Kevlin stood against the wall in the same small council chamber where he had first met the emperor. His battle fury had faded, and he ached with every movement. He should have insisted on a healing after all.

The ambassadors, still wearing their blood-stained clothing, sat around the table, a subdued group. Several other guards and Stalwarts ringed the room, and more were stationed outside. Now that the fighting was over, the excess in caution seemed laughable.

At least with the extra protection, Drystan and Jerrik had been excused to recover from their wounds. Even though Felix had healed the worst of their injuries, they needed rest to fully recover. Kevlin suspected they were going to need all their strength soon.

Emperor Tegnazian paced between the table and an overstuffed chair near the fireplace. He held his hands clasped behind his back, his expression locked into a scowl. His clothing was stained with the blood of the attacker Gabral had killed at his feet.

A white-robed Sentinel entered the room. He looked to be middle aged, with the bronze skin and blonde hair common to Freyarr.

He performed a perfect, formal bow. "Your Imperial Majesty, I am Sentinel Durgesh, reporting for duty as a member of your personal guard."

"You're late," Ambassador Kescog growled.

Sentinel Durgesh nodded respectfully to the hulking ambassador. "I heard of the recent, unfortunate events and I apologize for my tardiness. I was meeting with my master, Ah'Shan to discuss most effective strategies to counter any unexpected aggression."

Kevlin recognized the signature black ribbon sewed to the cuffs and collar of the Sentinel's robes, marking the man a Kestrel. The Kestrels were a militant order, founded by Ah'Shan half a century ago and led by him still. They trained heavily in the battle arts with the stated goal of preparing to fight in the vanguard of the next battle with the Grakonians.

Kevlin didn't trust them. Wayra had been a Kestrel, and she had turned on them at the battle of Il'Aicharen and nearly guaranteed Tanathos' victory.

Leander, who sat in one of the comfortable chairs closer to the fireplace said, "You may not have noticed, but it's time for practice, my boy, not theory."

"Again, I apologize," the Sentinel said. He had a smooth, cultured voice and seemed outwardly unruffled by the cool welcome. "Now that I'm in attendance, I can assure your safety in the event of another attack."

Emperor Tegnazian strode to the table and slammed his fist onto the wood. "There can be no next attack!" He ran his angry gaze around the room. "This is our home. We cannot assume the enemy is free to attack at will. They. Are. Not." He stood tall, with fists clenched at his side. "I rule here, not these nameless traitors. I will have order, I will have peace."

The door again opened and Harafin stepped into the room. Emperor Tegnazian rounded on him. "Finally! What are you doing about this, Master Harafin?"

If he was surprised by the angry greeting, Harafin didn't show it. He merely nodded in greeting. "I'm deeply saddened to hear of the loss of Ambassador Gwyre, and I'm relieved that the rest of you are safe."

Emperor Tegnazian regained control with a visible effort. "Thank you, Harafin. It has proven to be a trying day. I'm glad you're here."

Harafin moved to an empty seat at the table. "What do we know about the men who attacked you?"

Ambassador Talamantez from Einarr spoke. "Sentinel Ah'Shan is interrogating them now."

A breathless soldier slipped into the room and snapped a smart salute. At the emperor's nod, he reported, "Sire, we have initial reports of the search of the attackers' quarters."

"That was very efficient," the huge Ambassador Kescog from Donarr said.

The soldier reported that the raid on the barracks found them empty. However, a locked trunk was broken open to reveal a dozen of the signature cloaks of the Wolves, the elite Chandravernan guard of Hallvarr.

As ambassadors began arguing about the significance of the find, the emperor ordered silence until the soldier finished. He said they tracked down the ship the men had arrived on. It was a diplomatic courier from Diodor, but had burned to the waterline less than an hour ago in the formal port. There were no survivors. The city guard were combing the dockside taverns looking for any crew who might have been on shore leave.

Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

The soldier withdrew and Emperor Tegnazian drove one fist into his other open palm. "We are blocked at every turn."

Ambassador Damarist of Hallvarr chose that moment to arrive. As soon as he stepped inside, Emperor Tegnazian pointed an accusing finger at him. "You. Where have you been?"

"I'm so sorry," Ambassador Damarist stammered. The man looked even thinner than Kevlin remembered, and he shook under the emperor's angry glare. "I came as soon as I could."

Emperor Tegnazian said in a steely voice, "Perhaps you can explain why the men who just tried to assassinate me came from Diodor on a government courier ship and had in their possession cloaks identifying them as Chandravernan Wolves?"

Ambassador Damarist paled and opened his mouth as if to protest, but no words came out.

Ambassador Janezeko from Freyarr spoke into the silence. "It's interesting that you just happened to excuse yourself long enough to be absent when we were attacked by your countrymen."

"I protest," Ambassador Damarist squeaked finally. "I know nothing of this. Braden, how dare you accuse me of colluding with these attackers?"

"You have to admit, there's a lot of evidence pointing toward Hallvarr," Ambassador Talamantez said. His face was expressionless, showing nothing of what he might be thinking.

"No," Ambassador Damarist protested again. He turned back to the emperor. "You know where my loyalties lie."

Kevlin had been trying to reconcile his memories of Diodor and its population with these new accusations. The people there seemed deeply loyal to their king and kingdom.

Then again, so much had occurred in Hallvarr recently, could more secret traitors remain hidden among the population there, perhaps even in the palace? Ambassador Damarist said the king had been suffering a form of madness.

Was revolution part of that madness?

The Ambassador's question brought to mind his recent declaration to Harafin that his loyalty to his kingdom would always trump his loyalty to the empire. Was he really saying what he seemed to be saying now?

Kevlin rubbed his temples to ease a growing headache. He didn't have the brain power for intrigue. As much as his skull still ached from the beating he took during the battle, he preferred that kind of pain to these mental games. At least then he had a chance to fight back.

Harafin made no comment. Apparently he planned to let the ambassador's remark go unchallenged.

Emperor Tegnazian said, "Borehl, there's too much evidence here for me to ignore."

Ambassador Damarist shook his head slowly. "Someone is setting me up, and you're allowing them to do it." He raised his hands slowly until his closed fists met in front of his chest. "Why not bind me now and take me to the dungeon?"

Ambassador Janezeko made a silent clapping motion with his hands. "Excellent show, but the melodrama is a little over-done."

"Enough, Braden," the emperor snapped. "This is no laughing matter. Borehl, how do you suggest these suspicions be put to rest?"

The ambassador thought for a moment. "I will send for Commander Tekla. He knows all of the Wolves personally. He can identify these attackers as imposters."

"And if they prove to be Wolves in truth?" the emperor asked.

"Then I swear we'll find out who ordered the attack. I did not, and I personally guarantee we will execute whoever did."

The emperor nodded. "Send for Tekla."

Harafin interjected. "Ah'Shan is interrogating the prisoners. Perhaps he will learn more."

The emperor seated himself at the head of the table. "Now tell me, how can we safeguard the city when we cannot even safeguard the palace? Word has already spread throughout the city of the attack."

The huge Ambassador Kescog said, "I have already ordered the regular city watch doubled in case of unrest."

"That's not going to help," Ambassador Janezeko said.

"No, it won't," the emperor agreed. "Not for long. We need a victory. I want these traitors rooted out."

Leander rose and paced toward Harafin. "We're overlooking something here." At the emperor's nod, he continued, "We can no longer afford to ignore the fact that at least one Actinopathic person is likely involved in these recent attacks. We suspected a Shadeleech, but there must be a Sentinel working with him. We should focus our energies on ferreting out that traitorous Sentinel."

"Here, here," Ambassador Janezeko said heartily. "I agree completely."

Sentinel Durgesh said, "I must protest. Your personal vendetta against the Shadeleech Tanathos is well known, and is clouding your judgment. This divisive talk only makes matters worse." He smiled coldly at Leander. "I recommend you be excused, and perhaps restrained before you hurt yourself."

Kevlin felt tempted to strike down the snake right there. In any other situation, such an open insult would have been grounds for a challenge. By the looks of the assembled ambassador's faces, even here in this council where arguing seemed to be a well-developed art, the man's bluntness was unusual.

"Go ahead, restrain me," Leander appeared outwardly calm, but his fist clenched slowly once at his side.

Sentinel Durgesh returned Leander's stare, but made no further move.

"I stand by what I said," Leander added. "I recommend we start by casting Truth on you, Durgesh. Your failure to report for duty just happened to leave the emperor vulnerable."

"You dare question me?" The Kestrel's superior cool façade cracked.

"Contact on the shield matrix," Harafin cried, slapping his hand onto the table. "I just felt a tremor on the Iron Spoke, above the central marketplace. A Shadeleech just crossed the road."

Leander lunged for the door, followed closely by Sentinel Felix. Kevlin wanted to rush after them, but his duty prevented him from leaving.

"May the gods grant they find him this time," the emperor declared.

Kevlin urged the old Stalwart on. This was the proof they needed. Tanathos really was here in the city.

The day of reckoning for Tanathos had come. The Shadeleech was a terrifying enemy, but Kevlin longed for the chance to face him. He would avenge Antigonus and the hundreds of others killed at Il'Aicharen.

If Leander found Tanathos on the streets of the city, gods help anyone caught in the middle.