“The griffin scout, Your Highness. Then she flew back south to meet you. Are you telling me she never reported in? She seemed a capable individual.”

“She was murdered. Her griffin with her. I found the bodies in the Moonrise Hills.”

The shock of hearing these tidings fell like lightning upon the gathered people. Who would kill a griffin, those rare and precious creatures? Even sarpa were more commonplace, although harder to control. And the scout, too; an imperial official!

But the Manor-folk weren’t the only people who were shocked at the news. Luviara’s usual expression of clever confidence spasmed into a look of stunned disbelief, followed swiftly by a flash of anger and then something more calculating. She muttered, “The crossbow bolt at Pisgia Moat,” then said nothing more.

Lord Genia leaned heavily on her young interlocutor as she replied in a trembling voice. “Your Highness, I am quite shaken to hear this news. I entertained the scout at my own table, showing her great honor. She was out of Xorras Manor, the great-niece of an old friend of mine, who I served with in the magisterial offices. That was before I retired from the palace to head the hallow-wood operation here, at your gracious mother’s urging.”

“Such a crime must shake us all,” he agreed. “But first, a bath, then supper, after which we shall discuss the whole in a private meeting, you and I. Not out here in front of all.”

“Of course. The fault is mine. You are entirely correct that we live in disturbed times.”

“I saw the damaged plantation by the road.”

“Indeed! It is not the only one that has been attacked. Let you and your wardens be settled and fed.” Genia’s discerning gaze caught on Elen in her humble garb. “A deputy courier can be sent to the stables. She’ll be fed and housed there.”

“No. My entire party stays with me, no exceptions. I have not gotten over the shock of being attacked in the Moonrise Hills by militia meant to be loyal subjects of the emperor.”

“Attacked! These are shocking tidings, indeed.”

“One of my wardens was injured.”

“I will myself inspect his wound!”

“Ah. Yes. So you shall. You’ll understand why I prefer to keep my people close rather than to risk losing even one.”

Lord Genia pressed a hand to her chest. “It seems trouble is stalking farther afield than I had realized. As you say, we can discuss this at more length in private.”

The prince was escorted to the imperial bathing suite with Fulmo, Simo, and Luviara in attendance. Elen accompanied Xilsi, Ipis, Kem, and Jirvy to an opulent bathing suite quite at odds with the Manor’s modest exterior. It was laid out in a tangle of rooms that included both private and communal washing rooms, a hot-soak room, a steam room, a cold-plunge room, and rooms where folk could be massaged and oiled.