They buried what was left of the three bodies, hiding them, and not only from predators with four legs. Donal was afraid there’d be yet more terrible things done to what was left of the bodies. The woman’s right hand had been severed and they couldn't find it so Molly understood his concern.

“Why,” Molly began.

“They must have taken the heads to prove Igraine and her children were dead. Possibly for whoever ordered it to put on display. As to Igraine’s hand, she’d have been wearing a ring with Stefan’s sigil on it. They can use it to falsify written orders,” Donal explained.

Molly, feeling sick to her stomach the whole time, helped dig one grave into which they’d put all three. She couldn’t find one word to say. Phillip was silent and looked grim when Molly stole a look at him. Although neither she nor Phillip had known either the children or their mother, the mere fact that whoever was fighting was willing to kill family had hit the both of them in the gut.

Once they’d erected a natural looking cairn of stones over the bodies, the three rested. “Where now?” Phillip finally asked.

Donal, wiping sweat off his face, replied, “I need to get word to Stefan. And I can only think of one place to take Molly. If they could do this...”

“Who did it, can you tell?” Phillip asked, his voice dark with outrage.

“I don’t believe it was Octavian. He’d have taken them hostage, not killed them. Nor do I understand why any agents of your King Charles would have just killed them. It makes little sense. Unless...” Donal abruptly fell silent and his eyes rested on Molly.

“What?” she asked.

“You,” Donal finally said. “You’re the last now.”

“Last what?” Molly asked frowning. She didn’t much like the look on Donal’s face.

“The last child of the White Rose.”

A shiver ran up her spine. “I don’t understand.”

“If Stefan is killed... you’re his only heir now. You’re also King Octavian’s last heir.”

Phillip’s eyes went wide. “She’s ... In line for..”

“What are you two talking about?” Molly demanded, shifting her eyes from Donal to Phillip and back again.

“That’s why they want to kill her. Or capture her,” Phillip whispered, more to himself than to Molly or Donal.

“Wait. I’m..”

“We’ve got to get her somewhere safe. Whoever did this is intent on creating a civil war here for the succession. It’s the only thing that makes sense,” Donal commented to Phillip. “Whoever it is wants the throne himself. He wants to weaken Octavian. “

“Wait, I’m...” Molly kept asking but neither of the men were paying her any mind.

“But where is ‘safe’ if they could find Stefan’s family, even if hidden here?” Phillip asked.

“Stop it!” Molly yelled. “Talk to me, not about me!”

Donal and Phillip both swung their eyes to her. After a moment, Donal said, “You are second in line for the succession. If Prince Stefan is killed and King Octavian dies, you become Queen.”

“That’s... That’s just crazy talk,” Molly replied indignantly, suddenly shaking.

“So if Prince Stefan dies...” Phillip’s voice faded away.

“I don’t want to be Queen. Don’t even think it!” Molly insisted.

“I’m not sure you have a choice,” Phillip replied. “But maybe ...”

“Maybe what?” Donal asked.

“Does King Octavian have a reason to hate Molly? Wouldn’t he have every reason to want to keep her safe?” Phillip frowned. “I don’t see how either the Rebels or the King have a reason to harm her. So...”

“So we take her to the King for protection,” Donal finished. He frowned. “Bryce will hate it. As will Stefan. But ...”

“But, what choice do we have? Someone inside your Rebels must have betrayed you, for them to know where Stefan’s family was hidden, right?”

“Or Vaal broke. He knew where they were,” Donal replied. “But I don’t believe that for a moment.”

“Right,” Phillip continued. “So we can't trust your Rebels. It seems the best course of action is to go to Alba. Once there you use your influence with the King to secretly tell him she needs protection.”

Donal frowned. Molly frowned harder. “Why can’t we just find my father and Stefan and stay with them? I don’t know this Octavian. How can I trust him? He won't care about me.”

Donal regarded her a moment and replied, “Because Stefan and your father will want you well away from any fighting. At this point, you’re all that’s standing between a civil war and the hope of a smooth succession.”

“Well, Stefan and Octavian can have more children,” Molly asserted.

“Probably not Octavian. Stefan can, certainly. But losing Igraine.... And whoever this is will be trying even harder now to make sure he’s killed.” Donal frowned in thought. “All right, here’s what we’ll do. There’s a Black Brother’s House in Alba. We’ll take her there. They will do all they can to protect her until... “

“Until we find Vaal,” Molly asserted. “I’m not going to your old nasty king unless Vaal says I should. Or the Bastard himself.”

“But can we trust the Black Brothers?” Phillip asked uncertainly.

“Yes. The real ones we can,” Donal asserted.

“But how do we know the real ones?” Molly insisted. “There could be a spy in that Black House, couldn’t there?”

“No,” Donal replied. “No.”

Phillip, remembering what he’d learned about them, nodded. “They’d know. The Bastard would know. I don't think he’d allow one in his own House.”

Donal nodded. His eyes met Phillip’s. An understanding and knowledge passed between them, a knowledge neither was eager for Molly to learn.