“Nothing’s wrong, your Highness,” Suliel said. For a moment she considered, and then discarded the idea of keeping her link a secret. “One of my Traits grants me a link to Kirido’s dungeon, and it just… interjected.”

Suliel sent back.

“Interesting,” Elara said. “A linking trait so early in Tier Two? An Epic class indeed.”

“I’m sure it’s nothing compared to some of yours,” Suliel mumbled. The princess might only have a Rare class, but she was twice Suliel’s level.

“Perhaps,” Elara agreed, swirling the remains of a fine vintage in her goblet. “What’s it like, being linked to a dungeon?”

“It’s a person,” Suliel repeated. “A strange one to be sure, irreverent and lacking in respect for human life. It has a few people that it cares about and goals that it seeks.”

“Such as?”

“Survival, for one,” Suliel said carefully. She didn’t want to even hint at what Kelsey’s conversation with the god had implied. “Beyond simply managing to kill those that would come after her core, she sought to ally with Kirido for protection.”

Elara raised her eyebrows. “And by implication, the wider kingdom?”

Suliel bowed her head. “That would be for His Majesty to consider,” she said.

“And what would the dungeon be bringing for his consideration?” Elara pressed.

Suliel raised an eyebrow of her own. “As I understand it, you count as a diplomatic representative,” she said. “Is the Tiatian Empire deigning to open negotiations with Kirido?”

Elara froze and then chuckled ruefully. “Ah, that would be overstepping my role,” she said. “Please, forget I asked.”

“Of course,” Suliel agreed. “Forgive me for asking, but what is your role, exactly? I have had only rumours to go on.”

“I suppose I should explain a few things,” Elara agreed. “Let me start by saying that, for the last decade or so, the Tiatian Empire has been toying with the idea of starting an expansionary phase.”

Suliel swallowed. “I see. In our direction?”

“Westward, so yes, but not specifically at us,” Elara explained.

Suliel let her grip on her goblet relax. She set it down and put her hands under the table.

“There are five sovereign nations between the Empire and Zamarra,” she mused. “I haven’t heard anything about them being invaded, so what form, exactly, would this expansion take?”

“That is still being debated,” Elara said. “Invasion is a possibility, but the generals have concerns.”

“Concerns,” Suliel repeated. “I was always told that the Tiatian Empire was vast and mighty, with more soldiers than their enemies could count.”

“It’s more complicated than that,” Elara said. “It’s not like they could send all of their forces, and by extending their supply lines so far, there is the possibility of disaster.”

“When the military is stymied,” Suliel said, repeating her old lessons, “That leaves—”

“Diplomacy,” Elara agreed. “If one of the kingdoms were to join the Empire voluntarily, it would allow the Empire to use it as a base to expand further.”

“You think the King will… will he?” Suliel asked aghast. A true king would never give up his sovereignty like that… would he?

Except he might be a false king. Who knows what such a person would do?

“He hasn’t been asked,” Elara said quickly. “Yet. If the Empire were to ask, and he was to say no… we’d be at war. So the Empire won’t ask, not until either their forces are in position or they know beyond a doubt what the answer will be.”

“We’re not the only kingdom being courted, are we?” Suliel asked shrewdly.

“Of course not. And the first nation to get asked stands to get far greater rewards for signing up. The Empire only needs one friendly acquisition.”

“Why only one?”

Elara frowned. “The reason that the Empire wants to expand is to provide new lands for freshly minted nobles. If the existing nobility gets to remain, then there are no new lands to be had.”

Suliel swallowed again. “That’s why? So if every nation surrendered, the Empire would have to keep expanding?”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“Something like that,” Elara said. “I doubt it would come to that, though. Not all the nations are on as good terms as we are. Dunust, for example, was mostly founded by refugees from the Unification wars. They don’t remember Tiatia fondly.”

“So your former husband was here to… what?” Suliel said slowly. “Sound out the King? The court?”

“That was part of what Kaelan was here for,” Elara corrected. “He was also engaged in normal diplomatic relations, but then he met me, and…”

“You’re not the heir,” Suliel said. “Marrying you wouldn’t hand the kingdom over—”

“But it would bring the nations closer together,” Elara agreed. “It wasn’t a political match, but his grandmother approved.”

That would be the Empress, Suliel reminded herself.

“But then he was assassinated,” Suliel said. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

Elara inclined her head in acknowledgement. “He was indeed,” she said heavily. “Which brings me to my main concern: finding those responsible.”

“You don’t believe the official story, then?”

Elara snorted in a most unladylike manner. “Dior was a fool, and smitten with me, but I doubt he knew how to contact the Shadowblades. Giving up a noble scion showed that my Father was serious about appeasing the Empire and he did confess, but…”

“Confessions can be obtained,” Suliel agreed. “Maybe not even with torture, but sufficient concessions to his family… It’s interesting that you mention the Shadowblades.”

“Oh? I wouldn’t have expected a country noble to know of them. You surprise me.”

Suliel suppressed a grimace. “Country” noble was more polite than “Backwater” but it still stung. “I happen to have one in a cell back home,” she said smugly.

“You what?” Elara asked incredulously.

Suliel held up her hand placatingly. “He was badly injured in an attempt on the dungeon,” she said. “I doubt I can hold him longer than he wants to be held.”

“I suppose not,” Elara said, sighing. “Still, if he’s willing to talk… I would be in your debt.”

“I can write a letter, but I can’t guarantee that it would get there in time,” Suliel said. “Nor can I ensure that he’ll talk. He answered some of my questions, but I didn’t know enough at the time to make good use of him.”

“Still, I will be in your debt,” Elara said.

“Could you not have found him in the city? He was a member of the Stormguard, and I heard that they were quite famous.”

“Ah, Draven Blackthorn then? You’re right, he is well-known. He doesn’t take contracts, but his class is available for anyone to see.”

“Then why hasn’t he been arrested?”

“He is protected—by a few things. For one, his deeds as a member of the Stormguard are well-known and lauded. For another, his Traits and his fellow team members make arresting him a fraught enterprise.”

Suliel winced but didn’t say anything. Someone else could publicise the news that the Stormguard were no more.

“And lastly,” Elara continued, “he is still a member in good standing of the Shadowblades. So anyone who arrests him can expect a knife in their back at some point.”

“That is quite comprehensive,” Suliel stated. “I take it you considered going after him at some point in your investigations?”

“I was dissuaded, yes,” Elara said sourly. “Father’s men had long learned the futility of searching out those assassins.”

“I see,” Suliel said. “Then who do you think was responsible?”

Elara scowled. “Most of the noble families are somewhat supportive of the idea of Zamarra ceding to the Empire,” she said. “They would keep their lands and titles. But the institutions that now serve the King would see some significant changes.”

“You’re talking about the Privy Council, the Merchant’s Guild…” Suliel said.

“And the Adventurers Guild,” Elara said. “They have no equivalent in the Empire’s administration. Even the city guard would have to be reorganised to fit in with a provincial government.”

“So you think that one of those…”

“Someone, in one of those institutions, was corrupt enough to murder my husband to protect their current position. That’s what I think.”

“So what is it that you think I can do for you? Aside from writing that letter, of course.”

“You’re a noble from out of town,” Elara said. “Young, without entanglements with the current order. I can trust you to not be already involved with the corrupt elements here.”

I’m not entirely free of entanglements, Suliel thought guiltily, but she wasn’t so foolish as to mention Elara’s rebellious aunt to her.

“You’ve already shown your worth,” Elara said excitedly. “No one from here would have dared to imprison Draven, even as politely as you have.”

“I’m starting to wonder about that,” Suliel said uneasily. “Am I going to be in danger from the Shadowblades?”

“I doubt it. They would have to become aware, and I doubt Draven would mention it.”

“That’s something. So you want me as a political ally, then? I’m afraid I won’t be much use until I’m accepted by the court.”

“That’s true, but I don’t see it being a problem,” Elara assured her. “I’ll speak to Father and get this all sorted out.”

“Then I’d be happy to help in any way I can,” Suliel said. She meant it too. Rooting out corrupt officials sounded like the sort of thing Anton would approve of.

Not that I have any idea of how to go about doing that, but Elara seems to know what she’s doing.

Elara smiled. “I knew I could count on you,” she said. “Now, let’s talk about that attempt on your life.”

Suliel grimaced. “You don’t think it was just a random robbery?”

“I do not. You didn’t see, but they blocked off the street once you went through. They were after you, and were either hired or tipped off.”

“Do you think that the fellow we captured will know anything?” Suliel asked.

“Perhaps, but that Ringleader is probably the only one that knows who hired him.” Elara grimaced. “We’re probably better off working from the other end. Who would want to kill you?”

Suliel smiled wryly. “You wanted me for my lack of entanglements, but I seem to have a few. I don’t think my mother would try to have me killed, though.”

“You didn’t think she’d lock you up, either,” Elara said. “Filial piety only goes so far.”

“I suppose,” Suliel sighed. “I do feel, though, that Magister Tikin is more likely to seek my death. He didn’t seem unwilling to stoop to underhanded methods.”

“He’s been keeping a low profile since returning to the capital,” Elara said thoughtfully. “He was in my report, of course, but I haven’t heard anything about him since then.”

“Draven said that he was being backed by someone called Kalren Voss.”

“I know him. He’s Father’s court mage,” Elara said. “I’ll point him out when you get introduced at Court.”

“Finally, I doubt that Captain Oldaw thinks fondly of me,” Suliel said sadly. “I doubt that he hates me enough to kill me…”

“You never know,” Elara said. “I should be able to have all of these watched. If they go near where that gang operates from, we’ll know. All of them except your mother, that is. From what I’ve heard she never leaves Lord Brankil’s estate. If she’s arranging something, she’s using a go-between.”

Suliel felt a small thrill at the mention of having people watched. Elara had an organisation, capable of clandestine action.

I need one of those, she thought. First, though, she needed more people for her regular operations.