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Stavros’s jaw flexes, but he inclines his head slightly. “She needs it. And I only have one lecture today, so her absence won’t be all that conspicuous.”
His gaze sears into me, reminding me of all the things we haven’t really talked about yet. All the reasons I’d rather not catch up on my slumber in his quarters, where I doubt I’ll be able to relax much at all.
I clasp Casimir’s hand with the most affection I feel comfortable offering while knowing Julita is watching. “Thank you. I can’t imagine anything better after all of this.”
And then… And then I suppose tomorrow we’ll have to talk about where I go from here.
My gut starts to twist, but before my worries can expand very far, the surface of the mirror wavers.
King Konram’s image swims into clarity on the glass. His crown balances perfectly on his dark brown hair; his royal jacket and trousers look as neat as if he—or his assistants—spent an hour smoothing out every wrinkle.
If we’ve summoned him out of bed, he’s doing an impressive job of hiding that fact.
“Ster. Stavros,” he says in an equally smooth voice. “For you to be holding a meeting at this early hour, I assume you must have a matter of some urgency to convey.”
Stavros dips into a respectful bow. “Yes, Your Highness. Very much so.”
He summarizes the key points of what I told him much more succinctly than I managed in my still somewhat hazy state. I might appreciate his ability to cut to the chase more if my pulse hadn’t started thudding harder as I take in the king’s reaction—or lack thereof.
Konram is a consummate politician. Only the barest trace of emotion flickers through his expression at the revelation that the scourge sorcerers believe they’ll be murdering him within a few weeks’ time.
When Stavros is done, the king is silent for a stretch, absorbing the information. Then he shifts his position as if attempting to peer deeper into the room. “Your assistant who’s infiltrated their ‘Order of the Wild’—she’s still there with you?”
Stavros’s stance tenses, but he motions to me. “Yes, Your Highness. She’d be happy to answer any questions you have.”
Casimir’s hangover cure has dulled the effects of the drug enough that I can walk steadily if a little slower than usual over to the mirror. Stavros remains off to the side, a couple of paces away, as if he thinks I need guarding from the reflection of his king.
I dip into the lowest curtsey I trust myself to manage without losing my balance. “I’m sorry to have brought such dire news, Your Highness.”
“Better that I receive it than go unawares,” the king says with a hint of dryness that makes me like him a little better. “From what you’ve observed in your interactions with this group, Ster. Torstem is the leader of the conspiracy?”
“Yes, Your Highness. Whenever he’s been present, he’s been the one ordering the others around. And he’s the head of the bug—the entomology—club that’s wrapped up in the group too. He’s also the only one we know of who’s been finding the orphans to use as sacrificial accomplices. And Wendos referred to him as an authority figure.”
King Konram hums thoughtfully, his dark gaze turning more penetrating as he considers me. I’m abruptly aware of my hair hanging loose and probably tangled, of the wrinkles that’ve no doubt formed in my own clothing during my long night.
“You didn’t find any new information about who might have exploited the royal seal?” he asks.
“I’m sorry. They’re very careful about how much they say, and I couldn’t ask about it directly without revealing that I know more than a regular initiate should.”
“Understandable. I assume, then, that they still believe youarea regular initiate, loyal to their cause?”
Where is he going with this?
“Yes, Your Highness,” I say. “Ster. Torstem even asked me to meet with the entomology club tomorrow.”
“Excellent.” The king folds his hands in front of him. “I’m sure you can all appreciate that this is a delicate situation. The threat is imminent but unclear. If we wait for the traitors to strike, we may not be fully prepared.”
Stavros steps closer. “With your permission, I could rouse Ster. Torstem right now, arrest him and bring him to—”
“No.” Konram draws himself a little taller. “It’s clear we can’t hold back from action any longer, but if we only have Torstem, his imprisonment and trial may simply rile up his supporters and lead to a worse outcome.”
I frown. “You could have the bug club members we suspect taken into custody too.”
The king’s gaze settles back on me. “Stavros said you saw many more conspirators at the initiation ritual than could have been part of that club, didn’t he?”
“Yes,” I acknowledge. “There are seven members we’re reasonably sure are working with Torstem, but I counted around three times as many people at the initiation.”
“Then I think we need to strike while they’re all gathered together. That will give us the absolute certainty that those we apprehend are guilty, and we can subdue most if not all of Ster. Torstem’s followers in one swoop. It does us no good to quell a few of them if the greater portion are still plotting against the crown. And as soon as they know we’re making arrests, those we haven’t captured will become even more cautious.”
