“It’s being taken care of,” Prince Mikos replied. “In the short time he’s been back on Tygeria, Father and the council have already made at least a dozen arrests, and he says there will probably be more to come. All of the ones involved were close family members of the missing boys, and some of them are talking and giving up information during their interrogations. I feel confident that we can handle this thing and get it under control. It’s already creating a lot of talk and scandal on Tygeria, according to what Father told me. By the time Janos testifies in front of the council and we give our own testimony in support of him, you should be able to go home to Laltana and begin to put this all behind you.”
“I hope you’re right,” Larz said. “But what do we do about this current situation?”
“We find those responsible and arrest them,” I said.
Larz gave me a look. “And just how do we do that? Do you know who they are?”
“I have a good idea.” I explained how I figured it was one of the nine Imperial guards who had arrived on Moravia with me. “I wish I could narrow it further, but while I could hear them talking to each other on the observation deck earlier today, I couldn’t see them at all clearly, so I don’t have specifics. I’m afraid this will badly tarnish all of their reputations and some of them may not deserve that.”
“What else can we do though?” Larz asked.
I lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “The opportunity to defeat an enemy is often provided by the enemy himself,” I said softly.
“Oh, I think I see what he means,” Janos said, laying a hand on Larz’s arm. “We set a trap for them. We give them an opening and see which one takes the bait? Yes. I want this thing to be done and over with.”
“But wouldn’t that be too dangerous?” the Consort Ryan asked. “The poison is deadly—the most deadly known on Tygeria.”
“We’ll take precautions,” I said.
“And these are Imperial soldiers, after all,” Ryan continued. “Even though only one or two of them may be guilty.”
From beside me, Taran spoke up. “Perhaps you could have a dinner for them. A banquet to thank them for their service to us on Moravia. That should give them ample opportunity to try something.”
“That’s a good idea,” Janos said.
“No, I don’t like it,” Larz said. “Absolutely not. I don’t want you anywhere near them.”
“I’m not suicidal, Larz. I’ll be careful. We should give them the chance they’re looking for.”
“No,” I interrupted. “Prince Larz is right. It’s far too dangerous. If they realized what was happening, they might get violent or some of them might even shift. The humans and Laltanans in attendance could be hurt, and it would be hard to protect them completely.”
“Then what do you suggest, General?” Prince Mikos asked.
“A dinner with all of them would be easy enough to arrange. We’ll make sure the food and drink is out in the open and not guarded, which should give them the opportunity they need. But let’s wait until we’re almost on Tygeria and have no one except other Tygerian soldiers in attendance. We’ll say the others have been delayed, and hope they’ve already revealed themselves on our recording devices. If not and we gain no proof or a confession of guilt, then I’ll have no choice but to arrest them all. In the meantime, Your Highness, you should stay in your rooms, and don’t show yourself or your consort to any of them. I’m going to find a few of my men to help me. I know that all of themcan’t be involved. I’ll give them serums to make sure they tell me the truth of the matter.”
“Can you do that?” Janos asked.
“I can do anything I want to. With Prince Mikos’s approval.”
“Which you have.”
I nodded. “It’s settled then. We have a plan. Prince Larz, it’s vital that you stay inside your room for the next few days with your consort and accept no food or drink given to you unless it’s by one of the people in this room or on an approved list of servants.”
“I understand.”
“With your permission, Your Highness, I’ll keep Taran with me and make sure he’s safe.” I glanced back at him. “He can be rash and likes to do as he pleases.”
Taran whipped his head around to glare at me, but I noticed that neither of his parents seemed surprised by my offer nor offended by what I’d said. Larz cleared it up with his next comment.
“Yes, my omak has informed me about this...attachment the two of you have formed. He’s a grown man. I leave it up to Taran to decide if this is what he wants.”
Everyone turned to look at him and he blushed again. Grown man, my ass. Perhaps in age he was, but certainly not in actions. At least, I’d seen little sign of it so far.
“Yes,” he replied, so softly I could barely hear him. “That’s acceptable to me.” He still hadn’t looked fully at me.
“Won’t the Imperial Guards think it strange that we stay in our rooms so long?” Taran asked.
I shrugged. “It’s not their place to think about such things. And those who do will only reveal themselves.”
