I woke up earlier than I’d intended, the light of the sun barely visible in the morning sky. I was thankful I’d only taken a few sips of the wine the night before. I was glad I didn’t make a fool of myself, and equally thankful not to have a headache to start the day. My thoughts immediately returned to the scent of the flowers in the garden, flowers that bloomed at night. I thought of the snacks Renyi prepared for me and his promises to give me all the time and space I could want. I hadn’t known the man for a month, but already my cheeks grew warm at the thought of his smile.

  Gah, Taylor, ever the sucker for sweet talk from a handsome face.

  “I take it you enjoyed your time with this prince in the garden?” Ghost asked, making me jump in surprise.

  “Huh? Oh. Right. It was okay, I guess,” I said, smiling.

  “So do you intend to investigate today, or do you have a breakfast date planned?”

  I tossed my pillow at him, which he dodged gracefully.

  “You know, you’re getting better and better at that human-like communication. You are slowly morphing into my mother.”

  “Your mother would appreciate that.”

  “She would,” I agreed.

  “By the way, do you know about the condition of Renyi’s falcon? I forgot to ask him last night.”

  “Still recovering and missing the hunt. I’ve found that I do too, though you and I are always hunting in a way.”

  “Less direct, and probably less fun,” I admitted.

  “I disagree.”

  A polite knock came at my door.

  “You may enter,” I said.

  A tall, muscular man with graying hair entered my room. He had to bend his head at the doorway, and his shoulders nearly brushed both sides as he passed through.

  “Lady Taylor. I’m Commander Wei. Prince Renyi has ordered that I assist you with your investigation.”

  Just as I was about to snap that I had no need of a bodyguard, my thoughts quickly returned to reality. Though I still wasn’t happy about it.

  “In what way?” I asked.

  “I was accompanying Chief Adviser Tannis on the day the royal physician suspects he completed the poisonous combination of herbs. He was… my friend for the past fifteen years. We served in the army together. We were promoted to commanders on the same day, along with Junwei, our current general.”

  I was curious to know more about Tannis, but I had more important questions I needed answers to at the moment. I also suspected Wei was meant to be a bodyguard but was offered as a witness. Renyi was nothing if not a clever man, though it wouldn’t hurt for me to be a little less… unreasonable. I realized the enhancer had made me arrogant, and now I had to accept that I was no longer as independent as I would have liked.

  “Tell me about that day,” I said.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “I wasn’t there for all of it personally, but based on accounts from his servants, it was a morning like any other. He rose early at a precise time, then trained rigorously for two hours. He reviewed reports, met with ministers, checked palace security, and ensured all the prince’s food was tasted. Tannis always went well beyond his duties when it came to the prince. Tannis’s own son was lost to illness, and Renyi was a sickly child. The emperor had no patience for this, but Tannis worked with him to teach him all the skills a prince should learn through creative means. He made the prince study manuals on swordsmanship long before his body was well enough to hold one.” He paused for a moment, sighing as he caught himself. “Apologies. I should answer your questions more directly.”

  “I don’t mind,” I said. “As long as you answer them, I enjoy learning about the important people in Renyi’s life. Besides, sometimes there’s context we aren’t considering.”

  He flinched a bit when I used Renyi’s name casually, without formal address, but said nothing.

  “Once he finished his tasks in the palace for the morning, he asked that a small group of soldiers accompany him as he walked through the streets to observe the festivities.”

  “I’m surprised,” I said. “I got the impression Tannis was quite the swordsman.”

  “Perhaps the best in the kingdom. Certainly better than me. Second only to General Junwei, if I had to wager.”

  “Yet he insisted on going out with a group for protection?”

  “Chief Adviser Tannis believed that, no matter how many enemies a man had, his ego would always be the worst among them. He was wise and abundantly cautious. He knew that if something happened to him, it would harm those who depended on him for protection.”

  What a sad thing to learn, given the context.

  “That’s… someone who targeted him would have needed to be extremely connected and capable. No matter what methods were used to cover their tracks, that fact is undeniable. What happened could never be a fluke.”

  “I agree, Lady Taylor. It came as a surprise to everyone, but those of us who knew him are still in disbelief. It was hard to tell if Chief Adviser Tannis was more soldier or scholar.” He lowered his voice to a whisper. “Some even hoped he would take the throne and become the new emperor, but he insisted that none were more qualified than Prince Renyi, and even convinced the emperor, a father who had always ignored and dismissed him, of that very same fact before he passed.”

  “A move that no doubt made enemies of the other princes. Speaking of which, why have I never met them?”

  He seemed to become uncomfortable again, thinking carefully about how to word his answer.

  “Their previous treatment of him has left them wary of being near him, especially in light of his recent rise to his current position and their… comparatively lower one. They also know Prince Renyi’s intelligence and are likely choosing to avoid any open confrontations.”

  “Not out of the question to want his most capable supporter out of the way. At the very least, that’s awfully convenient for them.”

  “It is… convenient,” Wei admitted, not wanting to offer his own opinion further.

  “I can tell you’re uncomfortable with the topic, and it’s probably best we avoid speculation for the moment too. Though, I’ll ask that you answer any questions I may have for you honestly. Prince Renyi has asked you to assist me, so don’t restrain yourself too much.”

  He nodded, still uneasy.

  “Was there anything unusual about where you went that day? Did he eat anything different?”

  “There was… well, I hadn’t considered it, because we all ate there, but now, knowing the kind of poison used… there was a stand that sold an old snack made popular in the military among recruits. It was usually used as a form of discipline, truth be told, but Tannis had an unnatural love for the disgusting things. A dumpling filled with fermented fish paste. They’re usually not made anywhere with a respectable kitchen, because they stink up everything around them with a rotten smell that doesn’t soon go away.”

  “A food he could never get in the same kitchen that served the prince and other high officials,” I said.

  Wei nodded. “But… everyone hates them. Who would know that Tannis liked such a thing? The rest of us nearly vomited, and a few of the younger men did, Tannis laughing all the while as he ate a second, and then a third. I was already prepared for it, and even I found them hard to keep down. The whole thing seemed to raise his spirits.”

  “I wish I’d gotten to meet Tannis under more positive circumstances,” I said, “or had time to get to know him better. At least I can bring his killer to justice.”

  “You have my full support.”

  “Do you mind accompanying me to question the person running the stall?”

  “I am at your service, Lady Taylor.”

  PanTech Chronicles trilogy and the series, both available on Amazon.

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