'If I can't talk with the Queen, let me speak with Justin Zyrr.'
This seemed to decide the guard. Putting her into a small, soundproofed waiting room, he placed a call. Sometime later, she was escorted to another room. The flatness of the noise around her told her that this room was also soundproofed.
The scent of the room held rich upholstery fabrics and some type of incense; the carpet underfoot was thick and plush. At least she was not in a holding cell. After a time, during which she was offered refreshments, she heard the door slide open.
Two people entered. One of them her computer identified as Justin Zyrr; the other was a stranger.
Zyrr spoke, 'Ms. Marrou? I don't believe– Oh, yes! You're the member for South Shore, aren't you. You asked to speak with me?'
'Yes.'
His words reminded her that she was a person of some small influence—nothing to a Queen or Prince Consort-to-be, but still someone. She held her head high.
'May I ask for an introduction to the person with you?'
A rasping voice, a slight chuckle underlying its notes, answered, 'I'm Daniel Chou. I'm with PGS. Today I helped save Justin's life when he was attacked by Padraic Dover. I'd certainly like to know how you knew that something had happened to Dover. We've put a complete blackout on the incident.'
'He didn't show up for a meeting,' Marrou said firmly.
Chou's voice told her that he was at least as good at reading people as she was. She sincerely hoped that he would be able to tell that she was telling the truth.
'A meeting,' Chou said. 'Why don't you tell us more?'
And so she did, sparing nothing, not even her own part in the conspiracy. Apart from occasional gasps of surprise from Zyrr or a brief request that she clarify some point, they let her speak without interruption.
'When I overheard Gwinner and Seltman talking,' she concluded, 'I realized their motives and mine were not as closely linked as I had believed. Honestly, I feared for my own life if they came into power, but I also feared for the Star Kingdom.'
'That's been your motive all along,' Chou said, almost teasingly, 'if we're to believe your story. You feared what King Roger would do to the Star Kingdom; then you feared your own allies. Do you have any proof of this rather extraordinary tale?'
'You can check the places and dates I mentioned,' Marrou said. Her hand dropped to the computer at her waist and, feeling as if she were newly blinding herself, she detached it. 'This contains a complete record of both our last meeting and the conversation I overheard between Gwinner and Seltman.'
A hand accepted the device. Without the visual link, she had no idea who, but she imagined it was Zyrr.
'This could be falsified,' Chou said.
'It isn't,' Marrou interrupted, 'but I have an idea how you can prove my good faith.'
'How?' Zyrr asked.
'I know something about Sphinx treecats,' she said. 'I visited there some years ago. My sensors give me information enough to navigate, but I hoped that I would be adopted and that the 'cat's senses would augment my own.'
Her shoulders drooped as she recalled the rejection. 'None would have anything to do with me, but I did get a strong impression that they could read emotions. Perhaps the Queen's 'cat . . .'
'Ariel could,' Zyrr answered, and Marrou wondered at his slight emphasis on the word 'Ariel.' 'I'll talk to Beth.'
'She needs to know this in any case,' Chou agreed. 'Go and find her. While you do so, I'll sit with Ms. Marrou here. We can listen to her recording. Then I'll copy it so she can have her device back.'
Jean Marrou could almost hear his smile. 'It's quite a remarkable device. It must be of inestimable value to you.'
'It is,' she said.
Then the long wait began.
There was nothing extraordinary about Willis Kemeny being summoned before the Queen. His new nomination to the Regent's council and almost certain confirmation made such a meeting inevitable.
It was rather more interesting that Baroness Gwinner and Mr. Marvin Seltman, MP, should also be summoned. Although their summons came quietly, through very discreet channels, they reached the ears of the Earl of North Hollow.
Sitting in his grav chair, his bulk billowing around him, he considered this bit of news, combined it with certain other information, and smiled greasily.
Calling his secretary, he handed her four invitations and directed that they be sent only after his spies reported that the four addressees had departed Mount Royal under their own power.
Then he returned to the work of the moment. Somehow, he suspected that Earl Howell would not be confirmed onto the Council of Regents. Sending out messages, he began to agitate for Baron High Ridge to take Howell's place. High Ridge's membership in the Conservative Association might make him less palatable to the new Queen than a Crown Loyalist, but with Howell out of the running, he might just squeak in. And North Hollow had some very interesting material on High Ridge in his files, material that might come in useful if the Regent's council needed a bit of directing.
Happily, the Earl of North Hollow went about his morning's work.
When Ariel had finished confirming Jean Marrou's essential honesty and Queen Elizabeth had heard the recordings, the Queen retired to her privy chamber and requested that Chou, Justin, and Duchess Winton-Henke meet with her there.
'I,' she said pithily when all were gathered and Duchess Winton-Henke had heard the full story, 'want their heads.'
Ariel, bristling in her lap, telegraphed the intensity that Elizabeth would not permit herself to put into her voice. Monroe, lying on the chair next to Justin, raised his head and hissed.
Neither Chou nor Justin said anything, their gazes turning to the duchess.
'Then all of this must become public,' Caitrin said.
'Yes,' the Queen said. 'What of it? They have conspired to assassinate the King—and succeeded. Two of them are Havenite minions. All are treasonous.'
'They must be given a trial.'
'Must they?' Elizabeth's dark eyes glinted angrily. 'Did
'If you have them privately executed,' Caitrin said evenly, 'you are as much in violation of our Constitution as they are themselves. Would you like to give Haven's other allies an opportunity to bring action against you? If you are impeached, then Prince Michael takes over a kingdom in chaos. Haven will certainly strike then.'
Justin Zyrr raised his hand in question. 'What's wrong with a trial? Daniel and I have found some evidence, but Marrou's confession and her recordings make conviction a certainty.'
'Perhaps.' The duchess steepled her fingers and looked over them, her eyelids half-closed. 'Before I continue, let me state that I agree with Elizabeth. I want these bastards' heads. You may forget, Beth, but Roger was my big brother, my buddy, my—'
Her voice broke. Sipping water, she steadied herself with admirable poise.
'I am only too aware of the consequences of a public trial,' she continued. 'First of all, Howell is one of the three or four most important Crown Loyalists. Public doubt placed on him will weaken the authority of the party— and, don't forget, they are Cromarty's most reliable allies outside of his own Centrists.
'Secondly,' she continued, 'publicly trying Havenite spies—both of whom are members of Parliament—will most certainly start a witch-hunt within our government. Members of the Lords hold their seats by inheritance, but those in the Commons are elected. And the Commons, if I may remind you, tend to support Crown policy. If incumbents can be challenged on their imagined Havenite leanings, the upset may lead to members being elected who will not tend to support the Crown.'
