The Hallvarr Palace was situated just south of the Donarr castle, flanking the Iron Spoke. As Kevlin and Marjani approached the huge rectangular stone structure, Kevlin glanced up at the spherical observatory visible on the roof. "I'd like to see that up close."

"Later, perhaps."

Kevlin turned to find Harafin approaching.

The old Sentinel said, "I hope you don't mind, but I will join you in your visit to the ambassador."

"Be my guest."

"Apparently the good ambassador's schedule is extremely booked. I received word he could not see me for several days."

"That's strange," Kevlin said. "He summoned me, but I have no idea what he wants to talk about. You'd think he'd have given you this time."

Harafin thanked Marjani for finding Kevlin, pressed a coin into her hand, and dismissed her.

She gave Kevlin a deep curtsy. "I had a great time. I hope you did too."

"Very much, thanks." With all the strife and intrigue he'd been dealing with, it was nice to spend time with a genuinely nice person.

Harafin led the way into the Hallvarr Palace and up to the third floor. He swept through a set of wide double doors and waved aside an attendant who rose to greet him.

"I will see the ambassador now." Harafin pushed open the thick, mahogany door on the far side of the room.

Kevlin followed Harafin into a large study lined with bookshelves. A fireplace with a small fire and a wide mantel took up most of the wall to the left. Several comfortable chairs sat facing the fireplace. Three padded wooden chairs faced a long but simple wooden desk across the room. A window behind the desk looked south toward the Einarri palace park.

Ambassador Damarist stood beside his desk in a heated conversation with a young, dark-haired staffer. The ambassador was a tall man whose rich clothing hung a little loose on his gaunt frame. His brown hair was a bit disheveled, and his eyes a little wild.

When the door opened he shouted, "I told you I'm not to be disturbed."

When he recognized Harafin, he cringed back in surprise. "Oh, Master Harafin. I'm deeply sorry." He waved away the young man, who looked to be about sixteen. The youth slipped out of the room and closed the door behind him.

"Hello, Borehl," Harafin said in a friendly tone. "I hope you don't mind, but Kevlin graciously offered to share his allotted time with me. There are a few things we need to discuss."

The ambassador skirted Harafin and took Kevlin's hand in both of his. "Ah, my Lord Kevlin. So good of you to come." His long-fingered hands were thin, and trembled against Kevlin's.

He motioned them to take seats and retreated around his desk to his overstuffed leather chair. He pulled a silk handkerchief from a pocket and dabbed at his face.

"I have a few questions about recent events in Hallvarr," Harafin said. "Particularly concerning the death of your brother, the king, and his connection with the Blade Stalwart, Dhanjal."

Ambassador Damarist sighed. "My poor brother. What a tragedy. That's why I summoned you today, Sir Kevlin, to thank you for avenging him."

"I'm glad I was able to help."

"You have our condolences," Harafin said. "What can you tell me about the king's relationship with Dhanjal?"

"I'm afraid I've been away from Diodor far too long." The ambassador picked at a rolled parchment on his desk.

"Prince Lievin said you were in regular contact with King Leszek. Surely he would tell you should he choose to contract with a Blade Stalwart."

Ambassador Damarist looked up finally. "These questions, Master Harafin, lead to dangerous territory. Are you sure you wish to tread there?"

"I believe events in Hallvarr are tied to the attack on the emperor. Tell me what you know."

"I doubt you'll find the answers you seek." He paused, his expression grave. "I must ask you to hold what I tell you here in the strictest confidence."

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"I will hear what you have to say before I make any promises, but know that I will not treat your words lightly."

"My brother suffered from a rare malady of the mind," the ambassador said. "In recent years it manifested itself through increasing paranoia."

Harafin frowned. "I have heard of no such sickness."

Ambassador Damarist managed a weak smile. "Then it appears our efforts to conceal his condition were successful."

"Why did you not tell me? We could have helped."

"I don't think so. Sentinel Hathor was in my brother's counsel, and his healing attempts proved unsuccessful. The best he managed was to slow the progression of the sickness."

"Hathor did not speak of this to me," Harafin said.

"My brother made him swear on penalty of death that he would not. You see, he was convinced unknown enemies were plotting to kill him. That's why he had so many forces armed and ready to march. How else could he have rushed off to battle with so little preparation?"

Harafin sat back in his chair, his face unreadable. "Tell me about the Blade Stalwart."

Ambassador Damarist shrugged. "I learned that Dhanjal was available, and I referred him to my brother. I had hoped the services of such a mighty warrior would ease my brother's mind."

"So you hired Dhanjal?" Kevlin asked.

"No. I informed my brother that he was available."

"How did you find out about Dhanjal?" Harafin asked.

"Through Ambassador Janezeko, of course."

Harafin looked surprised. "Ambassador Janezeko?"

"Yes. He helped set up the contract transfer."

"What was he doing with a Blade Stalwart?"

"I have no idea. I'm afraid you'll have to ask him."

Kevlin wasn't surprised the interview was providing nothing but a referral to someone else. The higher one reached in the chain of command, the more adept they became at passing the latrine shovel to someone else.

Could the king really have been going insane? That shifted his memories of the recent conflict, casting shadows where before things had seemed clear.

Harafin said, "I find it more than a little disturbing that neither you nor Braden informed the council of your involvement with this Blade Stalwart."

"You must understand my position," Ambassador Damaris said. "I do not defy the emperor's wishes lightly, but had I informed him, he would have wanted to know why my brother felt it necessary to contract with Dhanjal. That might have led to exposing my brother's condition."

"That would have been for the best. Thousands of lives might have been saved."

"I've thought of that," the ambassador snapped. He ran a hand through his already-disheveled hair. "But how could I have known Dhanjal would betray my country? No Blade Stalwart has ever reneged on a contract. At the time, the benefits outweighed the risks."

"I can understand your position," Harafin said. "But that does not excuse you for taking the wrong course."

"Don't pretend to be so morally superior, Harafin. If word spread that my brother was mad, he'd have been de-throned."

"His son is more than capable."

"That's not the point. It would have led to chaos. Doubts about Lievin's capacity would have been raised. It would have put the kingdom at risk."

"Perhaps."

"I have to watch out for my kingdom. The council certainly wouldn't help."

"We would have offered aid."

Ambassador Damarist snorted. "You might have wanted to, but don't pretend to think the council would have acted. We did nothing to help Donarr, even when it was on the verge of annihilation."

The two began arguing about council policies and decisions. Kevlin listened to the exchange with growing amazement. He hadn't realized the ruling council was so fractured.

He had lived the conflict in Donarr and knew how close the Raghneidur had come to destroying the kingdom with the help of the traitorous General Stigandr. Kevlin had been one of the general's legion commanders, and had nearly died when he discovered the plot. He'd helped alert the kingdom, which had saved it from destruction, but he'd lost his career and the woman he had loved.

Of course, trying to murder him had been an effective way to indicate she wanted to end that relationship.

He'd heard from Drystan about the ongoing Nedikan incursions into Einarr, but hadn't realized they also raided Freyarr. As a mercenary, he'd been involved in many of the minor conflicts scattered throughout the empire over the past ten years, but he'd still believed the Six Kingdoms enjoyed overall peace.

The half century since the last great war was touted as a time of perpetual peace. That claim was looking more and more tattered. Politicians always tried to paint situations in the most favorable light for themselves, so he felt more disappointed than surprised.

With open warfare looming with an expected Grakonia invasion next year, the empire was teetering on the brink of difficult times.

"Enough," Harafin said finally. "Now is not the time to second-guess every decision the council has made. You know my position and counsel has always been to help."

"I know, but I cannot ignore the fact that your counsel is regularly ignored. I did what I did out of patriotism to my kingdom, which will always trump loyalty to the empire."

Harafin stood, his expression grave. "Be careful who you say that to, Borehl. You're not in your kingdom."

"Are you threatening me?" Ambassador Damarist also rose to his feet.

Harafin shook his head. "Just a warning. Difficult times lay ahead and loyalties will be tested to the limits."

"I know where my loyalties lie, and don't tell me about difficult times. My brother was murdered on the field of battle."

"I'm afraid what your country experienced is just the beginning."

"Then don't be surprised when I place our needs above anything else."

They took their leave, and as they descended the stairs from the palace to the central courtyard, Harafin said, "That was unexpected."

Harafin's understatements drove Kevlin more than a little crazy sometimes.

"What do you think?" Harafin asked.

"I'm not really sure. I can't tell if he's lying about King Leszek or not. I didn't spend enough time with the king."

"I will most assuredly speak with Ambassador Janezeko."

"Did we learn anything useful in there?" Kevlin asked.

"Perhaps." Harafin led the way toward the Sentinel Tower. "But here in the inner city, truth can be a fickle thing. Let us hope we can find it before time runs out."