"You probably got attacked by a couple of pickpock- ets. What did you expect, carousing in such a place?"
"Were they by chance dressed in black, with black wrappings concealing their faces?" Naitachal said, loud enough for everyone in the room to hear.
"What are you talking about?" the King demanded, distracted by Naitachal's question and the sudden odd turn the interrogation had taken.
"Yes, they were," Kai said. "They were profession- als, wearing black costumes and black scarves about their faces. So Alaire was right. They were like the ones who came after you."
"Only one, my lord," the Dark Elf corrected. "But otherwise the same."
"Ambassador, were you attacked? Why didn't you say anything about it?" the King said in a softer, dan- gerous tone. "When did this happen?
"The first night we were here," Naitachal said, step- ping closer. "I didn't report it because -- there were things about your land I did not understand I wanted to find out more first. The incident, however, left me with the feeling this assassin was not trying to kill me, but to goad me into using magic against him. While this was tempting, I remembered in time where I was, and refrained. The attacker fled, and if he were really trying to kill me he would not have abandoned the job."
"Now why would someone want to force you to use magic?" Sir Jehan said, in a oily voice. He was stroking his beard casually, pretending he was relaxed during these proceedings, but a nervous tic at the side of his face gave him away. "Certainly you're not suggesting the King had anything to do with it?
Naitachal made no secret of his contempt for such a suggestion. "No, I am not. But whoever it was knew the castle, and apparently knew of secret passages.
The man who attacked me vanished, and he went down one of these, I suspect"
The King's eyes narrowed with suspicion. "I find it very disturbing, Ambassador, that you have chosen to keep this to yourself," King Archenomen said. "This raises questions. Can you prove this? Did anyone see this?
"There were no witnesses," Naitachal said, "save myself. And that was precisely why I said nothing, for with no way to prove what happened, who would ever have believed me?" He faced the King squarely, meet- ing him eye to eye. "I, on the other hand, find it even more disturbing that someone attacked me, a guest of this palace. From our conversations I have gathered that you feel there is a conspiracy afoot. Perhaps ele- ments of this conspiracy are responsible for these two attempts at murder -- one upon me, and the other upon my secretary and your Prince."
"We are not doubting your word," Sir Jehan said evenly. "If you had reported the attack when it hap- pened, we might have been in a position to do something about it, but I fear the evidence, if there were any, would be a little stale by now, don't you think?" His face hardened. The time had come for him to make his move. "No, the situation, I fear, is something other than the Prince claims. It appears your secretary has broken one of our laws, and is hid- ing from our justice."
"Alaire did no such thing!" Kai shouted at his erst- while friend.
"Silence!" the King roared. "You've had your say."
Naitachal regarded Sir Jehan with a cold, unwaver- ing stare. "Those are strong accusations to be making against Althea. What evidence have you? And what law did Alaire allegedly break?"
Sir Jehan met his stare and promptly blinked, then looked away. "When the boys went out last night, I had two of our men follow. This was only a precaution, you see, and something I do from time to time anyway.
Our men caught Kai trying to recruit magicians in the tavern district, and when he saw our men he went after them, killing one. The other lived to tell about it."
"Interesting," Naitachal replied. "If true. Why wasn't this information available last night? Certainly you must have known at dinner that this alleged inci- dent had taken place. Why did you say nothing?"
King Archenomen cleared his throat. "It would be wise of you, my dear Ambassador, to remember that you are a guest of the palace, and not a member of my staff," he said sternly. "There are things to which you are not privy. Sir Jehan, please continue."
"Our man saw Alaire cast the spell," Sir Jehan said smugly. "And a rather potent one, at that. It was for show only, to impress the Prince. It would also seem that the Ambassador's secretary has been in the proc- ess of allying himself with the young, traitorous Prince, while his Master is presenting the illusion of Althean decency here in the palace."
He turned to the King, his tone silky, but full of menace. "Your Majesty, there can be no mistaking the factions that threaten your land. We have seen a clear pattern of deception, cloaked with diplomatic propri- ety. Althea has been infiltrating mages into your land to aid the Prince in disposing of you, and last night my men caught the Prince and an Althean mage red- handed carrying out plans to overthrow you. I see no reason for further debate."
"Well, I do," Prince Kainemonen interjected. "
Jehan is a lying traitor. There were no keepers as he describes, only two ruffians who tried to kill us both, without provocation. Sir Jehan sent assassins, not guardians. Please, Father, you must believe me! I am your son! I am telling you the truthl"
King Archenomen gazed at his son thoughtfully, rubbing his temples as if this would make it all go away. Then he shook his head.