Kiem looked at her blankly. The words lined up, but they didn’t make any sense. “I don’t understand.”

“And attempting to do away with you, apparently.” The Emperor was always brusque; now there was a note of arch impatience. “Did you notice?”

“Your Majesty,” Rakal murmured, in what sounded like a protest.

“Do— what? No! Nothing like that happened! Where the hell has this come from?” Shock poured over Kiem in waves. “You’ve arrested Jainan?”

“The armed forces have arrested him,” the Emperor said. “How many times do you need it repeated? Compose yourself,” she added sharply, as Kiem half rose from his chair.

Kiem dropped back into his seat, realizing he didn’t have the information he needed. “Where have you taken Jainan?”

Rakal gave a discreet cough. The table was almost too high for them; they rested their hands on the edge of it as they leaned forward. “We have not taken him anywhere, Your Highness,” they said. “The military is not the civil authority.”

Everything in Kiem’s head was protesting, but this rang a faint bell. “That’s why General Fenrik was here?” he said. “The military has got him?” He appealed directly to the Emperor. “Ma’am, you’re still the Emperor. You can order him to let Jainan go.”

It was Rakal who answered again. “Do you recall Count Jainan’s behavior around the time of your flyer crash? I believe it was only a few days ago.”

It took Kiem a moment to form words out of his shocked and furious bafflement. “Jainan was in the flybug!”

Neither the Emperor nor Rakal responded. Kiem had the feeling he wasn’t telling them anything they didn’t know. There was a moment’s silence, and in it Rakal looked at the Emperor. “You see, ma’am,” they murmured. “If Count Jainan felt that much animosity toward him, Prince Kiem should have noticed something.”

“So noted,” the Emperor said, “but not conclusive. I need something for the Resolution, even aside from these wretched remnants.”

“Conclusive of what?” Kiem said. “None of this is true! Jainan killing Taam?

Trying to kill me? This is—this is bullshit!”

“Kiem, if you comport yourself like an adult who has been called in for a briefing, you will receive the briefing I summoned you for,” the Emperor said irritably. “If you insist on acting like a child in a tantrum, then you may leave.”

Kiem’s mouth shaped itself around a response, but he knew she was fully capable of throwing him out. Getting himself cut out here wouldn’t help. Jainan would have been able to control himself. He shut his mouth and put his hands on his knees. “Of course, ma’am. I would very much like to know what’s going on.”