understood what she planned.

Gustav growled, “You’ll never sit your scurvy buttocks on the throne.”

“And who will stop me, old man? You? The Grand Rook who failed to stop the murder of all his charges? Who actually abetted Avera in her devious plot so that his own sister could become duchess.”

Benoit had thought of everything. Avera saw Josslyn’s eyes narrow and knew she was ready to act.

“The people will soon realize you’re a despot. They’ll see through your lies,” Avera countered, keeping his attention on her.

“And if they do? What then? You’ll be gone.”

“Over my dead body,” Gustav growled.

“That is the plan, and no one will care. Amazing how easy it is to convince people to join your cause when you promise them wealth.” Benoit’s lips tilted into a sly grin. “And then there’s the fact they’ve been told they can have any of the ladies whose husbands refuse to follow my lead, as well as those who think they can play the part of a man, like the uppity duchess. I’ll be showing the duchess her proper place before the day is over.”

Benoit pulled Josslyn’s hair, yanking her head back, and the lady hissed, “I’d rather die.” She rammed her hairpin into his thigh, slamming it deep, and while not grievous, it led to Benoit grunting and thrusting her from him.

His eyes narrowed in anger. “I’ll make you hurt for that.”

“Only if you can catch me.” Josslyn grabbed her skirts and ran for her mare, which stood with Luna on the outskirts of their impromptu battlefield.

Gustav advanced on Benoit. The coward didn’t stay and fight, but rather ran in the direction of the fields and the lizards. When Gustav would have followed, Avera snared his sleeve. “You’re in no shape to fight Benoit or the monsters he unleashed.”

“But he killed Calixte.” His voice emerged low and raspy.

“And he’ll kill me and your sister, too, if we don’t escape.”

The decision, stay or go, took only a second before his shoulders slumped and he sighed. “This isn’t over.”

“No, it’s not. We will beat Benoit, just not today.”

Probably not even tomorrow.

Or the next day.

Because killing him wouldn’t be enough. She also had to counter his lies.

And there wasn’t a weapon in Daerva that could slice through the web he’d woven.

Chapter 11

Thankfully,Gustav’s mount had been tethered nearby and they didn’t waste time fleeing the area. The trio rode hard for the next hour or so, constantly checking over their shoulders, but Benoit and his lizards didn’t follow.

When they did finally stop so the horses could get a break and a drink from the stream, Gustav unleashed his fury and kicked at the dirt as he ranted. “That whoreson! He was the one behind it all.”

Avera fiddled with her locket, just as shocked. “We couldn’t have known.” Benoit had never come across as all that intelligent. Arrogant, yes. Concerned about his clothes and hair, totally. But someone capable of sadistically planning murder? She’d have never guessed.

“But that’s just it, I should have seen it. I wonder if your mother suspected his ambition. If that was why she turned cold on him.”

“Wouldn’t she have told you?” Avera asked, glancing at Gustav.

“If she had I’d have done something about it. Never did like that prick.”

Avera eyed her battered rook and frowned. “We need to treat your injuries.”