I’ll drop it—on one condition: you get your people to fix Jainan’s security clearance. There’s been some kind of error.”

“What kind of error?” Rakal asked.

Kiem felt the sudden onset of doubt. If this had been a mistake by some administrator deep in Internal Security’s hierarchy, they could probably have solved it in ten minutes with a quick message. “Your people revoked his clearance, months ago—Jainan, how long?”

“Two years,” Jainan said quietly.

“See, two y—what?”

Rakal gave Jainan a measuring look. “Naturally I am aware.”

Kiem looked at Jainan as well, still trying to process the thought of two years.

Jainan was standing a step back, as if he’d resigned himself to having no influence in whatever was decided. Kiem felt a sick lurch of something—guilt, anger—and didn’t even try to suppress it. He leaned forward and put his own hands on the desk. “Fix this,” he said, hearing an unexpected edge in his own voice. “He can’t talk to his family. Fix it.”

“Prince Kiem,” Rakal said levelly. “Let me make one thing very clear: I won’t be drawn into melodramatics on security issues.” They stopped Kiem’s incredulous protest with a raised hand. “I am aware that Count Jainan has a level two flag on his communications. This means he was considered a potential risk for leaking classified material. As you must also know, a level two flag does not stop him from contacting whomever he wants to outside the palace. It only

means we ask him to clear it with us in advance so we can monitor it.”

“That’s not true,” Kiem said. “He hasn’t had any contact at all.”

Jainan shifted beside him, but didn’t have time to say anything before Rakal raised their eyebrows and said, “Indeed? Then someone is lying to you.”

“I am not lying,” Jainan said, low and colorless. “I was discouraged from contact—I am sorry if I gave a false impression.” Jainan’s eyes flicked between Rakal and Kiem, and then went back to the desk. “I accept the security measures the palace sees fit to apply. I apologize for bothering you.”

It would not help to shout. Kiem forced himself to breathe out and keep his voice under control. “It’s really not you who needs to apologize,” he said.

“Agent Rakal. Your monitoring system isn’t bloody working, since your people have obviously just used it to hassle Jainan into cutting off contact. Which I’m sure made things much easier for them. Jainan is unhappy. The Thean Ambassador is unhappy. I am pissed off, and very few things piss me off. I want you to take that flag off his account.”

If Rakal hadn’t liked him before, now the hostility over the desk between them and Kiem was like something physical. “Your Highness,” Rakal said. “You cannot have a decision you don’t like changed just because you want it to change. I answer to the Emperor, not to every royal who wants to throw their weight around.”