Rakal seemed to weigh their words before they spoke. Their voice came out cool, as if Kiem were a hostile media outlet. “Prince Taam’s death was suspicious,” they said. “We are investigating a number of options. There have been attempts to break into Operation Kingfisher’s systems even after Prince Taam passed away. Operation Kingfisher, which, I shouldn’t need to remind you, is not popular on Thea.”

“That’s your evidence?” Kiem said incredulously.

“Of course not,” Rakal said impatiently. “That is context. I am not going to litigate the case evidence with anyone but the Emperor.”

“I didn’t,” Jainan said, swallowing audibly. “I know there is very little use in me saying that, but I did nothing. Your people told me I wasn’t needed for questioning.”

“He’s a diplomat, ” Kiem said. “He has no motive, you have no proof, and he’s a goodwill ambassador. You’re treating him like he came in on a raider ship! He’s just lost his partner, and now you’re going to drag him through an investigation? What do you think that’s going to do to our relationship with Thea?”

“This is why I think we would all prefer to do this informally,” Rakal said.

“Either you and Count Jainan can give us access to your accounts voluntarily, or I will apply for a sealed Imperial Justice Order. Either way, this can be done without causing further tensions with the Resolution.”

“I’ll take it to the Emperor,” Kiem said, but he felt the negotiation slipping away.

“Do,” Rakal said, and Kiem heard in the word the truth they both knew: Kiem didn’t have an ounce of influence with the Emperor. Internal Security was in the Emperor’s pocket.

Could he pull rank any further? He felt something like despair at the thought of it. It would be obvious he had no idea what he was doing. Rakal would just laugh, and they’d be right to.

And then, all of a sudden, Kiem realized he was going about it the wrong way. He met Rakal’s eyes. “You’ve got to admit,” he said, “our whole track record with Jainan looks bad. Jainan gives up his family and his life on Thea to come over here, and then we revoke his security clearance and isolate him. We treat him as an enemy. Cut him off from his family. People will sympathize, don’t you think?”

“I couldn’t say,” Rakal said expressionlessly. “But I would say that most people in the palace understand security threats.”

Kiem leaned in. “I have a couple of friends who might see it a different way,”

he said. “Journalists. You know journalists—always obsessed with the human angle. Like I said, it could get out. Could look very bad.”

Beside him, he heard Jainan’s soft intake of air. Kiem didn’t look around; he couldn’t afford to look away from Rakal.

“You would not,” Rakal said.

“Oh, I’m not suggesting anyone blows the whole thing open,” Kiem said.

“Your half-baked investigation would really screw things up if it got out. But mistreatment of the Thean representative? Forbidding him to talk to his