“No,” Hector said with confidence.
“Why is this so important to know?” the emperor demanded.
Carver sighed. “The assassin must have been hired by someone who knew we were coming, Your Eminence. Someone who knew Jayveh would be in that room. This sort of attack couldn’t have been planned in a day.”
The emperor’s eyes darkened. “I trust everyone I shared Jayveh’s letter with. Implicitly.”
Carver wasn’t as convinced, but he said, “Perhaps they mentioned it to someone else.”
The emperor glanced at Hector, who immediately nodded. “I will make discreet inquiries to learn who they might have told,” the steward said, jotting down a note on a separate sheet of paper.
“What exactly was in Jayveh’s letter?” Carver asked.
The emperor’s brows knit. “Only the basic facts. That Tam Ja’Kell was a rebel, and that she abducted Argent. Jayveh also mentioned that Trevill was a traitor. Of course, she also told me that she’d made the decision to leave Esperance and bringthe remaining Chosen to the capital. And she told me who of the Chosen had been killed.”
“Did she inform you of her pregnancy?”
“Yes.” The skin around his eyes tightened. “You think someone targeted her because she’s with child?”
“I don’t know. Trevill mentioned something. A theory. I’m not sure how much weight it carries, but . . . If something happened to you, Your Eminence, and there was no heir, control of the empire would shift to your chancellors.” He hesitated, then added, “Chancellor Morav holds the senior position, which would give her the bulk of that power.”
The emperor’s eyes widened. “Lin Morav has faithfully served me and this empire for decades. She would never endanger Jayveh or her child.”
“I don’t have any evidence, only speculation,” Carver was quick to say. “How did Morav react to the news of Jayveh’s pregnancy?”
“She was congratulatory, of course.” The emperor frowned. “She was concerned for Jayveh’s safety, however. She believed we shouldn’t announce the pregnancy until Argent was found.”
Something in the emperor’s tone made Carver ask, “Did someone disagree with that?”
His lips pressed together. “Lisbeth thought it would be wisest to announce the pregnancy. She believed it would show strength. That the continuation of the Vayne line not only proved the permanence of the empire, but that Jayveh and Argent’s union was blessed by the Divinities.”
Announcing the pregnancy could also put Jayveh under even greater threat.
The emperor continued before Carver could speak. “Your father agreed with Morav, though. That secrecy for now is best.” His brow furrowed. “With someone already targeting Jayveh, I must agree. Until this threat is ended, I think silence is our best course.”
Carver nodded, showing his agreement. Then—because he couldn’t dismiss this completely—he said, “Trevill also mentioned that Chancellor Morav argued against forming the Craethen Council.”
The emperor leaned back in his chair, blowing out a short breath. “She had concerns, it’s true. But she wasn’t the only one.”
That aligned with what Trevill had shared. Carver glanced at Hector. “Can you get me a list of names? Anyone among the chancellors who resisted the idea of the council?”
Hector dipped his chin. “I’ll search my notes and make you a list.”
The emperor’s troubled eyes met Carver’s. “Do you think Jayveh alone is in danger, or is this just the first strike against all the remaining Chosen?”
“I don’t know. It’s too early to tell.” Honestly, they wouldn’t know unless they found the traitor who hired the assassin.
Or until another assassin struck.
“Do you believe Trevill was lying?” the emperor asked. “That he hired this assassin before ever leaving Esperance?”
“It’s possible, but I don’t think so. He seemed surprised by the attack on Jayveh.”
“But he still betrayed me.” The emperor’s forehead creased. “I can hardly believe he hired an assassin to infiltrate Esperance. That a man I trusted would endanger you all.”
“Trevill keeps insisting he was framed,” Carver said, feeling the need to give a full report of what the imprisoned chancellor had said. “He mentioned two chancellors he claims are rivals: Janson and Kulver.”
The emperor looked toward Hector. “Are they rivals of Trevill’s?”
