“Yes, the one you haven’t acted on yet because you want to figure out who’s behind it. Do you think the prince will wish to try his luck going the overland route through the Moonrise Hills rather than crawling back to the palace with his tail between his legs?” She grew breathless with the urgent hope that she might save Kem. It was hard to speak calmly.

“Ah. I see. You think you can get the prince across the Cut.”

“He looks able to manage a hike through the hills. Once past the Cut—”

“If you don’t die in the attempt.”

“Yes, if we don’t die, then I can guide his party to the imperial road north of the Cut.”

“That’s your gamble? That the prince, realizing he has been treacherously misled, will do anything to reach Far Boundary Vigil? Even risk his life?”

“You understand the inner workings of the palace in a way I cannot. Isn’t this a lethal game a prince can’t afford to lose?”

He chuckled drily. “You are the quickest-witted person I know, except for my dear dead girl. But you are correct. Prince Gevulin can’t risk losing a power struggle in the palace. As we both know, he is the only person who can override Lord Duenn. Or at least, the only person in the Halt today.”

“Tomorrow will be too late.”

“Yes, if you mean too late for Kem. But I don’t see how this helps the boy.”

“I’ll say I need Kem to act as my assistant on the journey. First of all, a guide has to know where the crossing is. Then it takes two people to rig a bridge, and to rig it you have to have no fear of heights. Kem’s agile and strong, and he’s not afraid of heights.”

“Yes. He and Joef have entertained us more than once with their rope-balancing acrobatics. And it was Joef who broke his ankle, not Kem, as I recall.”

“That’s right. It’s worth a try, isn’t it?”

The horn blatted again, closer.

“Intendant, I must recommend we go,” said Jinyan from the threshold. “To keep a prince waiting, and especially when he will be looking for someone to blame, may be fatal.”

The intendant began to walk toward the gate, then halted, stroking his beard. Light from the door illuminated his face. She knew that expression. He’d once told her a person who could think several moves ahead could plot their way out of a corner. “Captain, go at once to Lord Duenn and tell him he must not trouble the prince in any way, but shall remain in his guest suite until summoned.”

“Intendant.” The captain clipped her heels together and departed, leaving the gate open and the guardroom empty.