“Jovis is a competent captain. He took down both men.”

The infuriating man had the temerity to smile at the praise as if he deserved it. Even his posture changed, straightening as he wiped his dagger clean and slid it back into its sheath. “Yes, well. It is my job.”

I’d never quite wanted to punch anyone so much before.

“I’m not sure how assassins broke into the palace,” Iloh said. “I assure you, we took every precaution before your visit. My guards should have taken care of them before they could ever make their way to the guest quarters. I owe you my deepest apologies. Please forgive me.”

Iloh wouldn’t have sent assassins after me in my rooms: he would have waited until I was out in the streets so he could deny any responsibility. I waved him off. “Jovis was followed when he was in the city. I should have brought this information to you.”

“Even so, Eminence, I swear it won’t happen again.” Iloh took another glance around the room. “Did the roof spring a leak?”

The water. Heat crept up the back of my neck. The floors and rugs were soaked, pools of water gathered where I’d thrown it at the assassins. I was supposed to be keeping my magic secret, and here I was, leaving evidence of it everywhere.

“You should probably check. It was like this when we got here,” Jovis said smoothly.

Maybe I didn’t want to punch him. I wasn’t sure. “Wait,” I said as the guards started to drag the man away. “Is he still alive? I want to speak to him.”

The guards looked to Iloh, who nodded. They propped the man against the wall and I approached. He was neither young nor old, with the sort of bland face that would be difficult to pick out of a crowd. His eyes were still closed, his breathing steady. I knelt by his side and patted his cheek until he started to awaken.

“You’re in the guest rooms of Emperor Lin Sukai,” I said. I knew how a knock to the head could be disorienting. “You tried to kill me. Who sent you?”

“Your father abandoned us. You left us all alone,” he said, his gaze bleary.

“Abandoned who? I did no such thing.”

“What is he talking about?” Jovis, at my shoulder.

“I have no idea.”

“Why leave us alive? Why command us to do the same things every day?”

“Who sent you? Why are—?” I stopped, the rest of my words drying up on my tongue. I hadn’t known what my father had done with the failed constructs – the ones he’d made before me. He hadn’t destroyed them. Pieces began to fall together in my mind.

Slowly, his eyes focused on me. “I have no answers for you,” he said.