“Of course.” The Minister’s face tightened. “We must assume that this substance was not produced for single use only. Thorgana and her henchmen may be manufacturing more of these lethal diseases to target specific people or races. Perhaps even on a large scale. I would not have thought mere humans capable of such feats, without magic and with those short lives of theirs, but clearly we have been underestimating their cunning.”

By Magorah. Icy horror spread through my chest. Those must be the secret weapons the humans had been whispering about. Some powder or liquid dropped in a jug of milk, or perhaps mixed into a city’s water supply by the human maintenance crew, could not easily be defended against. I already knew the humans pulling the strings behind the Resistance were planning to kill off entire populations, but I thought that was just talk. Would they actually succeed?

“I need you to locate this manufacturing lab or plant and destroy it before the Resistance can deploy their newfangled weapons,” the Minister commanded. “It would be a disaster, should they actually use them to massacre unsuspecting citizens. Not to mention embarrassing, since we’ve assured the country they are safe, now that we’ve caught the mastermind of this evil plot.”

“Agreed,” Iannis said, his eyes narrowed. “It is a pity Thorgana is not here yet, as I imagine she would know the exact location.”

“That’s true, but we can still question the doctor, right?” I asked. The men turned to look at me, the Minister blinking, as though surprised to hear me speak up. “Shifters are very good at telling truth from lies, and as an enforcer, I’m an experienced interrogator. You should let me question the doctor.”

“That was my plan, actually,” the Minister said wryly. “But thank you for volunteering.”

“You’re welcome,” I said, my cheeks heating in embarrassment. So, apparently, the Minister considered me a useful tool, and not just a liability. At least that was something.

“Is there anyone else we can interrogate?” I asked. “What about Lord Cedris, or his Legal Secretary, Coman ar’Daghir?”

“They have already been questioned thoroughly. It was found they had no direct knowledge of Thorgana or their operations,” the Minister said firmly. “Both have been released, upon condition that Cedris resign from public office, which he has done. He is spending more time with his family these days, and I hear he’s thinking of writing a memoir.”

“I see,” I murmured, burying my disgust and incredulity. I would have thought the Minister would punish Cedris harshly for his not inconsiderable role in the plot to kill him and take his position. Why was he being so lenient? Did Cedris have some sort of hold over him, just as Thorgana had been blackmailing Cedris and a number of other mages in order to control them?