We move fast. We cannot waste another day. King Henry will marry Anna on the sixth, so we have two days to get Katheryn out of Norfolk's clutches. Everything is set. All we need to do is plant the evidence if we end up relying on the backup plan. But will it stress King Henry out more if he believes that Norfolk wants to betray him? We will cross that bridge when we come to it. For now, we must reveal Norfolk bribing people. It could be enough to make King Henry think twice about trusting him.

"Are you sure this will work?" Katheryn asks as she wrings her hands. "What if my uncle sees it as me rebelling against the family?"
"Then he will have to answer to us," Mummy says, "and we won't let Norfolk get his hands on you again."
"Agreed," I add, "and if history went the way it should have gone, you would have arrived at Court as an abused young girl. We weren't about to let that happen."
"Is that why you got me away from my step-grandmother in 1536?"
Mummy and I look at each other. We may as well tell her. "It is," I confirm. "Because I am from the future, I knew what would happen to you. I wouldn't let it happen if I could help it."
Katheryn smiles. "Thank you. At least I know some people care about me."
"We will always care about you," I promise. Not a day goes by when I don't think about the queens. I hope Catalina, Anne, and Jane are okay wherever they are. Aslan said they're fine now, but there is no way I can be sure.

Or is there? Could I—no, Emma. Do not go there. I will only die if I need to, and I will not try to die so that I can check up on my friends. Besides, I don't think Aslan will like it if I keep doing it. So, I will do my best to ensure my friends will have a great future when they return. That will mean getting Norfolk out of power.

The next Privy Council meeting could be the best place for that. Or it could end up being another session of King Henry shouting at Cromwell and his other ministers to find a way to get out of the marriage. Poor Anna has no idea what's going on. She's barely seen Henry since New Year's Day. I had wanted to tell her how her soon-to-be husband views her, but Anna kept shaking her head. "I do not want to hear about it," she once said when I tried to bring it up. "I will find out for myself." If only I could help her.

Step one: alert King Henry that the Duke of Norfolk tried to bribe Katheryn so she could spy on us. It could be enough to get the king to distrust Norfolk, but we have a backup plan if it isn't. Depending on how King Henry takes it, step two will be either to continue telling the king that Norfolk is trying to make one of his nieces queen again or to plant evidence that he is committing treason. Which one would we need? It would be best to tell the king the truth, but how would he react?

I look at Mummy and Cranmer. "Are we doing this?" Mummy asks.
"We are," I confirm. "But getting Norfolk out of the picture doesn't mean Katheryn won't become queen. If King Henry sets his sights on her, we must do all we can to prepare her."
Cranmer nods. "While I do hope the King's marriage to Lady Anna will go well, we must prepare for all eventualities."

All eventualities. Could one of those eventualities be King Henry not making Katheryn queen? Who would he pick if he doesn't? I might need to do more research. But not yet. First, I must focus on Norfolk.

"We better get going," Mummy says.
"Will you let me know how it goes?" Katheryn asks.
"Of course." We head out of the queen's rooms and shut the door behind us. We hurry along the corridors towards the council chamber. We don't want to be the cause of the King's anger by arriving late. We burst through the doors to find only some council members gathered, and Cromwell was not among them. "Where is everyone?" Cranmer asks as we take our seats.
"I believe they are too busy to meet," Charles Brandon says, "but they should be along shortly."
"And we were worried about incurring the King's wrath by arriving late," I joke.
Charles grins at me. "The King's temper is not one anyone wants to cross, my lady."
"Indeed not, for they could suffer dearly for crossing such a man."
"I prefer to remain in His Majesty's affections, although that cannot be the same for you. Your loyalty seems to belong to whichever queen is on the throne."
"And that is how it will remain for now."

"His Majesty, the King!" We rise as we hear one of the ushers announce the King.
"My lords and ladies—" King Henry stops short when he realises that barely any council members are there. "Where are the others?" We look at each other. Who would want to tell the King that they may not turn up? "I ASKED YOU A QUESTION! WHERE IS THE REST OF THE COUNCIL?"
Charles looks at me, then back at the King. "Your Majesty, we believe—"
"I DO NOT WANT TO HEAR ABOUT WHAT YOU BELIEVE THEY ARE DOING! WE MEET EVERY DAY; THEY KNOW WHERE AND WHEN WE MEET! THEY SHOULD BE HERE!" King Henry sits down and gestures for us to do the same. "I expect for everyone in my council to be here on time. How can I trust people when they do not bother to turn up? They waste our time, and we cannot get anything done. I have half a mind to replace them all."
"Maybe we should wait five minutes before we do anything drastic," I suggest, "after all, they can still turn up."
King Henry grunts and nods. "Very well. We will wait, but only five minutes."

We sit in silence as we wait. The usher doesn't announce anyone. We don't hear footsteps in the corridor. It feels like time stretches on forever. Will the missing men turn up, or will we have to admit they are not coming? I do not want to be on the wrong side of King Henry simply because some fools couldn't be bothered to turn up for a meeting.

"Where are they?" King Henry snaps. He glares at the usher. "Go and find Cromwell."
"At once, sire." The usher bows and beats a hasty retreat. I hope those men will come. If they don't... my thoughts trail off. I don't want to know what will happen if they don't arrive. Will King Henry take his frustration out on us?

The usher returns, but he is alone. "Your Majesty, I cannot find Cromwell."
"What do you mean?" King Henry sounds calmer compared to earlier. I know this is only the calm before the storm. He will blow up in our faces again.
"He is missing."
"Then find him!" King Henry slams his hand on the table. "Do not rest until he is located and brought here!" The usher flees, and King Henry turns to the rest of us. "Since we cannot do anything until those knaves turn up, the rest of you are dismissed for the day."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," several of the men chorus, including the Duke of Norfolk. I glance over at Cranmer, and he nods. Now is the time to put our plan into action. But I won't do it in front of everyone else. I will wait a little longer until fewer people are in the chamber.

People begin filing out, and I wait until it is just King Henry, Cranmer, Mummy, and myself. King Henry looks up at us. "I thought I dismissed you."
"You did, Your Majesty," I say, "but there is a matter that we think should be brought to your attention concerning the Duke of Norfolk."
"Thomas Howard?" King Henry sits straighter. "What has he done?"
"He tried to bribe Katheryn Howard."
"His niece? The one that was living in Sarah Jane's household?" I nod. King Henry sighs. "Why did he do that?"
"He wanted Katheryn to spy on Mummy and me. He bribed her with a necklace."
"Which necklace?" Cranmer pulls it out and places it on the table. King Henry picks it up and turns it in his hands. "It seems like an ordinary necklace. Did he use it as payment?"
"We presume so." I look at Mummy, who gives me a look as if to tell me to go on. I turn back to the King. "I know you will go on to marry Katheryn after your marriage to Anna falls through."
"Marriage to Anna?" King Henry's face grows red. "You mean I marry the woman despite my attempts to stop it?"
"I am afraid so. Cromwell is still pushing for the marriage because France and Spain are still allies."
King Henry groans and leans back in his chair. "Will they always remain allies?"
I shake my head. "The alliance will break down in a few months."
"Then I cannot marry Anna."
"You must!" I slam my hands down on the table. "France and Spain—" I stop myself. Aslan told me I could start making changes. Is it worth it? Could it make England and the world a better place? I must try if I want the world to be better for Qetesh and hybrids. And that starts with me being happy. I look at King Henry. "Please, Your Majesty, you must do something about Norfolk. Katheryn Howard's life will be far worse if she falls into the Duke's clutches."
"Hang on." King Henry strokes his cheek. "Katheryn Howard? Isn't she the person you talked about in 1537? The woman you do not want me to execute?" I nod. "Would she get executed if she falls into Norfolk's hands?"
"I presume so. I don't know what happens if she escapes from his influence."

My locket begins to feel warm. I gently open it. What is it going to show me? A blue screen appears before me. Cranmer jumps up and makes the sign of the cross. "Relax," I say, "this is technology, not witchcraft. It can help us." We watch two different scenarios. The first is when Norfolk is still in Katheryn's life. He hovers over Katheryn as she writes a list of names. Many of them are people from the Howard family. However, three names stand out to me. Katheryn makes me her mistress, Sarah Jane one of her ladies-in-waiting, and Katja is a maid-of-honour. Norfolk snatches the quill from her and scratches out the names. Katheryn bursts into tears and runs from the room.

"That is only one moment," Mummy breathes as the image fades. "If Norfolk makes Katheryn cry because we cannot be part of her household, I dread to think what else he makes her do."
So do I. But what will happen if Norfolk isn't involved in Katheryn's household? Will she be happier? I ask my question, and the screen reappears.

I know what I want to achieve. I look at Cranmer and Mummy. "Katheryn looks happier without the duke in her life," Mummy whispers. "It could be an idea to at least consider it." We turn to King Henry. It all rests on him. Will he believe us and send the Duke of Norfolk away?