Panting, the man stopped and just gaped at me.
I grabbed his shoulders and shook him much as the King had done to me. “What happened?!”
“The prison, Claw Shinkai. There was a bomb.”
“The prison.” I let go of him. “What?”
“The Chief wants you there. You're to drop everything else and report immediately to the Talon Prison.”
I glanced back, saw the King standing right behind me, and looked past him. “I can't. I have to finish this.”
“But, sir—”
“Tell the Chief I'll be there as soon as possible.”
“Uh, oh. I, uh, all right.”
“Go!” I shoved him back in the direction he had come even as I went back the way I had come.
“Did he say the prison exploded?” King Tor'rien asked.
“Yes.” I paused to look at him. “But this isn't over. I need to find Kun-lo's killer.”
“But the note said that he won.”
“It also said I'm only halfway there. Hallaxgral won this round, not the entire game. And I'm not letting him win another.” And then I ran. Because I knew every minute counted. I wouldn't waste another. Especially not on the King.
The grave was abandoned. The gardeners had run off at the sound of the explosion and the Dragon knights had protected the King. No one cared about a long-dead boy who planted flowers.
Dear Gods, why did that make me want to cry?
I knelt beside the body and carefully unwrapped it. Despite my gentleness, the shroud disintegrated. “I care. I cared back then, and I care now, Kun-lo. I will find your murderer, and if he or she still lives, I will see that justice is served. You will be avenged, my friend. And if no one who loved you is alive to mourn you, I will do that too. I will sing your soul to the Gods in the way of your people. You will be laid to rest. That is my vow to you.”
All that remained of Kun-lo were bones. I brushed away the remnants of his shroud. Murder often sinks deep, leavingevidence in the bones. If there was anything on those bones that could identify the murderer, I would find it.
In the distance, bells continued to clang. I wouldn't heed them this time. I couldn't. A dead boy and very possibly some living ones, relied on me to win the game.
“Tekhan.” The King laid a hand on my shoulder. “How can I help?”
“You could run interference with the Chief. Maybe send one of your knights in my stead to gather information. Tell them not to move anything. Not even the bodies. Leave them where they are for me to inspect.”
“How long are you going to be?”
“I don't know, but those dead can wait. This one has waited long enough.” Then I saw the glint of metal. “What's this?”
From within a cage of finger bones, the object taunted me. I had to break the fragile remnants of tendons to open the boy's hand. But I'd already made my initial inspection, so I felt confident that there was nothing else to find.
“A button?” I murmured. “He must have pulled it off the murderer in a struggle. You fought, didn't you? Good boy. And you kept this safe for me all these years. Thank you.” I turned the button over and saw the engraving.
The breath caught in my throat. My hand clenched around the evidence. I couldn't speak. Thoughts battered my mind, vying for order. During the chaos, the King called my name. But I was gone, focused on the past.
“You're missing a button, Claw Greishen.” I flicked my finger toward my superior.
He narrowed his eyes at me. “It's not your place to lecture me on my uniform, Talon Shinkai.”
“I didn't mean to lecture, sir. I only wanted to inform you before someone else noticed.”
Greishen grunted and spun away.
