Chapter 188: Mercer's Row Speaks
The benches on Mercer's Row had filled further as the morning stretched on — neighbours pulling chairs from doorways, children perched on barrels, a few older men standing with their arms folded at the back because all the seats had long been taken before they arrived.
The scrying veil hung above them, steady and bright.
Helen moved between the tables with her tray, though she had slowed considerably from her usual pace. Even she was watching.
On the veil, Marquess Corvin Hale stepped back from Princess Lyria with that smirk still on his face.
Jacob's frown had been building since the moment the Marquess's name was called.
Now it had settled into something fixed.
"Why," he said, "would he write something like that?"
Nobody answered immediately.
"Is he mocking her?" Jacob asked. "Is that what this is? He's standing there mocking her in front of the whole kingdom?"
Helen said nothing.
