Arturyn listened in silence while Erin told him how Sarah had felt Teral come through the portal and how they had returned to the shop to find Kirchel gone and then followed the two of them to Aner. He maintained his serious composure until Erin described them finding Verasa’s body hidden in the cave wall.
“Dead?” Arturyn repeated, looking momentarily shocked. “You’re saying someone murdered the gatekeeper?”
Erin nodded, shivering a little. The memory of Verasa’s lifeless, bloody figure was still chilling. “We were just trying to decide what to do next when Jechrin found us. He’d been following his father, trying to find out what he was doing. And he brought us here to his aunt’s house to call you.”
“Well, troubling as the gatekeeper’s death is, that investigation should fall under the Dhaikar’s jurisdiction, not mine.” Arturyn looked at Sarah. “Haven’t you contacted them, Sharia?”
Erin blinked. Sharia?
“It’s my real name,” Sarah said in response to Erin’s and Anthony’s puzzled looks. “I just go by ‘Sarah’ in the human world. It’s what Kirchel called me when she was learning to talk.” She turned back to Arturyn. “I sent a request for one of the overseers to come to the gate, but we left before they got there.” She grimaced. “I’m going to have a lot of explaining to do when I get back.... But it was already too late to help Verasa, and if we had stayed, the overseer would have wanted to question us. Which would have made us even slower getting to Kirchel. Jechrin thinks his father might have been the one who killed Verasa. If that’s the case, I don’t like to think what he might have planned for Kirchel. Though from what Jechrin said, he’s just trying to get her to marry him for now.”
Erin thought she saw Arturyn pale slightly, though his expression was still carefully controlled. “What evidence do you have that your father was involved in Verasa’s death?” he asked Jechrin.
“Well....” Jechrin hesitated. “None, really, except for the timing. Killing the gatekeeper would have allowed him to go through to the human world without getting her permission.”
“Yes, but it isn’t that hard to get permission to go through,” Sarah put in, looking doubtful. “Especially since your father’s a king. It surely wouldn’t have been worth committing murder to do. And how could he have known I wouldn’t be at the gate to meet him when he got through? Besides, the timing doesn’t match up as well as you might think. From her scent, I would say Verasa has been dead for at least two days. Why would he have needed to kill her that far in advance?”
"Tonight wasn't the only time he's left the palace during the past few days. I think he made other trips through the portal before the one to the human world to get Kirchel. But I don't know where. I haven't been able to follow him every time. Galeth has been watching me. I acted up too much when we were in Katan Jyrat."
Galeth...? Erin had to think for a moment before she remembered the old man who'd been with Jechrin and his father at the imperial palace, who always seemed to have a harsh expression on his face. She hadn't seen him at all after the welcoming ceremony. He seemed to just stay in the guest rooms the entire time, which made her wonder why he'd gone at all.
"I know that's not enough evidence just by itself," Jechrin went on, looking determined. "But I think it’s too much to pass off as just coincidence. And I already know my father is capable of murder.”
“What do you mean?” Arturyn asked, frowning.
“My mother,” Jechrin said quietly. “He killed my mother.”
There was a brief silence. Erin and Sarah were both watching Arturyn anxiously to see how he responded, and Arturyn was still frowning at Jechrin, probably trying to decide how to respond to his statement.
When Erin glanced briefly at Anthony, however, she saw that he was inexplicably looking over his shoulder at a window on the other side of the room.
“Jechrin, I saw the healer’s report after she died,” Arturyn said. It sounded like he was speaking carefully, as though trying not to upset Jechrin. “As far as they could determine, she died of completely natural causes. Isynith disease, if I remember right.”
“That’s because they didn’t know what to look for. And when I tried to tell the palace healer, all she did was tell my father that he should find me a counselor because I was making up things to try to cope with my mother dying. My father threatened me enough afterwards that I haven’t dared to tell anyone the truth since then. I was fairly sure no one else would believe me anyway...just like you don't believe me." Jechrin's eyes had narrowed a little, and his voice took on a slightly accusatory tone.
"It's not a matter of whether I believe you or not," Arturyn said patiently. "In order to bring charges of murder against your father, I need some substantial evidence. I can't do anything on your word alone, especially not when your story has so many holes in it.
"How did he murder your mother and make it look like a natural disease? And why would he do it?
"Where would he need to go that he couldn't get permission to use the portal for, and why was it so important to keep it a secret that he'd risk killing a gatekeeper?
"Why would he suddenly be trying to force Kirchel to marry him? And how, exactly? Surely you know that she has to express her consent during the ceremony and sign the marriage contract in front of witnesses for the marriage to be legal, so even if he did kidnap her, that wouldn't be enough. Is he using threats? Blackmail? Does he have something she wants badly enough to persuade her?"
Jechrin didn't say anything. He was staring at Arturyn with a rather icy expression.
Arturyn sighed. He looked very tired. "Look, Jechrin, I'm not trying to discount your claims. And of course I'm worried about Kirchel. But from what you told me, we can't even be certain that Teral forced her to go with him. And if she went willingly, there's nothing I can do. The empire has laws, you know. Laws that prevent me from interfering in your father's business without proper justification. If you can't give me more information to work with, then all I can—"
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"Political power. That's why." Jechrin's face was still expressionless, and his voice was quiet, but somehow he had an air of authority about him that was enough to silence even Arturyn. "He killed my mother because she was getting in the way of what he and Galeth wanted to accomplish here in Aner, and my father knew that he'd be installed as regent, which would give him control over the country until I come of age.
"Kirchel is similar. He wants to be able to use her for political leverage. Even if she's not legally a member of the Nirayl royalty, the king of Raylmiyr is still her uncle. And he'll be willing to make certain concessions in order to guarantee her safety. I expect you will, too, for that matter."
Arturyn was frowning, and there was an intense, calculating look in his eyes. "So she'd be a political hostage, is what you're saying? I agree that could be somewhat effective. But I don't understand what he'd have to gain. Raylmiyr doesn't border your country—it's clear on the other side of the empire. And there are plenty of better ways for him to get what he wants from me. I just don't see how Aner can benefit from this."
Jechrin was quiet for a moment. Then he closed his eyes and let out a resigned sigh. "Not Aner. Myrikar. My father and Galeth are both working for Myrikar. They're...both Relians."
As soon as he spoke that last word, Erin felt someone grab her arm and pull her backwards. Surprised by the sudden movement, she stumbled a little and almost lost her balance.
"Sarah?" she heard Anthony's startled voice say next to her. "What are you doing?"
"Stay behind me," Sarah snarled. She was standing between them and Jechrin and was glaring at him with teeth bared, apparently forgetting she wasn't in her normal wolfish form. "A Relian! I knew there was something off about you!"
Jechrin gave her an annoyed look. "I just gave myself away, didn't I? Doesn't that count for anything? And I'm not working for Myrikar. You should know how they feel about half-bloods there. Why would I be loyal to a bunch of people who would happily kill me on sight?"
Sarah's aggression seemed to fade a little at that, but she maintained her protective position in front of Erin and Anthony.
"Wait...what did he do wrong?" Erin asked, looking between Jechrin and Sarah in bewilderment. "What's a Relian?"
"Show her." Arturyn's face had gone very white at Jechrin's revelation, and when he spoke, his voice was uncharacteristically harsh. “Half Relian blood should be enough for you to be able to formshift.”
Jechrin looked at him coldly, as though he was deciding whether to obey such a rough order or not. Then he looked at Erin. His expression softened a little when he met her gaze, and his eyes had a hint of sorrow in them.
He took a few steps back, so that he was standing a little apart from them. Then his form started to blur and melt. Like with Sarah's transformation, the top of his body sank down so that he was standing on four legs. Then his whole body elongated and grew until his head nearly touched the ceiling. A moment later, he was solid and still again.
Erin caught her breath, her eyes widening. “You’re…a unicorn…?”
Sarah and Arturyn seemed to think that a Relian was an object of fear and loathing, but Erin could only see Jechrin's current form as stunningly beautiful. He wasn't a dainty, deer-like creature, as unicorns were often portrayed. His body was large and powerfully built, though still remarkably graceful, like a dancer’s. His glossy coat was a soft dapple grey that faded to a dark, solid grey at the feet, which were covered with long, feathered hair. His mane and tail were also dark grey and were thick and shiny, like a show horse's. And protruding from under his forelock was a long, straight horn, dark silver in color with a faint spiral pattern.
"Unicorns are an entirely different species,” Sarah said irritably. She was still glaring at Jechrin and didn't seem surprised or impressed by his new form. “They’re native to Siberia and are distantly related to reindeer, though they’re much more magical and intelligent. But forget about unicorns. They’re harmless. Relians are anything but harmless.”
“But…why?” Erin looked back at Jechrin. Except for the horn, he might have passed as an exceptionally handsome draft horse. She had never noticed anything in his Relian or Silmarith forms to suggest he was dangerous.
“You’ve seen what Nirayls can do with animals,” Arturyn said grimly. “Relians can do the same thing with people. The kind of Thryith magic they use allows them to influence and manipulate a person to do whatever the Relian wants them to.” He shook his head distractedly. “Of course...this explains everything.... Erin speaking Silmarith. Kirchel’s behavior with Teral. And Jechrin’s mother…well, of course a Relian could murder someone and make it look completely natural. They just have to tell someone to get sick and die, and the person would do it.”
“That’s a bit of an oversimplification.” Erin looked around and saw that Jechrin was back in his Silmarith form again. “But we'll skip the lecture on Relian magic for now." He looked at Arturyn. "Is this enough to convince you? Or should I start listing all the reasons why I also suspect that my father has ties to Noquana?"
Arturyn went, if possible, a shade paler than he already was. But when he spoke, his tone had become more businesslike. “I understand. Yes, this should be evidence enough for the Imperial Government to make a formal charge against Teral. The procedure will take a little time, but if I start now, I should be able to get officials there to the palace in Eloril within a couple of hours.” He gave them a stern look. “Thank you for telling me about this. I’ll do everything I can to keep anything from happening to Kirchel and to find out exactly what Teral has been up to. But in the meantime, you four have done enough. I don’t want you putting yourselves in danger, and I know Kirchel wouldn’t want it either. You said you were at Celora’s house, didn’t you? Just stay there—I’m sure she won’t mind if you explain the situation. I’ll call there in a few hours to let you know what’s going on. Understand?”
They all nodded, though Erin could tell from the others’ expressions that they didn't like it any better than she did.
“Good. I’ll be in touch soon, then.”
The ivareh became cloudy again and then shrank back down to a shivering silver column. Jechrin stepped over to the table and ran his finger around the rim of the black dish again, this time going in the opposite direction. The silvery liquid disappeared.
“That’s typical,” Erin said in annoyance. “We’re supposed to just sit here while he messes with a lot of government red tape and who knows what happens to Kirchel? And why on earth do you keep looking over at that window?” she added, frowning at Anthony.
“Well, it’s open a little bit, and the curtain keeps moving in the breeze from outside,” Anthony said. He glanced over again at the long, cream-colored curtains which were hanging partway across the large bay window. Then he let out a small, nervous laugh. “I’m just feeling jumpy, I guess. Hard to see why, given what a restful day it’s been….”
“Well, Arturyn’s right, of course,” Sarah said with a sigh. “We should just stay out of the way and let him handle it. It’s too dangerous—especially for you three.”
“So you’re going to make us wait here and keep out of trouble like good little kids?” Erin said, scowling.
“No, I’m not,” Sarah said evenly. “Because I won’t be here. Prudence and the emperor’s orders can both go jump in a lake—I’m not going to just sit around and wait for the Imperial Guard to get a move on while one of my best friends is in trouble.”
“We’re going to go help Kirchel, then?” Erin asked, brightening.
“Would it do any good for me to tell you to stay behind?” Sarah rolled her eyes and headed for the door.