Sentinel Felix healed Ambassadors Kescog and Talamantez while Kevlin and the others stood guard. Ambassador Gwyre had died before Felix arrived, and the pitiful wreck lay in a pool of his own blood.

Emperor Tegnazian paced near the duck pond in a towering fury. He stopped occasionally to look at the fallen ambassador and the dead attackers strewn around the room. Then he would scan the captured attackers huddling in a small group guarded by Colonel Gabral. Several times he grimaced and clenched his fists, as if restraining an impulse to personally beat the captured men.

Sentinel Felix used Mindlink to notify others of the assault, and reinforcements soon came pouring in. Kevlin and his brothers fanned out to face the newcomers, swords drawn, and ordered them back until Captain Belenus could vouch for them.

Many of the soldiers glared at the distrust, but Kevlin didn't care. The attackers had used stolen uniforms, and they had nearly succeeded.

Leander arrived with a score of Hammer Stalwarts. They pushed through the emperor's guard without slowing, and ringed the emperor's company with hammers at the ready. Captain Belenus joined his men scowling at being displaced, but he swallowed his protest and ordered his men into a second ring of defense. A couple of the Stalwarts moved to attend to Drystan and Jerrik's wounds. Kevlin had only suffered minor injuries by comparison, and the lingering battle fury helped him keep the pain at bay.

The emperor, followed by the ambassadors, stalked over to the prisoners, ten in all. He pointed at their leader, and Gabral collared the man and pushed him to his knees before the emperor. He looked thoroughly beaten. He'd apparently tried to resist capture, and Gabral had shattered his shoulder. His arm hung useless, and blood dripped from his fingers.

"By whose orders did you do this?" Emperor Tegnazian demanded.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

The man coughed, then winced and spat blood on the floor. "Orders came from M. . ."

He screamed, clutched his head, and pitched sideways to the floor.

Sentinel Felix rushed over, but Leander beat him to the fallen man and placed glowing hands on the side of his head.

"He's dead."

Felix placed a hand on the man's chest and closed his eyes in concentration. After a moment, he nodded. "Mind trap."

"Say that again," Emperor Tegnazian ordered.

Felix dusted off his hands. "A mind trap killed this man. I've seen it used by Shadeleeches in the past. If a servant tries to speak something forbidden, usually the name of their master, the spell snaps their mind."

Ambassador Janezeko said, "You're saying this man was hired by a Shadeleech?"

"Or someone who employs the same techniques."

One prisoner who sat nearby said, "We didn't know, honest. We were just hired to . . ." He also screamed and collapsed.

Felix, moving with surprising speed, grabbed the fallen man. For several seconds, he leaned over the man before dropping him with a curse.

"Too slow." He turned to the rest of the prisoners, who were all staring at their fallen companions in stark terror. "Say nothing, for your lives."

Felix moved to one of the soldiers, grabbing him by the collar when he cringed away. "Sit still, man. I'm not the one you should fear."

He concentrated over the seated man, who sat rigid, barely breathing. After a moment, Felix grunted.

"It is as I feared. Your Majesty, I need Ah'Shan to conduct a thorough exploration and break the trap. He's the most skilled in the technique. I did learn a little. Their captain may have known more, but this man knew none of the specifics. They arrived just yesterday from Hallvarr."

He added with a smile, "And I know where they were barracked right here in the palace."

"Very good," Emperor Tegnazian said. "Captain, send a detachment of your men to these traitors' barracks. Search them, and take into custody anyone else you encounter there."

Captain Belenus saluted and turned to issue orders.

Leander said, "I'll send along a pair of Stalwarts. If these men are working for a Shadeleech or rogue Sentinel, you may need them."

Emperor Tegnazian's eye fell on the dead Ambassador Gwyre, now covered by a soldier's cloak, and he sighed. "Make arrangements for Severin's funeral."

After turning away, he added, "Summon Sentinel Ah'Shan to interrogate the prisoners in the dungeon, and send for Harafin."