Page 58 of A Wayward Movement

“The fence is for the alicanto, not for people,” the Carrackian said angrily.

Xavier raised an eyebrow. “A fence will keep out birds?”

“Not keep them out, Your Highness,” Blair interjected. “But stop them escaping. They can’t fly very well after they’ve gorged themselves on chameleon steel. They get heavier the more ore they eat, and they end up having to run along the sand instead. They’re hoping that if the birds can’t escape, they’ll learn quickly not to risk stealing the ore.”

“That may be,” Xavier said. “But was the construction of this fence cleared with anyone in the capital? It’s a significant extra expense that wasn’t part of the original deal.”

“The agreement gives me oversight over the project,” the manager repeated. “I don’t need permission from anyone to keep my workers and my product safe.”

“I’m very familiar with the terms of the agreement between our kingdoms,” Xavier said. “Down to the last detail. And the site remains within Siqual. Limitations around access are ours to determine. How can I be sure you didn’t keep construction of an unplanned perimeter fence quiet because you didn’t want to acknowledge that you have problems with security?”

“Why would you suspect me of that?” the Carrackian protested. “Of course I wouldn’t hire anyone whose trustworthiness was in question.”

“But can you personally vouch for each man?” Xavier challenged. “Not all of them came with you from Carrack. And not all of them come from Siqual, either. As you said, there are some from Dernan. Perhaps even some from further afield, who aren’t as known and whose loyalty can’t be as fully trusted.”

The other man frowned. “I don’t know what you mean by further afield, Your Highness. To my knowledge, we have no workers from anywhere but the three kingdoms you mentioned. The only place further than my own kingdom is the continent, and we certainly don’t employ anyone from there.”

“You’re absolutely confident of that?” Xavier asked.

He could see he’d offended the manager, and Blair was quick to jump in.

“If I may, Your Highness, you can rely on his word in this matter. Carrackians are even more wary of those from the continent than we are in Siqual.”

“We have reason,” the project manager said defensively. “I have no doubt you’ve heard some talk of an incident not too long ago where our crown prince was targeted. Not much was proved, but a man from the continent posing as Carrackian was certainly mixed up in it.” He looked over at Blair. “But I think you mentioned you were there during that time?”

“I was.” Blair inclined his head. “For some of it. It was a…difficult time for your kingdom, I know.”

The liaison’s placating tone reminded Xavier that he had himself failed in his diplomacy. Subsiding, he left Blair to smooth over the ruffled feathers of the project manager. But privately, Xavier still wasn’t satisfied.

Captain Mitchell had sat quietly throughout the interview, allowing Xavier to take the lead. But he looked to the prince now in a silent request, and Xavier made a gesture of permission. The captain took over the meeting, asking more specific questions regarding the site’s security which the Carrackian manager seemed to take less personally.

Knowing Mitchell would recount any useful information later, Xavier excused himself, deeming his presence to be a hindrance rather than a help. He jerked his head to Alina, indicating for her to follow. He was half surprised that she obeyed the somewhat discourteous demand.

“Are you all right?” she asked him, once they emerged from the building. “You seemed upset back there.”

“I’m fine,” said Xavier shortly.

He wasn’t about to admit that the suggestion of one of the workmen having Alina in his sights as a possible victim for abduction appeared to have turned him into a hotheaded fool. The two of them walked around the edge of the site, examining the progress of the fence, which Xavier still considered unsanctioned. Only a couple of his guards accompanied them, their posture particularly watchful in this new environment.

“The magic from those fabric tubes is so consistent,” Alina commented. “If I didn’t think it would be missed by the team, I’d be tempted to harness some and see what I can do with it. Do you think they work in shifts through the night? I suppose not, since there’s no point harnessing magic into the glass panes when there’s no sunshine to make use of it. Do you think the Dust stirred up overnight is just wasted?”

Xavier frowned at her, the question sparking a thought in his mind.

“I’m not going to steal any of the Dust,” Alina assured him quickly, seeing his expression.

His face relaxed into a smile. “I know. What would be the point? You have nothing interesting to do with it, given my tunic today regrettably has no laces for you to choke me with.”

“Very amusing,” she said dryly. “I hardly think wearing your clothes respectably constitutes being choked.”

“I’ve always found respectability suffocating,” Xavier said conversationally.

“We’re all very aware of that,” Alina assured him.

He grinned, returning to the point. “Well, I wasn’t suspecting you of anything. I was just thinking that it’s a good question regarding the magic generated overnight. We should ask someone.”

Alina must have read on his face that there was more to his thoughts. “What are you thinking?” she prompted.

He gave his head a little shake. “I’m trying to figure out if it can all be connected,” he said, his voice low, not designed to carry to his nearby guards. “You remember you asked me why I looked at Charles strangely when he talked about storing magic?”