“Why do you not just go to the palace and ask?” the general asked. He was not particularly fond of the new king, but Marcum was loyal to Ashai.

Choosing his words carefully, Rezkin stated, “There may be forces in the palace working against me.”

“A traitor?” the general asked. Rezkin inclined his head, not quite agreeing but not denying it either. He did not know who was responsible for the massacre at the fortress. It could have been the king for all he knew. If the king found out the strikers were traitors and issued the orders for them to die, then Rezkin had done the king’s work. If someone else had ordered the deaths of the strikers, then Rezkin could be the traitor along with whoever issued the orders. With the authority granted him by the old king, though, Rezkin could not be tried openly. He would have to be dealt with in secret.

The general cleared his throat, “If a traitor is in the palace, then I must warn the king. Likewise, if he does not know about you already, then he must be told.”

“Actually, I would prefer you not do that,” Rezkin stated firmly.

Marcum narrowed his eyes at the young man. “And, why not?”

Rezkin leveled his gaze at the general willing the man to see his sincerity and authority. “We are in the midst of a conspiracy, General. People who are not involved need to remain uninvolved. I assure you this conspiracy is quite deadly,” Rezkin stated ominously as his voice dropped. It was a warning. It held the implication that the king could be in more danger if he knew and that the general’s own life was threatened if he spoke.

Jimson’s face went pale with Rezkin’s threatening words, and the lieutenant was glad that, so far, he had not been dragged into the conversation.

General Marcum stiffened. “Surely the king knows by now. Colonel Simmons would have sent a letter to the palace as well.”

Rezkin reached into his tunic as he replied, “He did.” Pulling out a sealed scroll, he waved it in front of the general. “This is the letter that was meant to be delivered to the seneschal.

General Marcum’s eyes darted over to the lieutenant. “You gave it to him? That is a letter to the king!”

Lieutenant Jimson’s jaw dropped as he shook his head vigorously. “No, sir! I have not seen that letter. It was not given to me to deliver. I swear it, sir!”

Stuffing the letter back into his inner pocket, Rezkin waved their concerns away. “The lieutenant is not at fault, General. I retrieved this before it ever left the colonel’s desk. Lieutenant Jimson never received the letter.”

“When did you see the colonel?” Lieutenant Jimson inquired with disbelief.