“We haven't needed to use it for many years,” Alcha went on. “Once we accepted Dragon rule, the Dragon Kings have kept the peace.” He nodded at Cyn. “So we locked the diadem away in Tareth's temple.”
“But it was stolen,” I prompted.
“Yes. We don't know who took it. Its existence isn't a secret, though it hasn't been in the public eye for years.”
“Have you had any visitors to Rercime recently?” Cyn asked.
Alcha grimaced as he looked at the other priests, then said, “No. We don't get a lot of non-Shanba visitors, so they would have been noted.”
“Then we're looking for a Shanba,” Cyn concluded.
“Yes, Sire, uh, Sir,” Alcha said.
The waitress came up to the table with a laden tray. “Here we are, gentlemen.”
We went silent again, only murmuring thanks when she deposited our food and drinks before us.
“Let me know if you need anything else,” she said and sauntered away.
I stared at the giant slice of cake in front of me, layers of chocolate sponge between thick whipped cream, dusted with chocolate curls. It looked amazing, but my stomach was clenching and my mind turned back to what I'd seen in Cyn's dungeon. A green light. The shadow of a person. I focused harder on the memory, but I couldn't see the outline of antlers.
Shit. I could still be right about Juri. Right and wrong. Maybe the Shanba who was using Tareth's Triumph had enchanted Juri and ordered him to use it on me. If part of the command was for Juri to bring the relic back to them when he finished, the Shanba wouldn't even have to step into the castle. Or maybe Juri was behind it. He could have paid a Shanba to steal the relic for him.
Fuck.
I looked over at High Priest Alcha. “Can you think of any Shanba with a grievance against King Cynric or Dragon Kings?”
The priests frowned as they looked at each other.
Finally, Alcha spoke, “There are always malcontents but we Shanba are a content people. We care little for what goes on outside our borders. As long as we are left alone, we are happy.”
“But there are those of us who come to the cities,” Priest Gorsi added, his large, brown eyes widening. “There have been incidents.”
“What sort of incidents?” Cyn asked.
“Shanba have returned to Rercime injured or taken advantage of. Our elders use such incidents to dissuade others from leaving. But the young will always wander. That is the way of youth. And the young have parents, people who are emotionally invested in their welfare.”
“And who are furious when their children are hurt,” Cyn said grimly.
“Yes.”
“And I am blamed for it.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Is there any way to protect yourself against the diadem?” I asked.
“Not that I know of,” Alcha said.
“Shit,” I muttered.
“Yes, it could be used for great evil,” Alcha said. “I'd like to think no Shanba would be capable of such. I'd like to, but your expressions and questions lead me to conclude that I will be disappointed.”
Cyn grimaced, then said, “I believe Tareth's Triumph is being used to turn innocent people into assassins.”
The priests gasped. Big eyes got bigger. Flat noses twitched.
“Assassins?” Alcha finally spoke. “Are you saying the relic is being used against you?”
