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With that, Conner led Veldergrath and a few men inside, while the rest dis for their horses

"Why does Conner help them?" Roden asked "I’d send theive therinned "I’d use the rottenest ot sick on it"

"It’s diplomacy," I said, irritated they couldn’t see that "It’s all Conner can do right now, and for all of our sakes, let’s hope it works C’mon"

They followed me up another bend in the tunnels to the main floor We were near a secret door behind a tapestry in Conner’s office, where they were certain to have their private h their voices would be muffled, we could hear them from where we stood

Tobias whispered, "If they eat first, it’ll be a while"

So aited It was ih with the sting in er than it really was Tobias and Roden wanted to sit, but I reminded them that any position they took now, they would have toa noise that would give us away So we all stood in silence

After a very long time, we heard Conner’s voice as he entered the office "I always feel bad news is better handled on a full storee?"

"It’s only bad news if you’re up to sorath’s arrogance Even if he was correct in his suspicions, Veldergrath wasn’t king yet and had no right to question Conner

We heard the squeak of Conner’s chair as he sat, and his invitation for Veldergrath to sit as well Then Conner said, "You should explain yourself A?"

"The betrothed princess was here for dinner last night, correct?"

"Yes She is a lovely young wo heard news about the deaths of the king, queen, and Prince Darius"

"She heard it only as a rurath huffed "A rumor you and I both know to be fact Obviously, you could not confir else you said So that I find remarkable You told her that Prince Jaron may be alive"

"I believe he is"

"We’ve sent three regents to Isel to determine this Have you heard any news from them?"

"No"

"Then how have you co conclusion?"

Conner hesitated a moment, then said, "Old friend, you seereat advantage it would be to the kingdom if Prince Jaron were alive? Eckbert’s line would continue and Carthya would be saved from certain war Surely, there could be no better news, yet you don’t appear to welcorath seemed to be taken by surprise, but he recovered quickly "Of course I hope the prince is alive, but you and I both kno impossible that is My question is not whether we should hope for that news, but how you have come to be so certain of it?"

"Obviously, an accusation follows this question, so why don’t we rath said "Master Conner, I’m told you had a sword made, a replica of the one Prince Jaron used to carry"

"It was an imitation, not a replica Sadly, I’ve recently lost it, or I could show it to you I had it ift for the queen’s next birthday, in honor of her lost son"

"There’s es of Carthya and even collected a few boys Why is that?"

"Indentured field laborers My crops are planted and I needed them"