“Your majesty!” he said immediately, bowing before Relam. “What an unexpected honor. Welcome to the Thius household. How may I help you?”
“I need to speak to Lord Thius,” Relam said quietly, trying to keep his voice from carrying through into the house.
“Lord Thius is busy at the moment,” the servant said loudly. “Shall I see if he can be interrupted to speak with you?”
“That won’t be necessary,” Cevet said, stepping forward. “We’ll just go speak with him now. No need for you to go to him, Rhone.”
“Master Cevet!” Rhone bowed again. “Welcome home. Your father is most anxious to speak with you.”
“Is he?” Cevet asked bitterly. “That would be a first.”
The servant, Rhone, must have sensed from Cevet’s tone that something was amiss. He stood uncertainly in the doorway, one hand still on the door, as though he were debating whether to shut it again.
“Rhone,” Cevet said quietly. “Let us in.”
Rhone hesitated a moment longer, then stepped aside. “Are you sure you would not like me to announce you?” he asked. “Lord Thius would want to prepare-”
“I know,” Relam said grimly. “That’s why we came without sending word ahead first.”
“I’m not sure I understand,” the servant said nervously, wringing his hands.
“Rhone,” Cevet said. “Just tell us where my father is right now.”
“In his study, as far as I know.”
“Thank you,” Cevet said. “Come on, Relam, I’ll show you the way.”
“Allow me-”
“No,” Cevet told Rhone sternly. “You will go and find my father’s guards. Tell them that my orders are to keep anyone from entering or leaving the house until I give the word. That includes my father.”
“My young master, I-”
Cevet drew the servant aside, speaking quietly and quickly. “My father has betrayed the crown, Rhone. He is now a fugitive. I only tell you this so that you will obey. His orders mean nothing now. I am in control. Is that clear?”
Relam could tell Rhone was bursting with questions, but the servant managed to keep them to himself for the moment. “Perfectly, master Cevet,” he replied instead, bowing low one more time.
“Good,” Cevet muttered. “Come on, Relam. We have an appointment with my father.”
Cevet took the lead, marching up a gently curving staircase in the main foyer to the second level. There, they turned onto a paneled hallway with a dark wood floor. At the end of that hallway was a wide door flanked by two guards. At least, Relam assumed they were guards. There were swords at the men’s sides but they wore no armor or helms. Instead, they wore ceremonial robes and carried long, iron-shod staffs. As Relam’s group approached, the guards crossed their staffs in front of the door with an impressive crack!
“Step aside,” Cevet commanded, glaring at the guards. “I need to speak to my father.
“Sorry, sir,” one of the guards said. “None can enter. Your father has commanded it.”
Cevet drew his sword, leveling it at the guard. Oreius and Relam’s guards followed suit before either of Lord Thius’ guards could react.
“Stand down,” Cevet said quietly.
“Yes, sir,” the other guard said, stepping aside quickly.
“Shall we announce you?” the first guard asked.
“I think I am capable of announcing myself, and my guests,” Cevet growled. “You are dismissed, gentlemen.”
The guards exchanged an uncertain look, then shrugged and wandered off down the hall with many a backwards glance.
“What’s the plan?” Relam murmured to Cevet.
“I’ll go in alone,” Cevet replied in undertone. “My father will be more forthcoming if he thinks I am here on my own. You and the others can listen at the door, to hear what all he was guilty of.”
“That’s extremely deceptive,” Oreius observed.
“He’s a traitor,” Cevet said bluntly. “And we need to know who all was working with him and D’Arnlo.”
“Fair point. But how good an actor are you?” Relam asked, frowning.
“I’ll manage,” Cevet replied.
“Look nervous but committed,” Oreius advised. “Like you’re not sure about your father’s decisions, but you trust him anyway.”
“Got it,” Cevet said. “Better get against the walls so you’re not seen when I go in. I’ll call for you at some point.”
“And we’ll come running,” Relam promised.
“All right,” Cevet said, taking a deep breath and shaking himself slightly. “Everyone in position?”
Relam and the others melted back against the wall. Cevet gave the young prince a brief nod, then stepped up to the door, pushing it open slightly and poking his head in. "Father?” he asked uncertainly.
“Son,” Relam heard Lord Thius answer. “I’m glad you’re here. Have you come alone?”
“Yes,” Cevet said warily, hovering anxiously.
“Come in, come in,” his father said. “And shut the door, there’s a good lad.”
Cevet slipped into the room and shut the door. The moment he had, Relam and Oreius ghosted to the portal and put their ears against it.
“Shouldn’t you still be at training?” Relam heard Lord Thius ask.
“D’Arnlo let us out early today,” Cevet replied quickly. A little too quickly to Relam’s ears. “The Citadel has been called on to help with the search.”
“The search?”
“For the prince.”
“Oh, yes.” There was an awkward pause, then the sound of someone moving across a hard floor. “Cevet, did you wonder why I went to speak with Master D’Arnlo this morning?”
“Not really, sir. It’s your business, not mine after all.”
“Quite so. But it does concern you as well. I think now is the time to tell you.”
“Tell me what?”
Relam frowned, and glanced at Oreius. The old warrior’s brow was furrowed as he concentrated on the conversation going on in the office.
“Cevet, do you know how I became the Head of the Assembly of Nobles?”
“You worked hard.”
“Precisely,” Lord Thius replied. “I worked longer and harder than everyone
