“Did you recognize any of the dead? And if you did, were they actually Haverness guards?”
Teela turned to Sedarias. “You see? She struggles to retain ignorance, but sheislogical when confronted with information she might have chosen not to learn in her youth.”
“This is not a case for the Imperial Halls of Law,” Sedarias said. “Teela has been investigating, but the investigation mustbe subtle. She is not the only person. Where I can, I have drawn attention.”
“You didn’t do that for this,” Terrano muttered.
“No. But my activities serve as distractions to those who might otherwise be attempting to subvert the guard or hide behind their reputation, such as it is.”
“Unless they’re the same enemies.”
Sedarias smiled. “I don’t believe Nightshade is associated with Mellarionne. I don’t think he was attacked because of Annarion. Annarion is Solanace, but he has not staked his claim, and Solanace is so greatly reduced in influence and power, he is too insignificant a target.
“We do not have the name of the person who commanded the guard to assassinate Nightshade.”
“Is there a ruler of Solanace now?”
“There is, but she is young, and in the parlance of Elantra, it is believed she drew the short straw.”
Kaylin blinked. “There was a title available, and no one wanted it? And she’s Barrani?”
“Yes. From a Solanace perspective, Nightshade would only be a threat if his exile was revoked.”
“Pardon?”
“He was made outcaste for political reasons. He could be repatriated into the High Court for political reasons. Nightshade’s return to Solanace would elevate the line; he is the bearer of one of The Three, and he acquitted himself extremely well in the wars. But to the person who sits behind the Solanace seat, it might not be considered elevation.”
“Has Annarion heard from his family?”
No one answered. Not even Teela, a Hawk for whom this style of questioning was familiar.
“This is not your investigation, as Teela has madeextremelyclear.”
Mandoran rolled his eyes. Terrano snorted. “What? Youknowwhat she’s like. She trips over everything, and some of it might be useful. At least if we talk about it, she can walk with her eyes wide open.”
Kaylin felt a bit of gratitude and a bit of annoyance. She squashed both. “So the Haverness war bands were rogue?”
“The High Lord made no commands with regards to the outcaste, but it is a very gray area. Outcastescanbe hunted without legal ramifications from the High Lord and his court. It is seldom, however, that three full war bands can be brought to bear.”
“You don’t think they were Haverness guards.”
Teela exhaled, glared at Terrano, and shook her head. “In ones and twos, it might be possible. If Barrani become Haverness, they hail from the families that pushed them into service, and they are not required to disavow those families. The families might put pressure on them—but their actions would not be considered part of the guard.
“Three war bands, however, is a different matter.”
“When did you know it was three?”
“After cursory investigation. It was Lord Andellen who apprised us of the third band; he is most familiar with the fief of the lord he serves. In the absence of Nightshade, visitors are not permitted at the castle.”
“When you say cursory—”
“I did not investigate it personally. If the bands had gathered at roughly the same time, it would be trivial to find the hand behind them; they did not. They have been building an unseen presence in the fief for longer than you’ve been alive. You were never fond of Barrani,” she added. “You avoided them when you saw them on the streets.
“You assumed they belonged to Nightshade.”
Kaylin nodded. “How else would they have wandered the streets invoking his name?”
“Not wisely. But you have also noted that Nightshade wasnegligent when it came to his citizens’ welfare. Lord Andellen swore an oath of fealty to his lord. I am uncertain that such oaths were offered by those who were also resident within the fief. I do not believe Nightshade required such oaths.”