This is why I’ve never been to the capital, Alyssa thought as Cecile Guiness left the study. With her skill and background in Fort Victory, many noble houses would have eagerly welcomed her into their fold. However, she had no stomach for the schemes that came with titles and estates.

In Victory, everyone was united against the enemies beyond the mountains. The soldiers had no time for those who would sabotage and use others to get ahead. They needed every able body and every scrap of talent. Parasites like the ones that thrived in beds of opulence like Summer Spire would be throttled the moment they showed their tails. When she was a member of a knight order, she didn’t even need to wait on the duke’s judgment, her high rank giving her the power to strike down Victory’s enemies the moment she recognized them.

Now, she had spent the last hour wading through the murky circumstances surrounding the death of a young royal and was getting nowhere. Worse, the whole investigation was a waste of her time. She could discover the truth, the whole truth, and would be able to do nothing with it.

The facts would be passed onto the crown and the king would decide how to handle the situation. He would give her a story to tell that she would stick to on pain of death. And depending on what secrets she discovered, she, a completely unrelated party, might have to take precautions to preserve her own life. All because she had the misfortune of doing her job, something that should be rewarded.

It annoyed her to the point she wanted to quit, grab a few bottles of Herbanacle, and disappear into the wilds surrounding Quest for a few months. Get lost in a couple of dungeons while the mess was settled. If only her pride would allow her to tuck tail and run.

Sighing deeply, she stood in the entrance of the room and observed the crowd. She had started the interviews with the dead boy’s team. Mainly because they should have the most information but also because she wanted to give them a chance to rest. She understood the pain of losing a comrade and a friend. The last thing they wanted to do was relive the event under her brisk questioning but it had to be done and the sooner it was finished, the sooner she could leave them to their grief.

Of course, one of the members didn’t seem to be doing much grieving. The young woman named Orphelia was engaged in quiet but cheerful discussion with Lourianne Tome and her…group.

Alyssa was starting to have deep suspicions about the lecherous noble. She seemed to attract trouble. The instructor was sure she wouldn’t be the only one thinking that this was the second time Lou was involved in an incident related to the royal family. Once was coincidence. Twice was suspicious. Three times would be a pattern and something that could no longer be ignored by the powers that be.

But for now, she was a simple witness. Alyssa ignored her, focusing on the sullen boy standing off on his own. It took a moment to remember his name. “Quintana.”

His head jerk up. His gaze found hers, blank with incomprehension for several moments before his thoughts caught up to the moment and he walked towards her. She turned so he could enter the study and shut the door firmly behind him.

He slumped in the empty seat across from Umphrieltalia, giving the dorm mother a curious look before going back to his silent brooding. Alyssa took her place beside the dorm mother, leaning on the back legs of her chair as she studied him, determining the best way to approach the interview.

He reminded her of young soldiers back from their first campaign, struck with the reality that they were not the heroes to finally make their mark where no one had before and that chasing glory would only earn them an early grave. Not even the loss of their friends could compare to their shattered perceptions of themselves and their place in the world.

In her experience, there were two ways to handle this. She could coddle him, swaddle him with sympathy and care. He would expunge the grief and heal but he would never be a soldier, or if he was, he’d be a subpar one by Victory’s standards.

When others would not hesitate, he would. When others would lay down their lives and the lives of their comrades to accomplish the mission, he would retreat, no longer believing in that thing greater than himself. As her own teacher would say, it would create a weak point in the blade, one that could one day cause the whole weapon to shatter. Maybe the boy would give up fighting altogether. With his talent, he could rise to greatness in any field he chose.

Or she could handle him the Victory way. Bludgeon him with his failure and weakness like a smith striking steel. Hammer his soft heart until something new was forged. Oh, he would still break. This method counted on it. It was meant to shatter the ignorant boys before stitching them back together with hardened wills and cold fury.

She had left her home because she was tired of watching the endless cycle and, worse, being a part of it. If she had the choice, she’d go with the first option. Send the boy back to his mother with a new appreciation of life. Unfortunately, she was never one to shirk a duty. Right now, that duty required she find answers, even if she had to rip them out of him.

“Robert Quintana,” she snapped and his blank eyes focused on her. “This is an official inquiry under the authority of the Grand Hall. As an initiate, the judgment of the Grandmaster supersedes that of the king. That means, no matter who you are, no matter who your teacher is, or who is supporting you, we can throw you in a cage and never let you out if you’ve broken the rules. Do you understand?”

She intentionally adopted a confrontational tone and he responded predictably; lips pressed in a small frown, eyes narrowed, and shoulders tight. She didn’t wait for him to respond as it was good enough that she had his undivided attention.

“Under my authority, I have brought in Umphrieltalia to act as an interrogator. She has taken the same vows as any other interrogator. Her testimony during any investigation is to be taken as fact. An interrogator lying during an investigation is punished by death. Lying to an interrogator throughout the course of an investigation can be punished by up to ten years of imprisonment.” Though only the most severe lies used to purposely mislead an investigation but he didn’t need to know that now. “So, we’re all going to tell the truth.”

“As you speak, you may feel the presence of my mana,” Umphrieltalia said softly. “Do not fight the spell with your own mana. It will only make the process more painful.”

“…only the crown can employ interrogators,” Robert said, watching them with growing suspicion. “Don’t try to lie to me. My teacher educated me on the kingdom’s laws.”

“You’d be right if we were anywhere else.” She threw out her hands. “This is the Hall, kid. We don’t play by the same rules, plain and simple. Now, Talia is going to rummage through your head no matter what you think. Fighting is only going to make it more painful. I suggest you don’t as it would be a waste of time and if you waste my time, I’m going to get really annoyed with you.”

“This is illegal.”

“Think that all you want but it won’t change what’s going to happen.”

He stared at her in a sullen silence.

“So that’s how it’s going to be. Fine. I don’t need you to say anything. It’s not like you had much of a part to play. Fainting the moment someone shows you the slightest bit of aggression—”

“No!” he exploded. “I didn’t faint! Something…I don’t know what happened. One minute, I was getting ready to cast and then…something must have knocked me out.”

That was all the motivation it took. Robert spoke of the events from his point of view, becoming more energetic and angrier with each sentence. The emotions peaked as he talked about the conversation with the supposed assassin.

“He announced his intentions to attack us, bold as daylight, and that witch simply stepped aside!” His chest heaved as his voice shook with fury. “She could have intervened. He wasn’t going to attack so long as she remained, I know it. He tried too hard to get her to leave. But she did! She left us to face death for a few pieces of gold!”

“By she…do you mean Lourianne Tome?”

“Yes!” He slammed his hands on the table. “When are you going to question her?”

“She’ll have her turn like everyone else. Why?”

“…I think she may have something to do with this.”

The instructor’s eyes narrowed. “That is a very serious accusation to make.”

He faltered. “I…don’t know for sure. But her actions are suspicious. Before Ethor attacked us, she spoke to him in hushed tones. After previously rejecting his offers, she suddenly agreed to leave for less gold than Sebas offered. I think it is possible…that Ethor managed to sway her to whatever cause claimed the life of Sebas.”

Alyssa pinched the bridge of her nose. She had received a similar account from both the boy named Lanston and the Guiness girl. She looked over to Umphrieltalia and received a small nod. That meant he also was telling the truth, both about the events and his suspicions. Nothing was confirmed and she sincerely hoped it’d stay that way. Saints forbid that strange girl, or her fucking elven wife, were involved in a plot to murder a member of the royal family.

“What happened next?”

“We fought. We had him cornered and then…I don’t know what happened. Darkness suddenly claimed me. The next time I opened my eyes, Sebas was dead.”

“Along with your attackers.”

“Yes.”

“And you don’t know how they died?”

“No.”

“Any guesses?”

“…no.”

“No?” She leaned forward. “Come on, Robert Quintana. Is that a brain between your ears of a giant ball of lint? Think! What did you see when you woke up?”

“…Orphelia was standing nearby. She looked tired. That woman was nearby. Alana was over by the enemy team, I think.”

“The other members of your team?”

“I could see Cecile moving unsteadily. Apparently, we were all knocked out.” He met her gaze. “Is that not suspicious to you?”

“To summarize, one man beat the shit out of your entire team. Mid combat, you lose consciousness along with the other members of your team. When you wake up, your attacker as well as his team are dead and Lourianne Tome and Alana James are nearby.” She tapped her fingers on the table. “What seems suspicious to me is your overwhelming hostility toward Lourianne Tome despite the facts pointing to the conclusion that she and her team saved all of from dying.”

He barked out a laugh. “Her? Save us?” He spat the questions out with a tone that said it was ridiculous to even contemplate the thought.

“Oh? Then how else are you alive? Did the fucking saints swoop down to smite your enemies?”

He paused, considering. Because of her intense scrutiny of his face, she saw his eyes widen a fraction before his expression closed down. “I don’t know.”

“You don’t…but you’ve got an idea. Come on. You seemed adamant that there was no way she would save you. Who did?”

His lips stayed pressed together.

“I see.” Alyssa glanced at the dorm mother and got a shake in the negative.

With a sigh, she stood from her chair and paced behind him. It was the same problem she had with the other two members of his team she’d interviewed. While their stories rang true, there was something they were not telling her. A careful avoidance that Umphrieltalia could sense. If Robert wasn’t also clearly trying to hide something she would have ignored it.

After all, once was coincidence, twice was suspicious, but three times couldn’t be ignored.

“Do you know how interrogators work?” she asked as she moved behind him, purposely dropping her voice. “My job is to talk. I say something. Maybe it’s right. Maybe it’s wrong. You know and because you know, she knows. You can’t hide your thoughts. All it takes is finding the right words. For example…”

She suddenly slammed a hand down on the table beside him. Robert jumped but her other hand grabbed his shoulder and forced him to remain still. “Let’s talk about why you’re so adamant that Lourianne Tome doesn’t like you. See, I’ve got some experience with her. I know damn well she doesn’t care enough about most people to hate them. So what did you do to get on her bad side?”

“Nothing!” he yelled.

“You do not believe that,” Umphrieltalia declared apathetically.

“Oh, look. You just lied to an interrogator. That’s one strike but such a little thing is nothing. Probably only get you a month in a cold, dark cell. So, I’m going to ask you again. What did you do to piss her off, huh? What could make her angry enough that she would leave you to die as you said?”

He bit his lip as he stayed quiet.

“You’re not very smart, are you?” She slapped the back of his head before resuming her pacing. “I told you, I don’t need you to say a word with Umphrieltalia in the room. Let’s see. There’s only one thing I’ve seen that girl get worked up over. Women. You insult her wife or something?”

“No!”

Alyssa glanced to Umprieltalia, who made no sign of disagreement. “Alright, who else? Her summons? You try to get a little succubus action? No? Who else is there? The blonde? She your type?”

He remained quiet but his stoic demeanor meant nothing.

“He has been attempting to get close to Alana James.”

Alyssa forced out a bark of a laugh. “Well, there’s your answer! She and her team left you to die because you’ve been trying to flirt with her mistress.”

“Alana isn’t her mistress,” he said, teeth grit in anger. “Don’t insult her by saying she is involved with that—”

“Oh, look. A knight come to rescue the fair maiden from the clutches of the evil noble. A classic. Tell me, hero. How did your maiden take to your daring rescue? I don’t think she thanked you.”

“She has rejected his many attempts to deepen their friendship,” the dorm mother answered for him.

“Well, damn. Apparently, she thinks it’s more insulting to be with you than that lecherous pervert.”

“I am not courting her,” Robert said hotly. “I’m not interested in—”

“Lie.” Umphrieltalia cut him off ruthlessly.

“Of course you’re interested. You’re a horny boy that tried to touch a woman he had no business looking at. Because of that, your supposed ally left you. You and your dick are the reason Lou abandoned you. You’re the reason your friend died.”

“No!” Robert shouted, trying to get to his feet but she swiftly pushed him back down.

“What a worthless bastard. Can’t even admit it. You know, I wouldn’t be surprised if she is involved. She probably told that Ethor to kill the lot of you. I can see her doing it. Or maybe, she told him to kill you. The dead boy had the null affinity. A rough dislocation could knock you out. Maybe your friend is dead because he took an attack meant for you.”

Robert stared at her with wide eyes.

“Never thought of that before, did you? Your friend might have a hole in his head because he saved you.”

“I…I didn’t…he…”

“How fucking sad. You’ve got four affinities but so what? We can get four people and they can do everything you can do. There were a total of twelve null casters in the kingdom.” A fact she had learned from Cecile’s interview, the girl reminiscing on her dearly departed fiancé’s bad habit of constantly declaring his own importance. “Twelve. Now that number is eleven because you couldn’t leave a girl who isn’t even interested in you alone.”

“It wasn’t my idea!” he shouted. Then his anger turned to something new. Fear.

“Orphelia instructed him to get closer to Lourianne Tome and her team,” Umphrieltalia said. It was only a bit but Alyssa thought she heard a rare trace of interest in the dorm mother’s tone. She couldn’t blame her. It was an…interesting development.

“And why would she do that, Robert?” The boy shook, eyes downcast as he refused to meet her gaze. Not that it mattered with a powerful mental caster in his mind.

“…during the time they shared a shelter, his team witnessed Lourianne Tome being intimate with their guide.”

Of fucking course that pervert was. I get the succubi, satisfying their summoner’s lusts is probably the norm, but what in the saints’ names do the rest of these women see in that brat? I’d call it reckless youth but I’m pretty sure Kierra is older than me.

“During that time, they discovered that she has both genitalia—”

“Whoa, wait a minute.” Alyssa held up a hand as she processed the dorm mother’s words. “Did you just say…”

Umphrieltalia met her gaze. “She has both male and female genitalia, though her male organ does not appear to be of traditional design.”

The instructor paused for several moments. Then she walked over her chair, dropped down, and grabbed the bottle of Herbanacle under the table, what had drawn her to accept Kierra’s offer of hospitality. She quickly downed several mouthfuls before slamming the bottle on the table. “Alright, give me the rest.”

“Orphelia Yemen appears to be an agent of the crown, a minder for Robert and his team. Upon discovering that Lourianne Tome may have the possibility of consummating her marriage to Kierra Atainna and producing an heir to the elven throne, she told them all to do what they could to form ties to Lourianne Tome and her associates.”

I shouldn’t have asked. Forget a dead boy. This investigation now involved international interests. Alyssa stared at the Herbanacle, wondering if she could forget what she’d just heard if she downed the rest of it fast enough.