“Of course,” he said, nodding just as gravely. “And you can rely on my discretion.”
For the second time in only a few minutes I had to suppress an eye roll. But no light flashed in front of my eyes, and some of my tension relaxed. Oscar believed in his ability to keep a secret. And from what Elsie had told me, he had enough control that if I handled this right, he might prove true to his word. I would have to thank her later for the valuable insight into his character.
“Yes, I am sure I can trust you,” I said. “But I have been tasked by Her Majesty with identifying anyone lacking in such discretion. And that is where I believe you can help me. Naturally, I know you would not spread false stories around, but some others lack such wisdom and circumspection. False rumors can be dangerous, but they also serve a purpose. They allow us to track down leaks before the people involved can do true damage.”
His eyes widened as I spoke, and I could almost see him turning over my words in his head and applying them to the outrageous story he had so recently heard.
“Elsie is the most loyal of servants,” I continued, “but, of course, she spends most of the year in Kallorway with me. We need someone here in Corrin who has their ear to the ground and a canny sense—someone who can keep alert for such tales and report them back to us along with their source.”
He straightened, a look of importance transforming his face.
“Of course,” I said hurriedly, “such an important and trusted role would need to be performed in secrecy.”
“Naturally.” His eyes shone as he said it. This was what he wanted more than anything—to be on the inside. I was offering him something more valuable than holding the other servants enthralled with a good story. And it wouldn’t matter in the least if he let drop hints that he was involved in important work for the crown.
“Who should I report to?” he asked.
“Elsie—and through her, me. At least initially,” I said. “But once we’ve departed, you can report directly to Leila.”
His eyes widened slightly at the name of the sealed commonborn who had worked for my mother for more years than I’d been alive. I had always liked Leila—she was irrepressible, a force to be reckoned with. And Oscar was clearly in awe of her. As one of the Spoken Mage’s most trusted officials, she wielded more authority around the palace than many mages. An association with Leila would increase his standing among the servants without any need to compromise his promised discretion.
“I have something to report now,” he said eagerly. “I’ve just heard a story so outlandish it couldn’t possibly be true. It must be one of those false tales you’re talking about, to flush out those with loose lips.”
“Oh?” I tilted my head inquiringly.
He quickly outlined the threat from Conall and the unwilling army massing in the north. It took all my royal training to keep an amused and slightly incredulous expression on my face. I had hoped that at the very least the story might have grown and changed in the telling, but it was accurate in all its particulars.
“Gracious,” I said mildly when he finished. “I would certainly like to know who would spread such a tale.”
The thread of energy still connected me with my mother in the neighboring room, and I waited tensely for a flash of light behind my eyes. If he had been listening at doors, this would surely be the moment for him to start the untruths.
But no flash came when he named Captain Matthis, one of the most senior and trusted mage officers.
“Captain Matthis?” I asked, unable to help myself. “Are you sure?”
“I’ll admit,” Oscar said in the face of my disbelief, “that I didn’t immediately recognize the tale as a falsehood, given the source.”
“And he told you this story directly?” I asked. “You didn’t overhear it somehow?”
Oscar frowned at the suggestion. “Certainly not. Although,” he admitted grudgingly, “I was surprised when he spoke to me at all, let alone to relate such a tale. I took it as a sign of great trust due to my excellent service to the officers.”
He frowned for a moment before brightening. “But that must be it. He no doubt intended it as a test, knowing you were looking for a trustworthy individual and believing I was such a person.”
“Captain Matthis could certainly be trusted with such a task,” I said cautiously. “He has served the crown faithfully since before the war ended.”
Oscar nodded solemnly. “He’s a legend from the war years. And, of course, the expedition that discovered the energy mages. I am honored by his efforts.”
I nodded. “Thank you for undertaking such an important task.” I paused. “You said that the credible source made you at first believe the story. I hope such an outrageous tale is not spreading through the servants’ halls as we speak.”
“No indeed!” He looked desperate to reassure me of his reliability. “I’ve told no one!”
A flash of light in front of me made my stomach clench. Was I already too late?
His eyes slid to Elsie. “Except for Elsie, I mean,” he added in a rush. “I knew she would know the truth of it.”
The light, which had already faded, didn’t reappear, and my muscles relaxed.
“Elsie can be trusted, certainly,” I said, keeping my face calm and my voice steady. “And now you had better return to the servants’ hall before anyone grows concerned that you’re in trouble.”
He bowed low to me and smiled at Elsie and was still murmuring his thanks as he hurried from the room. As soon as he was gone, I collapsed into a chair.
“Captain Matthis! It seems impossible!”
Elsie was still watching the now-closed door. “Do you think he was telling the truth?”
“I know he was,” I said firmly, letting my connection to my mother end.
She raised her eyebrows but didn’t question me. “You managed that very adroitly. He won’t be spreading the story further—not now he thinks it isn’t true.”
“We’re just fortunate he was so quick to come up with his own explanations for everything. I wouldn’t want to be the source of a rumor that Matthis is disloyal. Not until we can get to the bottom of what’s going on here. He’s always been one of my grandfather’s most trusted officers.”
The door opened again, and I shot to my feet, but it was only my mother. She was frowning as she joined us.
“I heard him leaving. Did you get the answers you needed?”
I worried at my lip. “We got an answer. But it’s a little hard to believe. He named Captain Matthis.”
“Matthis?” Both my mother’s eyebrows rose almost to her hairline. “Now that is hard to believe.” She frowned. “But perhaps it explains why I just received an urgent summons from your aunt.”
“She wants to see you?” I asked.
“No.” My mother shook her head. “She wants to see you.”
Chapter 5
My aunt awaited me in her study, Captain Matthis standing rigidly before her. I would have taken both of my companions in with me, but my mother shook her head, saying the queen had asked only for me. After getting an inside glimpse of the vast power that lurked inside my mother, it felt utterly strange to think that anyone would prefer my assistance over hers. But not even family could ignore such a summons from the queen of Ardann.