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“It shouldn’t be our first priority,” Rek continued. “We can use this discovery to catch the gang and uncover the traitor. Once that’s managed, Father and his experts can investigate more closely and determine if there are any enchantments.”
“Ooh!” Adara sounded eager enough to make me eye her with misgiving. “So you’re not going to tell Father straight away? Bad crown prince!”
“Father has entrusted the investigation into the gang to me,” Rek said with dignity. “For now that’s all this is. After we have them in hand, of course we’ll tell him about the cave and leave it to him to sort out.”
Adara gave a little crow, glancing at me. “Didn’t I tell you he was desperate to be the one to uncover the traitor?” She looked at Rek. “Or are you afraid Father will decide the gold is more important and seize the cave before you have your chance to catch the gang?”
Rek was silent, making me think both were true. Despite my misgivings about what I was potentially being dragged into, I couldn’t help being pleased that not all of the adventure loving boy had been swallowed up in the dutiful, responsible young man.
“So what’s the plan, then?” Navid looked between me and Rek. “Should the three of us lie in wait in the cave? I suppose we’d better bring some guards, given there are forty of them. Or will it just be an information-gathering mission to begin with? If we can identify the thieves, we wouldn’t have to arrest them on the spot.”
“Excuse me!” Adara put her hands on her hips. “You aren’t leaving me behind!”
Navid and Rek turned identical horrified expressions on her. I struggled to keep my lips straight. I knew Adara well enough to know they were fighting a losing battle.
“Of course you can’t come, Adara,” Rek said. “This could be incredibly dangerous.”
She stared him down. “Then why are you going?You’rethe crown prince.”
“I’m also in charge of this investigation, and something of this sensitivity can’t be entrusted to anyone else.”
“I’m coming,” she said in a note of finality. “If something happens to us, they always have the twins. They’ll have to rule the kingdom after Father.”
Rek and I both shuddered, the similarity of our reaction provoking a reluctant smile from him.
“I assume the twins haven’t changed much?” I asked.
“Not a whit,” he replied.
“Well, maybe a little,” Adara said fairly. “But it would be better for the kingdom if we keep Rek alive. I think we should bring some guards at least.”
I nodded my agreement, glad my friend had developed a little common sense and caution.
“Of course,” Rek said. “There are a small number I can trust. We can hide in the cave and get the information we need.” He looked at me. “I assume there are places we could hide?”
I nodded, a little reluctantly. “The cave is full of all manner of items. But, of course, I have no idea what the gang does in there. It’s possible they search it thoroughly each time.”
“That seems unlikely. If the gold is still there, they’ll think their hideout secure,” Rek said. “But we’ll leave one of the guards outside—up a tree or something. If we don’t emerge, he can carry word to Father.”
“I don’t know how long it will be before they return,” I said, feeling like a killjoy. “We can’t camp out in the cave for days.”
Adara looked horrified. “No, thank you!”
“My network will inform me when they’re next active in the area,” Rek said. “From what you’ve said, Zaria, they hide their gold in the cave. Once they’ve robbed again, we’ll know they’re heading there. We just have to be ready to get there first.”
“That’s one of the points that’s been bothering me,” I murmured. “Why store their gold in a cave already overflowing with it? Why bother robbing at all?”
Rek frowned, his arrested expression showing he was also struck by the incongruity of it.
“There’s something bigger going on here,” he said. “And it must have to do with the traitor. We need answers, and this is how we’re going to get them.”
“Are you sure?” I looked at Adara with concern.
He sighed, dropping his voice to answer. “I’m not saying they’re the companions I would have chosen…” His eyes lingered on Navid rather than Adara. “But there’s not just one traitor to worry about. The way the gang has been slipping past my squad is highly suspicious. At this point, I don’t trust anyone other than the few guards I know well. We need to uproot the traitors in our midst before we bring more people into this.”
He looked at me in concern. “You don’t have to be a part of it if you don’t want to, though. I need you to show me the spot, but you don’t have to—”
“No.” I shook my head firmly. “I’m definitely coming.” I wasn’t abandoning Adara and Rek to face the thieves alone.
