“A few minutes ago. So, imagine my surprise at finding you out of your room.”
I can’t stop shaking my head. A few minutes ago? That means he was searching for his assailant and found me here. That explains why he looked at me the way he did, but why would someone wear this? Who would dare attack him to begin with?
An icy feeling grips me. The only reason someone would leave this behind would be to frame me. Whoever it was simply didn’t realize my robes are embellished.
Or they thought I’d be dead before he could notice.
“Why would someone frame me?” I ask aloud.
He nods and leans closer to me. “That is exactly what we need to discover.”
XXXVI.
Torren
Kerasea stares out of the window of my bedroom, trying not to watch me undress. Every now and then, she blushes.
It’s unexpected.
After the attack, I sent Julian to the ground floor to search for the assailant while I took the first floor, but I doubt he’ll find them. The person likely went into hiding. And I didn’t want to let Kerasea out of my sight.
I slip my armor over my undershirt and pull the leather bindings as I replay the exchange in the library. Kera’s keeping a secret—I’m sure of it—but she swore on her god that it wasn’t her robe, and no priest takes that lightly. So where does that leave me?
Someone is still trying to frame the High Priestess, but their purpose remains unclear. Terrance is the main suspect, but striking at me and framing Kera makes little sense when he is now Senate Leader and she has recused herself. If he suspects we know the truth, that could be reason enough, but it feels like I’m missing a vital piece of information. It sits right at the edge of my mind, but I can’t get there yet.
I place my sabine at my hip. Dressed and now armored, I grab my manacles. Kerasea eyes them when they scrape on the wood of the bureau, but she stays silent as I slip them onto my belt.
Thinking through the assault kept me from noticing how her long black hair hangs down to her waist. How she touches her full lips when she’s worried. But it’s hard not to look now.
I step to the door, but she moves at the same time. She brushes against me, her velvet robe soft as rabbit fur against my bare arm.
“Sorry,” she says.
“My fault.”
And it is. I’m allowing her to draw too much of my attention. My duty requires me to focus on my role as investigator. Regardless of what Julian thinks of this nation, the republic is better than the alternatives. I have been outside of Pryor. I fought in the wilderness where there is no law, no justice, no elections, where might equals right. The Senate is far from perfect, but the institution ended Elusian oppression and keeps worse at bay. It is worth saving.
I take a steadying breath as I lock my door. At least we won’t have to go far. My first interview is with Kerasea’s servant.
Earlier today and yesterday, I questioned the girl, but I only asked a few surface inquiries because she is, in fact, a child. But now I need to find out who had access to this robe. Unlike Kerasea, her servant girl doesn’t lie well, so it will be easier to get to the truth.
Kera knocks on her door. She already agreed to assist me with this.
“Zel, it is me,” she says.
“Just a moment.” The voice behind the door sounds odd, panicked, and very awake.
Kerasea’s brow knits, and her eyes dart over to me.
“Does your servant normally instruct you to wait?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “No, but this has been a frightening time for her. I’ve told her to bar her door and only answer to me.”
The door opens, but only enough for Zel to stick her face out. Her eyes are so large and wide-set that they remind me of stags I’ve hunted.
“Yes, Excellency?” Zel is in nightclothes, dressed for bed.
“We need to speak,” Kerasea says.
