Raisa’s thoughts went immediately to Han’s state of dress when he’d come home a few nights before.

Mick spoke up then. “We kept following him, but we lost him in the Ragmarket tangle. I don’t think he saw us.”

Raisa’s heart lay like a stone in her chest as she recalled what Han had said only an few days ago. Lord Bayar did his best to pin it on me.

“Well.” She cleared her throat. “Han has been trying to find out who’s responsible for the wizard murders in Ragmarket. So he’s been out walking the streets nearly every night.”

Amon’s lips tightened. “Hallie and Mick didn’t know what to do, since they knew Alister stays right next door to you,” he said. “So they came and got me.”

“But…we don’t know for sure that Han was the one in the alley, right?” Raisa said, looking from face to face for some hope.

“No,” Amon said. “We don’t know for sure, but it seems likely. We also—” He cut off, turning to Hallie and Mick. “Wait on the porch.”

“Yes, sir.” They hustled out, seeming glad to flee Raisa’s presence.

When the door had closed behind them, Amon said, “There’s also this.” He pulled a small pouch from his pocket. “They found this underneath the bodies.” He dumped the contents into her hand. “Have you ever seen it before?”

Raisa tilted her hand so it caught the light. It was a figure of a clan piper, carved of rowan and oak, hanging from a silver chain. The work was exquisite, with insets of silver and turquoise.

She closed her fingers over the piece as if she could hide it from view. Power tingled against her skin. “It’s definitely clan-work,” she said. “I can’t imagine any wizard wearing something like this.” She looked up at Amon. “I’ll keep this. I’m going to see Hayden Fire Dancer tomorrow. I’ll ask him about it. He’s discreet.”

“Well.” Amon’s eyes were troubled, uncertain. “It is evidence. And Fire Dancer is friends with Alister.” The implication was clear: We need to follow it wherever it leads.

“I’ll be careful with it,” Raisa said, tucking it away before Amon could demand it back. “I won’t tell Dancer where it came from.”

“Your Majesty,” Amon said, shaking his head, “it’d be better if I—”

“Han Alister is not a murderer,” Raisa said. Then stopped. “Not anymore,” she amended. “He’s used his gang connections on our behalf. He and Cat have recruited help from all over Ragmarket and Southbridge to be eyes and ears for the queendom.”

“What if he recruited them for other reasons?” Amon said. “To kill wizards, for instance.”

Raisa shook her head. “No. I don’t believe it.”