“Of course he wouldn’t,” Corinn said. “And of course he does.”

Aaden’s delay in leaving meant that he was still in the hallway when Rhrenna led Delivegu into the viewing area. After the formalities of greeting the queen were seen to, the Candovian said, “Your son looks more like Hanish Mein every day.” He motioned toward the corridor to explain the comment’s origins.

Corinn eyed him a moment, deciding how severe to be with him. At a glance he was just as elaborately garbed as ever, his shirt brilliantly white, his black breeches tight enough that they seemed to have shrunk to fit his form. The hoops of his gold earrings sparkled, and he wore bracelets on one wrist that clanged together as he moved. But for all the gaudy finery, his face did not betray his usual arrogance. Perhaps his time out of favor had mellowed him.

“You knew Hanish Mein?” Corinn asked.

“To look at, yes. Only to look at. He didn’t know me, but he was hard to miss when he had the reins of power. I liked his style.” As an afterthought, he added, “Then, I guess you did, too.”

Or perhaps it had not mellowed him, Corinn thought. She was unsure as yet. She ordered him to explain his claim and document the identity of the man sitting in the room below them. Delivegu did so readily enough. He explained that he had gained intelligence that led him to a certain commoner’s message service. There he had intercepted a message meant for the rascal. He hurriedly transported himself to the message’s destination. It was a gamble, a considerable personal expense, but it paid off. He did spot the man. He spied on him long enough to satisfy himself of his identity, and then he decided on a way to capture him.

“How did you do that?”

Delivegu shrugged and looked the closest he could to sheepish. “I’m not proud when it comes to such matters. I came up behind him when he was fumbling with the keys to unlock his rented room. I hit his head with a club.”

“Without warning?”

“Of course. How better to do it? And lucky I did, for he didn’t go down from that one blow. He turned and reached for me. I needed to hit him twice more before he dropped to his knees. Then he was easier to deal with. A bit, at least.”

“How did you know it was Barad?”

“Before I approached him, I questioned an acquaintance of his. A young man with, I daresay, insufficient resilience to resist me.”

“This initial information you gained—that which took you to the message service—how was that come by?”

Delivegu cleared his throat. “I have something to report that you may find disturbing.” He paused, brow furrowed in an expression of consternation that looked odd. “I wished you to know the other details first, but this part cannot be avoided. You’re right to ask. Hear me through, please, before you respond.”