"Sit down. Please."

I took the seat Rorik gestured to on the other side of his small side table. It was a moment before I responded. The knot in my heart was tight, and the words of Davery's death were still raw and new. How to begin?

"He's . . . dead." I didn't dare speak names here, not knowing where ears could be hiding in the unfamiliar room. A game the royal was likely familiar with too. Odd how in that moment I could have something in common with a prince.

Rorik sat his glass down hard. "How?"

"Knife to the stomach. It was fast." The last word tried to choke me as my voice cracked.

"I'm sorry. I know he was your brother." The prince scowled and looked out at the library blankly. "He was a good man. Smart, Sage bless him."

"He told me to find you," I whispered, letting my eyes fall closed and stay there. "Even dying he thought it important."

"I'm glad you came here to tell me. I hope it wasn't too hard to get in, your skills are improving." Rorik's auburn hair was swept back from his face, showing so much of his expression that I almost believed the concern. Even the barb at my ability to sneak in went without a smile from me. He saw as much and turned his eyes to the glass he had poured, swirling the amber drink slowly. "He and I were working together on a plan, though now I'm afraid I'll have to rethink it. I know it's still raw for you, but would you be able to tell me who did it?"

In for a copper, in for an arm.

I told him. I told him about Grethan and how he acted strangely. I told him about how they had encountered Grethan in the first place and about my suspicions of him. I told him about the burning, and how Spirit took him. Somewhere in the middle I must have begun crying and Rorik handed me a handkerchief. His face darkened the more I told him. He wore both an expression of upset and cold, cruel calculation.

"This Grethan, could you describe him for me?" Rorik asked. I did. Everything from his hair and general appearance to his voice, clothes, and a couple memorable scars on his arms. Grethan would be someone I could remember for the rest of my life. He'd ensured his place in my memory the night he took my brother's life.

"Do you know him, sir?" I asked.

"I'm not sure enough to say yet." The prince inclined his head. "I do want to bring justice to your brother. He was a good man, I had hopes to keep him in a personal council of mine when this business with Lord Girault finished."

"Sir?" I asked puzzled. My brother was just a peasant as far as Rorik, third prince of Unays, should be concerned.

"I told you once before. I judge people on character, not silly names their long dead ancestors earned the family," Rorik replied. "Captain Pettypiece is one example, his family is from Foothills District. He rose to Captain of our Guard on his own merits, his second in command is a lazy good for nothing Duke's son only there because of his family. Which do you think I would rather have protecting my life?"

I saw his point, of course. I was just surprised anyone so highborn could come to that conclusion at such a young age. He was probably only a year or two my senior, twenty three maybe? And already valuing people on abilities and not status.

"Thank you, that would have honored him," I said solemnly.

Quiet settled between us. J sat stiffly in my chair, considering the company I kept, but otherwise it was not unpleasant. It gave me a moment to think about the man before me. He was so different than I expected a prince to be.

"Well, we probably missed the second course anyway, would you like a drink? We can sneak back in when the next break starts." He rang a small bell on the table and a servant came over. He asked for a glass for me, and the servant bowed and returned with one quickly. I wasn't ready to be waited on, but if they could tell I wasn't a noble they didn't say anything about it as my cup was presented and filled in the span of a moment, and then we were left alone once more.

We talked of Davery. Rorik had only known him that one day, but already they had found so much in common. Not surprising, after getting to know the prince a little bit more. Rorik praised his wisdom and the map he brought was locked up in the prince's room.

"In less than a month my brother Mason will be back. He always was more stern with the council than Braeton. If Mason can't help, Father will be back one month after that. I promise you, Sly, I will make this stop."

I wanted to believe him. I wanted to believe these were more than the honeyed words of a politician. But instead of answering, I just took another drink.

"Braeton finally sees the need to pry the power from the council, but by the law they hold the power until the king returns. Granted, the crown prince is on the council by law as well, so anything that requires a unanimous agreement requires Braeton's approval, and at least that is something."

After a while the prince excused himself to get back to the head table and suggested I do the same so as not to raise suspicion.

"And if you have news for me please send it through the good captain," Rorik said before he left. "Please, you are my eyes and ears in the lower city right now."

I took a slow breath. Eyes and ears in the lower city. I could do that much, at least. "I understand."

Rorik left first, then I gathered myself and rose from my chair in the library. If Rorik didn't want me to draw suspicion to myself, I wouldn't. I'd finish the dinner and disappear into the lower city again. Or maybe I would dedicate to Shadow? Who better to play these games of secrets than a devoted of the mischief maker herself? Whatever I did it was going to be far away from the excess and frivolity of the higher classes.

Walking down the maze of bookshelves, I spotted the huge window that caught my attention the first day at the castle. I went over to it and peered out at the city, letting Rorik go on to the feast hall. The sun was only just setting and most of the streets and part of the lake were in full view. No, it couldn't be the same window as that first night because I was seeing a different angle of the banks below. The library must be in a corner of the castle. Looking down I saw a bit of courtyard illuminated by lanterns around a fountain. It looked wonderful, peaceful. But something caught my eye, metal glinting in the yellow light.

A cane, a wooden cane with a silver capped handle leaned against a tree. I pressed myself against the glass to try and see at the angle I needed. Lord Girault sat on a bench, his cane leaning nearby. I was certain it was him, and was he talking to someone? I couldn't see properly from up here, the library was on the second floor.

I ran out of the library and down the corridor. Mapping the castle had helped me accustom myself to its layout and I ran to the nearest staircase. I passed by Rorik as I sped out the library door, I would have to apologize later but I really wanted to know who Girault would meet with in a secluded courtyard while a feast went on inside.

The stairs took me down to the right level, I just had to find the courtyard. I ran across several doors, none of which got me outside until finally I opened a small office. It probably belonged to a scribe of some kind but as it wasn't being used just then, I went inside and latched the door. There was a window that looked out onto a fountain. The same fountain I saw from upstairs. I opened the window slowly, relieved when it didn't creak. I wouldn't be able to fit out of it, but with some luck I could stick my head out and hear what was being said.

The growing dark helped to conceal my eavesdropping and I strained to hear any sound over the splashing of the water in the fountain.

"Told you not to come to me..." The sound came in and out as the water burbled. "...get them out of the way?"

"...job done, you didn't say how to do it." The voice was lower, I was pretty sure the first one was Lord Girault but this one was harder to make out, he used the commoner's city accent. "...would pay me more then maybe....have gotten you more information."

"Imbecile! You're lucky I don't throw you in a dungeon myself.... couldn't even do this one thing for me and now we don't know who has it." Lord Girault became easier to understand as his voice rose in anger.

"What does it matter? Isn't your plan...."

Plan? What plan? Isn't his plan what? I pressed my shoulders to the stone until they hurt. I couldn't get my head out the window any further and the stupid fountain was blocking important words out.

"...from my sight. Leave the thinking to your betters." Lord Girault must have left at that, because I heard what must have been the feint tapping of his cane and no more conversation could be heard. I shut the window and stamped my foot. Damn him and damn that noisy fountain.

My frustration at the conversation caused me to carelessly fling the office door open and walk into the hallway without checking to see if it was occupied first. Leaning on the stone wall, one eyebrow raised was prince Rorik.

". . . Pox." I had flown out of the library and down the hall. That might just raise the suspicion he told me to avoid less than half a bell ago.

"Pox indeed." He stood. "What was all that about?"

I told him about the partial conversation I heard and when I was done he pulled me back into the office.

"I already said they were gone, there isn't anything left to hear." I protested at being led back in the room by my arm like a child.

"Hush. Yes I know you said he left but if he is going back to the feast he's probably going to take this hallway."

We stood there a moment in silence and I began to think Lord Girault took another way back, when the dull click click of a cane sounded on the stone floor. It passed, but we waited another few minutes before leaving.

"So, it was Girault," Rorik mused. "What games are you playing behind our backs Master of Secrets?"

"What about the other person?" I asked. If only we could find out who it was . . .

"I doubt he will come the same way. From what you said he was fairly well dismissed anyway. No, we probably won't be catching whoever it was, but I can certainly keep tabs on Girault's house. Perhaps we'll get lucky and a strange commoner with a low voice will visit at a suspicious hour."

I looked at him like he had lost his senses when I saw the spark in his eyes. The prince was joking, I realized. My expression slacked and I rolled my eyes as the prince chucked.

Still, I did hope he would keep someone on the house, maybe we really could find something out at least.

"Sir, if Lord Girault has something planned they could have been talking about the properties he and the other council members bought around town," I said.

"Yes, I'd considered that, but we don't have enough evidence. We should assume he has another plan to be safe. Damn. You have no idea how hard it is to get a spy in the house of the Kingdom's Spymaster." The prince scowled and paced. If I was Lord Girault, I would be checking anyone who entered my house thoroughly.

"What can we do then?" I asked. The prince stared at me for a long time.

"You have some of your brother in you," he murmured. "Why is helping so important to you? Why wont you leave the problems of the city to royal family?"

"The lower city people suffer while they wait for help from the crown. Shouldn't I try to help too? Since it affects us the most?" Jexa would tan my hide for talking to a prince like this, but I was well beyond the pretense of formality. Rorik would either help, or he would just be another noble, playing with the lives beneath him.

He smirked. "Please, enough of your honesty. You're right, the people are affected the most but they aren't able to do much but wait on us. You really are like him you know."

"I didn't mean any disrespect." Mostly. I bowed my head for added measure.

Rorik barked a laugh, gesturing me to lift my head. "Salysta, would you like to help me? I mean on a more permanent basis."

I thought out his question. I liked the prince well enough for all I hated dealing with the upper classes. Then again, so did he it would seem. I also might be able to do more than I ever could working alone, and I was determined to see Davery's efforts through.

"I think I would like that, your highness."

"Is it back to highness? I thought we were at sir." He paused thinking, then smiled at me. "You know what? Friends call me Rorik. Do you think you could call me that?"

"Highness?" I asked, my back straightening. That was a line even my disrespectful mouth wasn't ready to cross.

"Try it, it's just a name. I promise it won't hurt, just add 'prince' in public." Rorik gave me a nod, wanting me to try.

His skin was soft, his face boyish. I knew, just as he knew, that his life had been softer, easier, than mine. Than anyone else in this city. But he was trying, and so should I. But I still couldn't quite do it.

"Prince Rorik. Thank you." I didn't manage to leave off the title this time, but it was a start. "But, what help do you need of me? You have a palace of servants you can command."

"I can command their actions, but not their hearts, not their tongues. I believe you have the best of intentions for the people, which is all the royal family really wants. I'm a third prince, I have little power and even less desire for it, all things considered, and more freedom at the same time. It's a unique position that I enjoy, and I would like to gather a loyal group around me to assist me in whatever schemes I get into. I believe you could be loyal, and you have no duties but the freedom to go nearly anywhere in the city, am I right? That is more useful to me than you know."

In the service of a prince, huh? Tris might just get me killed one day but . . .

"I will follow you, prince Rorik. Perhaps not forever but certainly for now. As long as you have the interest of your lowest people in your heart, you will also have my loyalty."

That boyish smile that betrayed his sharp wit for the young man he was spread across his lips. "Thank you, Salysta. I will call on you when I need someone in the city."

"My friends call me Sly. It's, a nickname my brother gave me." I grinned. "Please feel free to use it."

"A suitable one. Thank you, Sly," he said softly. "Well, now I had better get back before Mother truly forms a search party for me. She's done that you know. Can you come by to see Captain Pettypiece tomorrow? He will have something for you, it will tell you how to reach me if you ever have something to tell me. You can still safely send letters through the good captain, but eventually his guards will find it suspicious if the same girl continues to bring him notes."

"I'll get it tomorrow." I gave him a curtsey and we walked out of the small office, checking this time to see if anyone was in the hall.

Getting back upstairs, we had missed the second course completely and a third course had been served some time ago, but as I sat down I was able to still get some of the pork pie that was left.

The evening went on, a few more courses were served and eventually people started drifting off to their rooms. I said goodnight to Selenie and walked outside. The air was cool and I wished I had brought a cloak, but Lights district wasn't that far. I was sleeping another night at Panther House, in the morning I would be able to tell them about my new situation, at least partly. I wasn't the only one walking home at that hour either, several other party goers at varying stages of intoxication drifted into the city towards their own homes. This eased my nerves as I hated walking in the dark alone, but the bright moon Lah was out in her brightness blanketing the streets made it easier too.

I eventually turned onto the street with Panther House and arrived at the front door. Panther had given me a spare key for the night, I let myself in and climbed into bed next to Orchid, who managed to stay asleep while I settled in. Tomorrow would be a fresh day, and I had new purpose. Tomorrow, I would be useful.