* * * *
ROQUE UNDERSTOOD WHATDimri was saying.He couldn’t even say that Dimri was wrong.The confrontation with Medea had shown Roque that Dimri knew what he was doing more than he did.
But Dimri didn’t know Abath as well as Roque.To him, Abath was just another servant.Roque had spent countless hours talking to the demon over the years, though.He wouldn’t say they were friends, but they were familiar with each other.He didn’t think Abath would do anything to hurt Berith, no matter how much money he owed to anyone.That was why he felt they should talk to him.If they did, he could clarify the situation, and they’d be able to focus on finding the real spy.
That was what he told Dimri.He hoped Dimri would understand his reasoning and agree with it, but instead, the spymaster looked at him like he was an idiot.
“Again, didn’t you learn anything?”Dimri asked.
“This isn’t a random tavern owner, Dimri.This is someone I know,” Roque told him.
“Which is why you probably shouldn’t be working with me.I understand why it’s hard, but it’s necessary.”
“Is it?”
“I don’t have the certainty that Abath is the spy, but if he is, he’s not just going to tell you.Beyond his debts, he knows what that would mean for him.”
Jail.That was what it would mean for him, and if he really was the spy, Roque would be the person locking him up.He’d volunteer for it.But Roque truly didn’t think that Abath had anything to do with this.He just needed to convince Dimri of that.
Easier said than done.
“Confronting him will catch him off-guard,” Roque said, trying to find a way to convince Dimri that he wasn’t stupid.“He won’t have time to come up with lies.We’ll be able to see instantly whether or not he’s involved.”
“Or he might have lies ready because someone might eventually find out.”
Roque hated it when Dimri made sense.He needed the spymaster to go along with his request, dammit.“His reaction will tell us everything we need to know, though,” he said, desperate to find the right angle.He didn’t want to spend weeks doing whatever Dimri thought was necessary to solve this mess.He needed it to be over now.“I know him.I can tell you if he lies.”
“Roque, I understand where you’re coming from.This man is a friend, and I hope that you’re right and that he has nothing to do with this mess, but we can’t afford to trust him or anyone outside of Berith’s small circle.”
“I get that.I just don’t see why we shouldn’t talk to him.He’s not like Medea.”
“He’s not,” Dimri agreed.“He’s even worse because he works here.You might be able to understand if he’s lying or not, but he’ll be able to do the same with you.He knows you as well as you know him.”
Dammit.Dimri was right again.
They couldn’t afford to continue bickering back and forth.Time was running out, and they needed to find the spy.It didn’t matter if it was Abath or someone else.Whoever it was had to be stopped.Before they could do that, though, they had to be sure they were dealing with the right person.Talking to Abath would help, which meant that Roque had to find a way to convince Dimri to do it.
If Abath was a spy, Roque needed to know, and he needed to know ASAP.
* * * *
DIMRI’S FIRST INSTINCTwas to snap at Roque.Was hereallysaying that they should talk to the person he suspected of being the spy after what had happened at the tavern?Surely, he couldn’t be that obtuse?
Dimri forced himself to take a moment to think about it.It didn’t sound like Abath was Roque’s friend, but he was still someone Roque knew well.Even more so, he was someone that Roque himself had allowed close to Berith and his family.If Abath was the spy, Roque should have known.He shouldn’t have let him anywhere near the prince, and having done so would feel like a failure to him.
Dimri understood.This wasn’t only Roque’s job.Roque wanted to keep the prince safe, but even more so, he wanted to keep hisfriendsafe.Having failed him in such a blatant way couldn’t be easy to accept, which would explain why Roque was adamant that Abath couldn’t have anything to do with any of this.
Roque was afraid of losing Berith.He was afraid he’d failed him.
Dimri took a deep breath.“Fighting and doing whatever it is we’re doing right now isn’t going to help,” he said in what he hoped was a reasonable tone.“I understand why you want to talk to Abath, but I think it’s a bad idea.If he’s the spy, he’s going to be prepared for someone confronting him.He’ll have excuses and explanations, and we’ll lose the element of surprise.I really think you should reconsider.”
Roque stared.Dimri wasn’t sure if it was because he was surprised by Dimri’s willingness to discuss this or something else, but it didn’t matter.They had to settle on a course of action.They couldn’t ignore what was going on.They couldn’t confront Abath.There was only one way to deal with this, and it was Dimri’s way.Roque not following his lead could ruin everything, and Dimri was sure that wasn’t something Roque wanted.
That didn’t mean he’d go along with this.Roque was scared and confused, but he also wanted to be right.Dimri could understand that, too, but it was a problem.
Because Roquewasn’tright.
“Let’s say I do reconsider,” Roque offered.“What if following Abath around and spying on him takes too long?What if he takes advantage of it and uses that time to put plans in motion and hurt Berith?”
