For a moment, all was silent, then the princess screeched in fury. “That lying bastard! I will tear out his eyes for this!” she yelled. Suddenly the resemblance between her and her mother was a lot clearer.

“Princess, I don’t think you are in any position to make threats,” the inquisitor said with a hint of anger, “these are serious charges, and threatening a witness will not help your case. Now come with me.”

I hesitated, everyone was a bit stunned and uncertain what to do, and for a heartbeat, I was tempted to do nothing and let events play out. Just, let things slip out of my hands and not have to worry about it. Then I saw a maid sneaking away, doubtless to spread the word of what was going on to the other members of the royal house, and I remembered that potential civil war or rebellion against the Mage Guild could claim a lot more than just the life of one princess.

“Inquisitor, with all due respect,” I said, stepping between the inquisitor and the stunned princess. “I have not sent for you, you do not have jurisdiction here. This is still my case to resolve.”

“Wizard Jason, I’ve heard about you,” the inquisitor said, then smiled insincerely, extending his hand towards me. “Most of the things I’ve heard have been good, but I’m surprised a commoner like yourself would risk yourself like this. Let me take over, no need for you to take on this burden. Trust me, this sort of thing gets ugly fast, you should stand aside and let me handle it.”

“Inquisitor, I don’t believe I have the honor of knowing your name?” I say, with a slight bow of my head as I take his hand.

I notice the princess is still yelling, but no sound comes out. The inquisitor has silenced her, I realized. He cast the silence silently and without me noticing. Not only that, but he must have used an invisibility spell to reach so far into the heart of the castle unobserved to catch us by surprise like that. Truly a formidable wizard, and as our hands touch, we both briefly send a thread of mana into each other to judge each other’s mana core. We’re very evenly matched.

“I’m called James,” the inquisitor tells me, “And this is my familiar, Sharpclaw.”

“Blackwing! Feathers so dark! I love it. How did you do it?” Sharpclaw caws.

“It’s secret,” Blackwing replies.

“No fair. Tell me, mom!”

“Nope. Don’t want to.” Blackwing replies with a snort.

“So mean!” Sharpclaw appears to sulk as he huddles himself tighter, lowering himself slightly on James’ shoulder.

Both of us throw our familiars a surprised look, Blackwing is a mother? I shake my head in amusement but say nothing. James also chooses to say nothing. Up until this point, I’d never once wondered how familiars reproduce, wasn’t going to start thinking about it now.

“I’m afraid I can’t surrender this investigation to you, inquisitor James, I’m very close to solving it,” I say with more confidence than I feel.

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“Perhaps we should adjourn to a private room to discuss this further?” Captain Conrad says, “I think we’re starting to gather a crowd." Indeed, many castle servants were already observing the situation with great interest, gossiping amongst each other.

The inquisitor shoots Conrad an annoyed glance, “Very well, but bring the princess.”

I nod.

Shortly we are sitting in a small waiting room inside the princess’ suite. Deciding at this point that keeping secrets wasn’t going to help us any, I tell James everything I’ve figured out, and what has happened so far. The princess sits listening, still silenced, with a stunned and worried look on her face. Conrad is pacing back and forth.

“The most important thing right now is finding that amulet!” Conrad says impatiently, “Every second we waste puts that goal further away!”

I notice the princess nod empathically. She’s crying slightly too, but no one is paying much attention to her.

“Inquisitor, could you perhaps remove your silence spell?”

“I can not,” the inquisitor tells me, “If I do so, she will no doubt accidentally use her mental magic on me, she’s not currently able to use her powers without speaking, so this is safest.”

“I’m certain your mental defense wards could block anything she does…” I point out.

“I’m certain they can, but it wouldn’t change the fact that if she attempts to do so, I will have to charge her with the crime of interfering in an investigation. So for her own safety, the silence ward stays.”

I’m not sure what to say to that.

“Inquisitor, allow my men to search the princess’s suite, I must find that amulet,” Conrad tells him.

“Allow? How am I preventing it? As Jason pointed out, I’m not in charge.”

“Wait, you’re not?” Conrad asks surprised.

“Why are you surprised? Jason is correct, the letter of the law states that until a court wizard asks for help, an Inquisitor may not get involved. The search for the king’s soul is yours to undertake, sir Conrad.”

“Then I shall take my leave,” Conrad says, leaving the room abruptly, taking most of the gathered royal guards to start his search. Lance and two of his men stay with me.

“Then why are you here?” I ask.

“Her highness used persuasion magic on you, wizard Jason, that’s a crime.”

“A petty one, and she’s a minor currently apprenticed to wizard Reginald…”

“Wizard Reginald is her tutor, not her master. She has no legal protection. Wizard Reginald has testified that she’s used persuasion magic often in his presence.”

The princess thumped her fists on the table in fury.

“Fine, I’ll take her as my apprentice,” I say with a sigh.

“Are you certain about that? Seems a bit dangerous to be taking legal custody of someone who might be responsible for the king’s condition.”

“If it will get you to stop muzzling her… yes.”

James sighs, “You’re asking for trouble, you know that right?”

“I don’t care, I don’t want to sit idle while you treat a child like this, she’s innocent until proven guilty,” I reply.

“Does the princess agree to become the court wizard’s apprentice?” James asks, glancing over at her. The princess nods her head vigorously.

“So be it,” the inquisitor drops the silence spell.

“Let me help,” the princess says as soon as her voice works again, “I can order my staff to ransack the whole place, if it helps find my father’s soul, I don’t care!”

“Really princess, you just need to stay out of the way. I’m releasing you into wizard Jason’s custody, for now, but I’m not convinced of your innocence.”

“Put me under a truth spell right now then! Ask me your questions, I have nothing to hide. I volunteer, no warrant required!” The princess demands.