Part 32 (1/2)
Arutha had been up all night It was evident to James the moment he walked into the Prince's private chaht, but James suspected the reason was as different from the Prince's as could possibly be; Willia over his face every few seconds provided an obvious clue
A any excuse for humor
Arutha waved Ja froh that I feel life is worth living again, sire,” answered Jas that need your i around the room, Arutha said, ”Amos, I've trusted you with my life more times than I care to remember Willia you this A while ago I gave Jaence corps”
”About bloody tirin ”He's the sneakiest little bastard I've ever met, even if I do love him like the son I pray I never have”
James looked at Amos and said, ”Thank you, I think”
”I wouldn't ht even have one or two out there I've not hed ”-but if I do, I'll drown him myself the moment he reminds me of you, Jimmy”
James replied dryly, ”If you do have a son, I'll have to reh,” said Arutha The Prince's usual dee, and both Amos and James fell silent Arutha said, ”No one outside this room is to know this I include you two for several reasons The first is if anything happens to me, you'll be able to inform my successor of Jaent before Prince Randolph is of age, for exa happens to James, I want people who are in place to wholanced around the table ”We three,” he said to Aned trepidation ”I hope you mean should I retire”
”I mean if you're dead,” said Arutha coldly ”Soh agents that you'll be able to identify one you think alhed
”Do not tell anyone who he is, including we three Well work out a means for that person to identify himself to one of the three of us at the appropriate tinorant of one another as possible”
”Yes, Highness,” said James ”I've already considered a systeents and keep them unaware of each other”
”Good,” said Arutha ”And I have sohts on the matter as well Finally, there's one other person ill know you're in this position: Jeroroan in check ”Jero soon, and Jeroical choice to succeed hi for s you wish to undertake, and the Master of Ceremonies' office has discretionary funds for a variety of reasons Jerome will provide you with the resources you need, subject to my approval”
Ja to accept the wisdom of the Prince's choice
”Now, to the matter at hand The scribes have completed their translations andas behind the attacks on Prince Vladic”
”Who?” blurted James
”His uncle, the duke”
William said, ”But he and his son were almost killed in the first attempt, sire”
Arutha said, ”It , or soenda, because we also found a warrant for the death of Duke Radswil and Kazanatures to these warrants?”
”No,” said Arutha ”That would s too easy, wouldn't it? The warrants all end in more of those cryptic phrases Perhaps someday we'll decipher them and knoho the author of the orders is But for the ti, we have no clear-cut proof of who's responsible”
”What are you going to do?” asked Auard, call it 'protective custody,' and shi+p the letter under my personal seal to the duke's brother My only concern in this is preventing war between the Kingdom and Olasko I'll leave Olasko justice to the rule of Olasko; the archduke can decide who's closer: his brother or his son He can also worry about who put out the order for his brother's and nephew's deaths” Arutha sighed ”I will certainly welcodohthawks? Have we finished the over his features for a ravely, but they still have agents out there I think there is someone above that priesthood, one froreed James He had recounted to Arutha every detail of his experience with the priests before the demon escaped
”But it may take them years to recover,” observed Aence service looking for clues as to the whereabouts of re, or anyone else, for thatdo you think this will take?” asked Amos playfully ”A week or,at Arutha he said, ”And I suppose I'd better change my ambitions frohed ”Yes, I suppose you had better, if you're going to build a network in the east sorinned ”Not this week, Highness”
Arutha said, ”We have e a duke and ruin an otherwise lovely day for a Prince”
”One thing, hness,” requested Jahness to host another of her galas, soon?”
Arutha had been about to rise, and at this request he sat down again ”Why, squire? You take no pains to hide the fact you would rather be crawling through the sewers than attending one of Anita's soirees”
Williahness, it's my request, actually James said he'd ask onfrom soldier to squire
James said, ”Williaar, and then introduce hiood families”
Arutha looked at William and said, ”Why?”
Williaood officer, and he acted with great courage andwell, he saved my life”
”That does warrant notice,” said Arutha, nodding in agreeested Ja one, just a little one with a bit of income”
Amos started to chuckle ”Why not a title, too?”
Jah”
Arutha said, ”What are you plotting, you two?”