"Take him alive," I said. "Don't let him speak to anyone from the archive. Don't let him write. Don't let him pray. And remove every ring, pendant, seal, pin, cufflink, shoelace, and decorative object from his person."
One of the guards blinked. "His shoelaces, Your Excellency?"
"Especially his shoelaces."
Vesren lifted his head weakly. "You think this changes anything?"
I looked down at him. "No," I said. "I think it improves my morning."
The guards dragged him away, and the Empress watched until he disappeared from sight before exhaling slowly.
"You were right," she said.
"About which part?"
"About the palace not being safe."
I glanced at the black salt residue still caught in Abi's violet light. "Your Majesty, there's something important you should understand. I don't enjoy being right about these things."
For one second, she almost smiled. Almost. Then the Crown Prince groaned from the corridor, and the physician called for help, and the conversation ended there.
