Page 24 of A Wayward Movement

“Your Highness is kind.” Blair looked surprised, as if he hadn’t thought Xavier would know anything about the complex agreement that had Siqual using its desert to refine chameleon steel from reclusive Dernan on behalf of Carrack.

Xavier knew he had a reputation for irresponsibility, but just how useless and uninformed did his own people think he was? The deal was the centerpiece of Siqual’s three-way alliance with the kingdoms of Carrack and Dernan, and had been a significant focus in the castle for over a year.

“Did you enjoy your time in those other kingdoms?” he asked.

“Yes, Your Highness.” Blair gave an apologetic smile. “Dernan less so. It’s a very restrictive kingdom, without much vision. But Carrack was fascinating. There are many things they do differently from us, and I learned a great deal while I was there.”

“Making you invaluable upon your return,” Xavier encouraged him.

“When were you planning to depart for your visit to the refinement station?” Captain Mitchell asked Blair.

“I had intended to go tomorrow,” Blair said. “But if you wish me to remain on hand—”

“No, there’s no need to delay just because we’re still here,” Xavier said. “You can base yourself here as well, we’re close enough that you can travel to and from the site within the day, allowing for more regular reports on what you find.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Blair said. “You’re going to stay here for the entire duration of the investigation?”

“That’s the current plan,” Xavier told him. “It will depend on what we uncover, of course.”

“Of course.”

Blair still looked faintly skeptical, clearly doubting the prince’s ability to keep interest long enough to stick with the task. It was becoming evident that he’d indulged his wayward persona a little too much. He got a certain enjoyment from fulfilling all expectations as to his irresponsibility, but he didn’t want to be seen as completely incompetent.

Xavier dismissed Blair, turning his attention back to the captain. “You’ll make arrangements to extend our accommodations?”

“I will,” Mitchell confirmed. “And I’ll also look into sending someone to stay in Alton without advertising a connection to our investigation. It will be interesting to see what unofficial questions yield before we open a formal investigation there.” He quirked an eyebrow. “Do you have a preference as to who should be given the assignment?”

“I’m sure you’ll know best,” Xavier said, unconcerned. “They’re your team.”

“Actually, Your Highness,” Mitchell chided him, “we’re all part of your team.”

“Ah, but I’m a mere apprentice, Captain,” Xavier said with a disarming smile. “I rely on your advice.” Making his voice more serious, he added, “I really would appreciate your advice as to our next step here.”

Captain Mitchell had an answer ready. “I’ve been considering it, Your Highness, and I think we should enlist help from someone local. I was going to suggest we do so in Alton, but I think we should find someone from this town as well. We should find someone competent, and pay them for their efforts. This is a close community, and the authority of the crown doesn’t change the fact that we’re strangers. People will always be guarded in what they say to us, and we won’t recognize unusual behavior the way someone familiar with these people might.”

“An excellent suggestion,” Xavier said, taking the opening at a gallop. “I know just who we should ask.”

“Do you?” The captain blinked in surprise. “Who?”

“The girl we met in the dressmaker’s shop,” Xavier said promptly. “Not the one who works there, the dark-haired one. Her name is Alina.”

He picked up the ledger sitting on the table, where one of the aides had jotted down the names of each person they’d spoken to. The man had spelled Alina’s name with two Ls, and Xavier absently corrected it with the lead stump sitting nearby.

For a moment he was distracted by the sight of her name, so unemotionally scrawled amongst all the others. It was official—she was back in his life. He could hardly believe he’d found her. Not that he’d come on this investigation to search for her. A boring, unrefined town on the edge of the desert was the last place he would have expected to find Alina.

“There,” he said, coming back to himself as he jabbed a finger at her name. “This one.”

“Yes, I remember her.”

The captain’s muted tone told Xavier he remembered all of it, including the fact that Xavier had followed her unceremoniously onto the street and interrogated her alone for several minutes, and that none of the contents of that conversation had been reported back to the captain or anyone else.

“Why her, Your Highness?” Captain Mitchell said at last. “I was going to suggest the tavern owner. He seems intelligent and disposed to be helpful to us. And he would surely have access to the goings on of the town, given his place of business.”

“But that’s just it,” Xavier said. “He has a business to run. He won’t be able to give us his full focus. Besides which, it’s not in his interests to help us progress our investigation quickly, since the longer we stay here, the more custom we’ll bring his tavern.”

“True,” Mitchell admitted. “But no one is a perfect choice.”

“Alina is a better one,” Xavier said firmly. “You could tell from the behavior of the dressmaker that she’s well liked. She was working at the tavern last night, as well, so she has as much chance as the owner of knowing what goes on. And she told me today that she used to live in the forest, so she has connections beyond just this town, which could be useful to us as we expand our search. On top of all of that, a young woman without position is unassuming in a way an older man who’s a well-known business owner never could be. People will be more likely to talk freely to her.”