Zandrue laid her head down on the table in the room aptly named the Flower Cabinet—not because there were any actual flowers in it, but because the walls and ceiling were decorated with colourful flower patterns. She’d chosen this room because it was small (as the Palace rooms went) and unoccupied. She needed to think, but the rain pouring against the windows was not doing much for her concentration at the moment. Neither were the periodic rumbles of thunder.

There had been no sign of the boy.

Marna had taken her to one of the servants’ lounges to speak to one of the head servants where they’d learnt that the boy who’d delivered the letter had been dismissed a week ago. He had knocked over a vase in Princess Annai’s presence.

“It wasn’t the first time his clumsiness got him in trouble,” the head servant had said. “Princess Annai dismissed him on the spot. I escorted him off the premises myself.”

“But...I saw him just a few minutes ago,” Marna had gaped.

“Not possible.”

“I assure you it is possible,” Zandrue said.

The servant sighed, then nodded. “Very well. He must have snuck back in somehow. I’ll alert the guards. Thank you for bringing this to my attention.”

That was yesterday. Zandrue had checked in with the guards at several locations today to see if there were any updates, but no one had seen the boy.

Somebody in the Palace had to be providing some sort of sanctuary to Dyle and anyone working with him. A place where they could stay and not be seen by guards or others who might be looking for them. Even so, somebody would have to notice them coming and going from that spot. Many of them could be servants and guards themselves, but that didn’t explain Dyle himself.

“You!”

Princess Annai was standing in the doorway. Zandrue sprang to her feet and curtsied.

“Where is she?”

“Sorry, your Highness? Where is who?”

Annai stormed over to her. She was the same height as Zandrue, but of larger build, especially in her wide-skirted gown. “My sister, Sinitïa. Who else? She snuck away again.”

“I’m sorry, your Highness. I haven’t seen her.”

“Somehow, I doubt that. Every time she sneaks away, it’s to join you lot. Felitïa and that Eloorin have thoroughly corrupted her.”

“I swear to you, your Highness. I haven’t seen her.” Sinitïa sneaking off was a good thing and a bad thing. Zandrue still needed to talk to her, but she also didn’t need Annai’s anger right now.

Annai glared at her for a moment, then turned away.

Though perhaps this was a way to get in good with Annai? “Maybe she’s with Quilla.”

Annai shook her head. “I’ve already tried there. Thilin hasn’t seen her either. Mother’s going to kill me if I don’t find her. What about that big man with you?”

Zandrue couldn’t imagine Sinitïa going to Rudiger, but she could play it up. Anything was possible. “Rudiger? She hadn’t when I left him, but it’s possible. I could take you to him if you want.”

Annai glared at her again. “Very well.”

Shit, did Annai know Zandrue and Rudiger were staying in Felitïa’s apartments? If not, how would she react? Rudiger probably wasn’t there anyway. “He might be in the stables with his horse.”

Annai curled her lips. “That stables? You’re taking me to the stables?”

“Yes, your Highness. Rudiger’s frequently in the stables.” In truth, Rudiger could be anywhere. She’d told him to try hobnobbing with the princes, but he hadn’t had much luck. Apparently, Hang Merrin was going to help. Whatever the case, the stables were worth a shot.

“But it’s pouring down with rain out there!” As if to emphasise Annai’s statement, thunder crackled loudly.

Zandrue tried to look sympathetic. “I know, your Highness. But if I know Rudiger, he probably got stuck there when the storm started. If Sinitïa went to him, she’ll be there too.”

Annai paced back and forth. “What if she didn’t go?”

“That’s possible, your Highness. As I said, I don’t know where she is. You asked about Rudiger. If you’d like, I could go check. If she’s there, I’ll bring her back. If not, I’ll come back and tell you.” This could be the perfect opportunity to talk to Sinitïa privately—if she was there.

Annai stopped pacing and scowled. “No, we’ll go together.”

Zandrue curtsied. “As you wish, your Highness.” Oh well, Sinitïa probably wasn’t there anyway.

Annai motioned to a servant just outside the door. “You. Fetch a shawl for the rain and have it waiting for me by the north door.”

The servant curtsied, put down the tray of wine she was holding, and ran off.

Annai turned back to Zandrue. “You. Lead on.”

Zandrue curtsied again and took the lead as thunder rumbled overhead. They were on the far side of the Palace from the stables, so it would take a few minutes to get there. A chance to engage Annai in conversation, maybe? Perhaps the Princess’s agitated state might make her more open to discussion.

“If you don’t mind my saying, your Highness, I think it’s a good thing you do looking after your sister the way you do. I know she must be very trying at times, but—”

“She is.”

“But I admire the way you look out for her anyway.”

“I just want what’s best for her.”

“Of course you do.”

“But she doesn’t understand. She has the mind of a child. There are so many things she doesn’t understand—can’t understand. Without me looking out for her, I don’t know what she’d do.”

“You must have the most remarkable patience.”

“You don’t know that half of it. Even before Felitïa and that Eloorin came into her life, she was prone to the most ridiculous things. Take her painting. It’s good that she perfect a craft, but why does it have to be painting? She gets herself covered in those paints. Her good clothes! Expensive clothes! Why couldn’t she take up something less messy like needlework? Why does it have to be painting?”

Zandrue shook her head. “I don’t think I could do what you do.” She hoped she wasn’t overdoing the flattery. There was a fine line with people like Annai. Too much or too little would go nowhere. It had to be just right.

Annai scoffed. “Very few people could do it. Sometimes, I don’t think even I can do it anymore.”

“You have my sympathies, your Highness.”

“Never repeat that to anyone else!”

“Of course not, your Highness. I would never repeat anything I heard from you in confidence.”

Annai was silent after that, but that was a strong breakthrough. It was going to take awhile to gain Annai’s trust, but that little slip meant Zandrue was getting somewhere.

An out-of-breath servant waited with a shawl at the north doors. Annai snatched it out of the servant’s hands without acknowledgement and draped it over her head and shoulders, while the servant scurried out of the Princess’s path. Annai snapped her fingers towards a couple nearby guards, who fell in step behind her and Zandrue. A pair of servants opened the doors, and Zandrue and Annai stepped into the pouring rain, where they and the two guards hurried down the steps into the courtyard.

This was the first time Zandrue had been in the Palace’s north courtyard, and she did her best to act like she knew where she was going—she’d studied maps of the grounds, so she was confident she could lead Annai the right way. The north courtyard was less impressive than the south, though perhaps the rain was obscuring some of its majesty. A wall of columned archways surrounded the courtyard on three sides, providing access to other areas of the complex. Two pools dominated the courtyard, one on each side, a fountain in the centre of each. The fountain in the western pool, which they neared as they hurried through the courtyard contained a statue of the goddess Nature lying over a rock, her arms reaching into the water, where she played with a school of fish.

A larger, wider archway opened up just before the western pool. It was dark blue instead of the cream of the rest of the wall. In the rain, it looked a shiny black. Zandrue figured that was the one they needed, so she led the way through.

The servants’ building was just a few yards farther. Servants on the doors there opened them as Zandrue and Annai came close so there was no pausing in their movement. Zandrue did her best to recall the layout of this building. Again, she’d studied the maps, but hadn’t actually been inside. She really needed to find the time to wander the entire Palace complex and grounds to get a better feel for where she was going.

As they passed through the hallways and then the mess hall, servants and off-duty guards scrambled to attention, and bowed or curtsied at the Princess’s passing. Others rushed to doors to make certain they were opened the moment Annai reached them, and then closed as soon as the guards had passed through. Zandrue couldn’t help feel bad for them, unprepared as they had to be for the Princess’s surprise visit.

The next building was the kennels. Princes Malef and Pastrin’s hunting dogs growled and barked as the group passed. Some leapt at the doors of their cages, clawing and biting, trying to escape, their gazes narrowed on Zandrue.

“Horrid beasts,” Annai said. “What’s gotten into them?”

Zandrue shivered. “Must be the storm.” Animals hated her, but on their own, they were generally manageable. Dogs in a pack though—particularly hunting dogs… Their reactions all just fed off each other. If they managed to get out of their cages, they wouldn’t stop until she was dead. She was glad when she stepped back out into the rain again and crossed the open space to the stables. Ice-cold pouring rain was preferable to a pack of angry dogs any day.

The horses in the stables whinnied and shuffled about at her passage, but luckily horses didn’t have the same pack mentality as dogs. They weren’t likely to gang up to kill her. Their reactions were enough, however, to send stablehands running to calm them.

“Here too?” Annai said. “It really must be the storm. I’ve never really understood animals. You?”

“Alas, no, your Highness.”

“Any sign of your friend.”

Zandrue peered down the rows of stalls as they passed, looking for Borisin or Rudiger, on the off chance he was actually there. Gods, how many horses did the Palace need?

Finally, she saw a large, roan head sticking out of one of the stalls down a row to their right. The horse was looking straight at her. “There’s his horse, your Highness.” She pointed and led the way.

Borisin backed away from the edge of the stall as they approached.

“That is the biggest horse I’ve ever seen,” Annai said.

“Well, Rudiger is a big man, your Highness.”

“I love his mane, though. So luxurious.” Annai stepped up to the stall door and peered over it, reached a hand out.

Borisin snapped. Not close enough to do any harm, but enough to make Annai cry out. She stepped back.

“Be careful, your Highness,” Zandrue said. “Remember how agitated they are from the storm, and he’s a trained warhorse.”

Annai fanned herself with her hand and took several deep breaths. Then she straightened her back and cleared her throat. “Your friend isn’t here.”

“No, doesn’t seem to be. It was a long shot, your Highness, though it’s still possible Princess Sinitïa is with him. They’re just some place else. Perhaps we could try—”

Borisin whinnied and came back up tot he stall door, pushing his head past Annai.

The Princess stumbled back a bit. “Oh, is he letting me pet him now?” She ran her hand through the horse’s mane. “Such gorgeous hair.”

Zandrue looked where Borisin was looking. The fact he wasn’t stopping Annai was worrying. “What’s up, big guy?”

Borisin tilted his head slightly, his ears straight up and pointed.

Zandrue sniffed at the air, but that revealed nothing. The scents of the horses and Annai’s perfume were too strong to pick up anything else. She strained to hear anything. There were the whinnies of horses, the rumble of thunder in the distance, the loud clatter of the rain on the roof, and the wind whistling through the stalls.

And barking.

The dogs should have been too far away to hear.

“Oh shit.”

Annai glared at her, and Borisin banged a leg against the stall door.

Zandrue grabbed the rope holding the stall door shut and unhooked it. She opened the stall.

Annai gaped. “What are you—?”

Borisin pushed past Annai, Zandrue, and the startled guards.

“Your Highness, get in the stall please.”

“What? How dare you? I am not getting in that stall!”

Yells and a scream came from elsewhere in the stables. The barking was getting louder.

“Your Highness, please! It’s for you own safety.”

The guards reached for their swords. One said, “Your Highness, I think she may be right. Please get in the stall.”

Down the row of stalls, a hound came around the corner, teeth bared, drool dripping. Behind the dog, another came. And another.

Annai screamed, and Zandrue pushed her into the stall. “Apologies, Highness.”

Borisin charged forward, trampling over the lead dogs. Others leapt at him, teeth biting into his legs and haunches. Borisin kicked, sending several dogs cartwheeling against the sides of stalls. The horses within whinnied and shrieked. Dogs continued to pile on Borisin, but more slipped past him.

“Shit, shit, shit!” Zandrue jumped into the stall as Annai’s guards met the hounds. She pulled the door shut behind her and looped the rope around the hook.

“How dare you lay your hands on me like that!” Annai yelled.

Three dogs grabbed one of the guards by the legs and pulled him to the ground. The other guard stabbed at one of the dogs and then another.

Zandrue drew her sword. “This is not the time for formalities!” She raised her arm, ready to strike at any dog that tried to get over the stall door, but Annai grabbed her wrist.

The Princess’s gaze was on the pommel of the sword and the Bear of Arnor engraved there. “That’s a royal sword! Where did you get it?”

“It’s Felitïa’s.” Zandrue wrenched her arm away. “Now, please, get back. Let me save our lives.”

Several dogs made it past the guards and leapt at the stall door. Zandrue stabbed down at the lead one as its face reached over and its front paws scrabbled at the edge. The sword went right into the hound’s open mouth, through its throat, and out the back of its neck. Zandrue pulled back, trying to free the sword from the dog as others leapt at the stall edge. They snapped at her. One came close enough to tear the sleeve of her kirtle.

Annai screamed and backed up against the far wall of the stall.

The sword came free and Zandrue stabbed again. Another dog fell and then another. She only cut the side of the last one, but that was enough to cause it to cower back, whimpering.

The barking and growling was calming down. Zandrue peered round the corner of the stall. Bodies of dead and injured dogs lay about. One of the two guards thrust his sword through one of the few dogs still standing. The other—the one who had been pulled to the ground—was getting back to his feet. His tabard was torn and several links in his chainmail were stretched or torn. His muddy face had blood dripping from one cheek, but he seemed otherwise fine.

Farther down, Borisin kicked aside a couple straggler dogs. Only one got back up, and that one slunk away, tail between its legs. Blood dripped from numerous places on Borisin’s legs and sides, and even from a couple puncture wounds on his neck, but he was standing tall, ears still alert, tail twitching.

Zandrue shut out the sound of whimpering dogs, and hurried over to Annai. “I think it’s over.”

Annai slid down the side of the wall to the hay-covered floor. “Oh gods.”

Zandrue sat beside her. “I’m sorry I shoved you, your Highness.”

Annai glared at her, but then broke into tears and laid her head on Zandrue’s shoulders. “You saved me. They wanted to kill me and you saved my life.”

They wanted to kill me, not you, Zandrue thought. She put an arm around Annai and held her tight. “It’s all right now. You’re going to be okay.”

* * * * *

“I want to know how this happened!”

Five men were kneeling in front of Prince Malef outside Borisin’s stall. The Prince was standing with his back to Zandrue, his fists clenched. A Kingsguard stood to either side of him and half a dozen more surrounded the kneeling men. Alhang Merrin was amongst the guards.

Zandrue and Annai still huddled against the back wall, Annai clutching Zandrue. The Princess had stopped crying some time back, but was still shaking. Zandrue continued to hold her. The two guards who had been in Annai’s attendance stood to the side of the stall.

“We...we don’t know, your Highness,” one of the kneeling men said.

The five men were the dogs’ handlers and trainers. Prince Malef had had them dragged here the moment after he arrived—in a couple cases, they were literally dragged.

“How can you not know? Someone let them out. Someone set them on the scent. Someone sent them to kill my sister! How can you not know?” The Prince screamed the final words and the handlers prostrated themselves fully to the floor, their faces in the dirt.

“Please, your Highness, we’ll...we’ll find out...we’ll…”

An older man in servant’s livery approached the Prince and bowed.

Prince Malef clenched and unclenched his fists a few times before responding. “Report.”

The old man straightened back up. “Eighteen dogs dead, your Highness. Twelve more need to be put down, and six with heavy injuries might or might not make it. Several others have minor injuries; they are expected to recover. The horse appears to have been responsible for most of the damage.”

“And the state of the horse?”

“Numerous bite wounds that will need to be monitored for infection, but otherwise in good condition. I’m told the horse is very hardy.”

“I want it put down.”

The old man bowed. “Yes, your Highness.”

“That horse saved our lives,” Zandrue said.

Prince Malef clenched his fists again and turned around. “You will—”

“That horse saved your sister’s life.” Zandrue let go of Annai, but couldn’t quite extract herself from the Princess’s grip to stand up.

One of Annai’s guards cleared his throat. “That...um...I mean, with all due respect, your Highness, that is actually true. It’s like the horse leapt forward specifically to protect her Highness.”

Malef scowled and looked down at his half-sister. “Annai?”

Annai looked up and nodded. “That horse risked his life for me. I don’t want him killed.”

Malef nodded. “Very well.” He turned back to the old man. “Spare the horse and make sure it receives the best of care.”

The old man bowed his head. “Your Highness.” He continued to stand there.

“Is there anything else?” Malef asked.

“I’ve been told to inform you that their Majesties will be here shortly.”

“Thank you. You may go.”

The old man bowed, then backed away.

Annai let go of Zandrue, and started to stand. Zandrue lent her arm to help her steady herself. “I want all the dogs involved in this attack put down.”

Malef spun back around. “There’s no need for that.”

“They tried to kill me.” Annai started to brush herself down, wiping away bits of straw and hay with her hands. She paused as she brushed her backside, her jaw dropping slightly and her nose and upper lip wrinkling.

“Annai, they’re dogs. They didn’t do it out of a personal grudge. There were just following instructions. They will be disciplined, of course, but—”

“No personal grudge? They tried to get me earlier, when we passed through the kennels, before they were let out.”

They were after me then, not you, Zandrue thought. And they were still after me when they attacked. Except that didn’t make sense. Once she’d left the kennels, they should have calmed down. They would have no reason to chase after her.

“Annai, please,” Malef said.

“They tried to kill me! Because of those dogs, I have just had to live through the most terrifying moment of my life.” Annai removed her hand from her backside and brought it up in front of Malef. “Because of those dogs, I have been sitting in horse shit for the past hour!” She shoved her dirtied hand forward, less than an inch from Malef’s face.

Malef recoiled, wrinkling his nose. “Now, Annai, be reasonable.”

“Reasonable? You didn’t hesitate to order the horse killed because it hurt your precious dogs!”

“Yes, and I revoked the order as soon as I learned the horse had acted valiantly.”

“Your Highnesses, please,” Zandrue said, trying to move between them.

“I want them dead!” Annai screeched.

“Your Highnesses, we should be looking for who let the dogs out. For who sent them after us.”

Annai’s face went pale. “Someone tried to kill me?”

Or me.

“That is what I’ve been trying to tell you, Annai. The dogs aren’t responsible. A person is.” Malef rounded on the handlers still lying prostrate on the floor. “Possibly one or more of these men here!”

The men scrunched back. “It wasn’t us, your Highness. Please, believe us.”

Malef opened his mouth to say something, but the Kingsguard stomped their feet and stood to attention. Malef snapped to attention as well, hands at his sides. A moment later, Captain DeSeloön came into the stall. The Queen followed him and the King behind her.

Annai stepped forward. “Oh, Mother, thank the gods. It’s been horrible.”

“So I’ve heard.” The Queen spread her arms to hug her daughter, but wrinkled her nose. She lowered her arms and stepped back. “What have you been doing?”

Annai lowered her gaze to the ground. “Hiding in the stall. It was...necessary.” She tried to wipe her hand on the wall of the stall. When that didn’t work, she removed her glove and tossed it in the hay.

The Queen’s gaze swept across the stall and stopped at Zandrue. “What is she doing here? DeSeloön, take her into custody. Her friends, too. They’re probably responsible for this.”

“No!”

The Queen’s gaze turned back to Annai. Her eyes narrowed.

“That is, please don’t do that, Mother. She...she saved my life. She’s not responsible.”

The Queen’s eyes narrowed further. “Saved your life? I heard the horse was responsible for that.”

“Yes, but she released the horse from his stall. If she hadn’t done that, I might be dead now. Plus, she fought off the dogs that made it past the horse. She put herself between me and them. She was willing to die to protect me.”

The Queen looked at Zandrue and scowled. “Very well. But I want a full investigation, DeSeloön. I want to know who was responsible for this.”

DeSeloön bowed his head. “Yes, your Majesty.”

The Queen strode over to Zandrue. She was like an older version of her namesake daughter, though not quite as buxom. She stared up at Zandrue, but with her head raised higher than it needed to be, so that she angled her eyes down at Zandrue. Meant to make her seem taller and more intimidating. Zandrue had seen the Queen and others use that look before. She’d used it herself on occasion. It didn’t intimidate her, though Zandrue supposed she should probably act intimidated by it. She swallowed.

“You saved my daughter’s life, did you?”

“I just did what I could, your Majesty.”

“Yes, no doubt to save your own skin more than my daughter’s.” The Queen breathed heavily. “Still, you have my gratitude.” She turned away from Zandrue. “At least Sinitïa wasn’t here. She…” She looked over to Annai. “Where is Sinitïa?”

Annai stared at the floor. “She...um…”

“Is she with Thilin?”

Annai swallowed. “Yes, Mother. She’s with Thilin.”

The Queen nodded. “Very well. Make sure she stays inside the Palace. Tell Thilin he is not to take her around the grounds until the culprit of this incident is caught. The same goes for you. You are not to leave the Palace for any reason until this is over.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“DeSeloön, I want at least two Kingsguard with both Annai and Sinitïa at all times. That means four when they are together.”

DeSeloön bowed his head. “Your Majesty.”

“Now then, Annai, back to the Palace immediately.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“And clean yourself up!”

“Yes, Mother.” Her head still lowered, Annai ran out of the stall.

DeSeloön motioned to the Kingsguard, and two followed after the Princess.

“Right. Malef…” The Queen’s gaze fell back on Zandrue. “And you! Begone!”

Zandrue curtsied. “Your Majesty.” She ran to catch up with Annai.

She caught up to the Princess as she was about to leave the stables. “Your Highness!”

Annai looked back at her. “Why are you following me?”

“Do you still want my help to…?” Zandrue glanced at the Kingsguard behind them. “To do that thing I was helping you with?”

Annai gave a non-committal grunt, but made no indication Zandrue should leave.

The rain had calmed to a light drizzle, and the thunder and lightning had stopped. Annai turned right and headed around the kennels. Zandrue didn’t blame her and was actually rather relieved herself.

As they reached the path that would lead them directly back to the north courtyard, Zandrue spotted a familiar, tall figure ahead. Rudiger caught notice of her too, and rushed forward, waving.

“Zandrue!”

Zandrue resisted the urge to run to him as well, unsure how Annai might react.

Rudiger spread his arms to hug her as he reached her, but she held up her hand, and he stopped. “I heard what happened.”

Annai cleared her throat. “Excuse me?”

“My apologies, your Highness.” Rudiger bowed low. “I didn’t recognise you.”

Annai’s eyes narrowed.

“I mean, I just...that is, my concern for Zandrue overrode my common sense.”

“I’ve seen you with Felitïa’s friends, but I don’t believe we’ve been formally introduced.” Annai held out her bare hand.

“Yes, your Highness.” Rudiger bent forward and took her hand. “Rudiger Fonivan.” As he brought his lips to the back of her hand, his nose curled.

Zandrue smirked.

He gave the hand a very quick kiss. “May I say you look splendid right now, your Highness?”

Annai snatched her hand back. “No, you may not because I most certainly am not! Empty platitudes will not win you any regard, Mister Fonivan.”

Rudiger bowed his head. “My apologies, your Highness.”

Annai sniffed. “Apology accepted. I need to speak to you, Mister Fonivan. About important things. With your friend here.”

“Of course, your Highness.”

“But first, I need to...freshen up. Present yourself at my apartment doors in two hours.”

“As you wish, your Highness.”

“Be appropriately attired, not that commoner trash you’re wearing.”

“Yes, of course, your Highness.”

Annai nodded. “Good. I’ll see you then. Come along, Zandrue.”

Zandrue glance at Rudiger, then looked back at Annai. “You want me to come with you? Not meet you in two hours with Rudiger?”

“You can clean up in my apartments. If you’re going to be seen with me, you need to look the part. I’ll have my handmaids do you up and take measurements so you can be attired appropriately.”

“I am honoured, your Highness.”

“Now, let’s go!”

Zandrue shot Rudiger a smile and blew him a kiss before hurrying along with Annai. Rudiger gave her a bemused smile back.

“He’s your lover?” Annai asked as they walked through the rain.

“Yes, your Highness.”

“Hmm. He’s not my type, but he suits you well. I wish you two well.”

“Thank you, your Highness.”

“I don’t know why you’re so intent on being my friend, Zandrue. I don’t know why you saved my life. Maybe Mother is right and you were just saving your own skin, but even if you were, it doesn’t change the fact you saved my life too, and I owe you something for that. So if you truly want to be part of my world, I’m going to let you. But that doesn’t mean I won’t be watching you.”

“I would truly like to be your friend, your Highness.”

Annai sighed. “So would I, Zandrue. Don’t make me regret this.”

* * * * *

There was a hint of moon shining between a small break in the clouds. It gave just enough light to cause a slight glitter from the many small icicles hanging from the Great Bear Fountain, from the legs and paws of the Great Bear itself and, most amusingly, from the chin of Nature. Dyle wasn’t sure why he found that funny, but he did.

It was ridiculous the things that were amusing in the dark of night with no one else around. Boredom crept in too easily, and every minor distraction became a big event. Maybe that was why he was amused by a simple icicle.

That said, distractions were welcome at the moment. After the day’s events, Dyle could do with humour or good news. Hopefully, things were under control now, but unfortunately, he had to rely on Barnol Friaz to ensure that, and he was never sure just how much he could trust that man’s competence.

The crackle of feet treading on ice broke the silence of the night. Could it be? Had she come? Dyle turned around to see who was approaching, and frowned.

“Expecting someone else?”

He sighed. “No, but hoping.” This was the worst possible time for this. If Quilla came now…

Moustache Man tutted. “A ridiculous hope.”

Dyle shrugged. He slipped his hand into his pocket and felt for the pearl there. Right where it should be, along with the crystal. “Maybe so, but it’s been useful practice.”

Moustache Man strode past him, stroking his long moustache. “No, it has not. There are better ways to practice. But that’s neither here nor there. I’m here to talk about the attack during the day.”

Dyle had been expecting this talk, though he would have preferred a better time. He was surprised it had taken this long for Moustache Man to bring it up, though.

“It was a stupid act, and far too soon!”

“I agree,” Dyle said. “But it wasn’t me.”

The man spun round, his lips quivering, his stupid moustache waving about from the motion. “Then who?”

So the man who knew almost everything didn’t on this occasion. Dyle would have loved to savour this moment, but his answer would make that impossible. “I have no idea.”

Moustache Man scowled.

“However, I can say it wasn’t one of my people—or if it was, they’ll be severely punished.”

“They’d better, or I’ll be forced to—”

“Look, I know how to deal with my people, all right? I’ve already talked with Friaz. He’s putting together a plan to find the real culprit and make sure nobody uncovers our presence here. He’s also—”

“And if you don’t find the real culprit?”

Gods, Dyle wanted nothing more than to kill this asshole. “As I was about to say, he’s also putting measures together to provide a scapegoat in that circumstance. In that case, we might even be able to tie it into Princess Sinitïa’s disappearance. Really send people off on the wrong path.”

Moustache Man ran his hand over one of the nymph statues at the edge of the pool and broke off one of the icicles. He dropped it on the ground. “That sounds reasonable. In fact, it might be better to not worry about the real culprit and just use your scapegoat. It would be good to keep people off Sinitïa’s trail. It’s unlikely they’ll find her, but any distraction can only make it even less likely.”

“And if the real culprit makes another attempt?”

The man stroked his moustache again. “That is an issue, true. Perhaps you could make it look as though the real culprit is also tied the Princess Sinitïa’s disappearance.”

“Why not just let the blame for that fall on Meleng? The Queen will go for it easily.”

Moustache Man shook his head. “Better to ensure no one finds the trail for the missing princess.”

“You know where she is, don’t you?”

“She’s on a ship headed to Isyaria with Mister Drago and Jorvanultumn.”

“Then we’re basically free to start acting.” Why the hell hadn’t the damn man told Dyle this already? How did he even know? If Dyle could figure out this man’s secrets…

“Not quite yet. But soon.”

Of course. There was always some utterly obscure reason or another. “When?” There was probably no reason asking the question, but Dyle was having a harder and harder time keeping his patience with this man.

The man stroked his moustache again, and smiled. “That depends on Lady Plavin.”